Christmas Reindeer Chow
This reindeer chow is a must-make Christmas treat! The mixture of Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms is coated in white chocolate and chilled to set. Set out bowls as holiday snacks or package up individual bags for a special homemade gift. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare!
Years ago, my mom’s cousin brought a tin of this deliciousness over to my grandma’s when she made her Christmas visit, and everyone went nuts over it, which isn't surprising, given that it's sweet, salty, and covered in white chocolate.
My mom made sure to scribble down the recipe, and we’ve been enjoying it ever since (it was one of my grandpap’s favorite sweet holiday treats).
This is perfect to keep in your fridge for unexpected guests during the holidays, and would also be so cute packaged up in pretty bags to give away as gifts. Just make sure to save some for yourself, and I’m sure Santa would enjoy trying some, as well!
Recipe Ingredients
This reindeer chow recipe uses some similar ingredients to what you’d find in homemade chex mix, and there are tons of different ways to switch it up! Here’s what we use, as well as many different variations and ingredient swaps you could do:
- Rice Chex Cereal – Substitute another favorite, such as Corn Chex or Crispix.
- Cheerios – Any “o” type of cereal will work here, or throw in more rice or corn chex.
- Peanuts – You can substitute other types of nuts or omit them entirely. Feel free to add more of anything else!
- Pretzel Sticks – You can also use mini twist pretzels, or break up any of your favorite pretzels.
- Red and Green M&Ms – I love how festive these are! You can also use the miniM&M version, peanut or peanut butter M&Ms, or substitute your favorite chocolate candies – mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, mini Oreo cookies, Reese’s Pieces, etc.
- White Chocolate – This creates a delicious coating that holds all of the ingredients together into big chunks. You can also use white chocolate melts, candy melts. or almond bark.
- Vegetable Shortening – This helps to keep the melted white chocolate chips from getting clumpy; it thins out the melted chocolate so it can coat the ingredients evenly and easily. You can also use coconut oil. If you decide to use one of the melting products mentioned above, you do not need to use the vegetable shortening.
How to Make Reindeer Chow
This sweet snack mix only takes minutes to make and is a great holiday kitchen project to get the kids involved in! Here’s how we make it:
- Place the cereals, peanuts, pretzels, and M&Ms in a large bowl.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips and vegetable shortening on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted white chocolate over the cereal mixture and use a rubber spatula to stir everything together until all of the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, or until it’s set. Break it up into chunks and dig in!
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The Muddy Buddy (or “Puppy Chow”) Variation
If you love muddy buddies, you can adapt this recipe to be coated in that traditional melted chocolate and powdered sugar covering. Some folks refer to this as the “Christmas puppy chow recipe”. Here’s how to do it:
- Place the cereals and nuts in a large bowl. Follow the directions for making my muddy buddies and melt together the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Pour the melted mixture over the cereals and nuts, and gently mix together.
- Layer powdered sugar and the cereal mixture in a large zip top bag, seal it, and shake it until all of the ingredients are evenly coated. Turn out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to set at room temperature. Once set, combine with the pretzels and M&Ms, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
Storage Notes
This Christmas reindeer chow should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. You can pop it into the freezer for a super crunchy reindeer chow that tastes absolutely wonderful!
More Sweet Holiday Treats
- The BEST Muddy Buddies Recipe
- Saltine Toffee
- Crock Pot Peanut Clusters
- Peppermint Bark
- Buckeyes Recipe
Watch the Recipe Video:
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Reindeer Chow Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups (129 g) Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups (84 g) Cheerios cereal
- 3 cups (426 g) peanuts
- 3 cups (126 g) pretzel pieces
- 3 cups (540 g) red & green M&Ms
- 20 ounces white chocolate
- 3½ tablespoons (40 g) solid vegetable shortening
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper; set aside.
- In a very large bowl, mix together the Rice Chex, Cheerios, peanuts, pretzels and M&Ms.
- In a medium bowl, melt the white chocolate and shortening in the microwave on 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the dry ingredients and quickly toss together until everything is pretty evenly coated in the white chocolate. Spread the mixture out on the prepared pan and refrigerate until it’s set, about 20 minutes. Break up any chunks and store in tins or airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
Notes
- Rice Chex Cereal - Substitute another favorite, such as Corn Chex or Crispix.
- Cheerios - Any "o" type of cereal will work here, or throw in more rice or corn chex.
- Peanuts - You can substitute other types of nuts or omit them entirely. Feel free to add more of anything else!
- Pretzel Sticks - You can also use mini twist pretzels, or break up any of your favorite pretzels.
- Red and Green M&Ms - I love how festive these are! You can also use the mini M&M version, peanut or peanut butter M&Ms, or substitute your favorite chocolate candies - mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, mini Oreo cookies, Reese's Pieces, etc.
- White Chocolate - This creates a delicious coating that holds all of the ingredients together into big chunks. You can also use white chocolate melts, candy melts. or almond bark.
- Vegetable Shortening - This helps to keep the melted white chocolate chips from getting clumpy; it thins out the melted chocolate so it can coat the ingredients evenly and easily. You can also use coconut oil. If you decide to use one of the melting products mentioned above, you do not need to use the vegetable shortening.
- Storage Notes: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. You can pop it into the freezer for a super crunchy reindeer chow that tastes absolutely wonderful!
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
This recipe was originally published in December 2012.
Photography by Whitney Wright.
So cute! This would make the perfect gift in a cute container.
This stuff is like crack- highly addictive!
This looks like a perfect and super addicting snack!
Favorite holiday food has to be all the butter and scratch cookies that I make with love for all of my people. Love them melting in my mouth : )
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I have been all over town and white baking chocolate is impossble to find, can I used white chocolate chips instead and if so do I need to alter anything else in the recipe?
Hi Jody, Be sure to check in the baking aisle and look for the Ghiradelli 4-ounce bars, or in the candy aisle, where I usually find the Lindt bars. I have never had luck melting white chocolate chips, so I usually don’t recommend those (they always seize up on me). If you decide to try, you don’t need to change anything in the recipe, just make sure you melt with very low heat.
I think reindeer would prefer non- gmo products. I do , too!
I just made Raindeer Chow. It is so easy and taste bud tingling, WOW!
I used Lindt White Chocolate with the veg. shortening and microwaved it at 50% power at 30 second intervals stirring each time until fully melted..
It most certainly will be LOVED by all who receive it.
I’ve heard this called “Christmas crack” before…probably for a reason! :) Yumm!!!
I like that!
What a fun idea! I know my 7 year old would love to share this with Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve!
I looove the sweet and salty going on in this snack! If I have any leftover white chocolate after all my cookie baking, this is first on my list :)
This looks soooo good and completely addictive! I love all snack mixes :)
My favorite holiday food is toffee. But I may try this reindeer mix. I will have to find a substitute for the chex cereal- another cereal perhaps.
Now I want add toffee to this mix. *drools*
This is just DANGEROUS!
Sweet and salty…divine combination! I think I have to squeeze in some time to make this treat for my family!
omg, I love this!!! and I love that you called this “reindeer chow”. awesome. :)
You just can’t ever go wrong with covering cereal and candy in chocolate. Nothing bad will happen when you do that. And this is one of those great things to have around the house to snack on while you bake. while you cook, while you watch movies, will you drink coffee…..
Way better than sugar cubes or carrots! Love this!
I have a 2.5 year old daughter and this is the first year she’s actually realizing all of the Christmas magic. We’ve been trying to figure out what reindeer eat and she got so excited when I showed her this recipe. Now we can’t wait to make it for Santas reindeer! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for posting this! My aunt makes this every year and wouldn’t share the recipe with me…now I can make my own and share the jar she gives me instead of hiding and hoarding it!
I have been seeing this everywhere and it looks so good. Like puppy chow but better.
Mmm love this idea!
I love this stuff, I think it’s my sister’s only holiday recipe. So much better than Puppy Chow.
Try using solid coconut oil instead of shortening.
It’s healthier for you.
The coconut oil sounds like a great sub, will add another flavor to the mix.
Yummy! I bet the reindeer just love this chow! :) Looks delish!!
I always have THE WORST time melting white chocolate– on the stove, in the microwave– no matter. I am no good at it. Tips?
Hi Heather, Use a bowl that will distribute heat evenly, use only 50% power and stir every 30 seconds. Most importantly, make sure you use good quality white chocolate (I use Ghiradelli or Lindt). I never have good luck with white chocolate chips, and stay clear of those for melting.
I melted white chocolate chips and they turned into a big ball! So I re-melted them using a double boiler, poured it into an 8″x8″ pan, and then pressed chopped pecans and pretzels over top and then chilled. A new kind of sweet and salty bark and the chocolate did not go to waste!
Try using the Wilton Candy Melts, per the alternate suggestion. I just made this and it came out perfect! Delicious :)
So. Good. It’s almost a bad idea for me to make this. Almost. :)
What a great holiday snack! So easy AND tasty (just insisted making some, now I am all cozy in my bed, watching this show I’m TOTALLY obsessed with, DROP DEAD DIVA) BEST show ever! Great show, great food!
Ya! Love that show too! Just made some reindeer chow and I’m about to copy you!
Pinning this right now because I am all about the party mixes, chows, munchy food, and just this whole thing! Microwave/nobake recipes always are a hit here :)
How good does that look! I think I’d like to have in place of cookies, just for the night that is. :)