Reindeer Chow
Turn your favorite Puppy Chow into a Christmas treat with this Reindeer Chow! The combination of chocolate muddy buddies, holiday M&Ms and peanut butter cups are irresistible. It’s so easy the kids can help you stir, mix and shake! Makes a great holiday gift in decorative boxes or packaging!
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly holiday treat, you can’t go wrong with reindeer chow! This sweet snack mix is not only something the kiddos will love to eat, but they’ll love making it, too.
What is Reindeer Chow?
Reindeer chow (or reindeer munch, as it’s sometimes called) is a holiday twist on muddy buddies (or puppy chow, its other name!). Crispy rice cereal coated in melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar is always fun during the holidays. Add in some festive M&Ms and peanut butter cups and they take it over the top!
This recipe makes a big batch (12 servings!) so there’s plenty to share. My kids love to do the stirring and shaking while I take care of melting the chocolate. Once cooled, we package it up in fun holiday containers and give them out to friends, family, and neighbors. It’s one of our favorite holiday traditions.
Whether you need a fun party snack, a treat for gifting, or a sweet surprise to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve, you will want to make this reindeer chow recipe this year!
Ingredients
- Crispy rice cereal squares – We like rice Chex cereal
- Peanut butter – We love creamy peanut butter, but you can use crunchy, too.
- Butter – I used salted but unsalted would work too.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Be sure to check out the variation ideas later in the post!
- Vanilla extract
- Confectioners’ sugar – Also called powdered sugar.
- Red and green M&Ms – Or other holiday chocolate candies that you like!
- Mini peanut butter cups – The minis work great, they’re the perfect size.
Helpful Tools
How to Make It
Pour the cereal into a large mixing bowl and set it aside.
Place the chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan. Warm them over medium-low heat to melt them. Stir and then mix in the peanut butter until the mixture is smooth.
You can also melt everything in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in the bowl and warm them for one minute. Stir and then heat for 30 seconds longer or until the mixture is smooth.
Once you have the melted chocolate mixture, stir in the vanilla. Pour the mixture over the cereal in the large bowl. Stir until it’s evenly coated.
Pour the coated cereal into a 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal the bag, and shake it until the cereal is coated evenly in the powdered sugar.
Spread the cereal mixture on a large baking sheet lined with wax paper and let it cool at room temperature. Once it’s cool, add the m&ms and peanut butter cups. Gently stir to combine and then store the reindeer chow in an airtight container.
Variations
Cereal: We love the rice cereal squares, but you can use other kinds, too! Chex has a variety of flavors so pick your favorite.
Chocolate: You can swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate. If you use white chocolate chips, I recommend melting them on the stove instead of the microwave. They can scorch easier than regular chocolate so melting them slowly usually works better.
Mix-Ins: Any holiday M&Ms that you like will work in this recipe. Or try adding mini marshmallows, other chocolate candies, holiday sprinkles, or even chopped nuts to give it a twist. You could also add some pretzels for a salty-sweet snack mix.
I know you will have so much fun making this reindeer chow with your little holiday helpers! It’s so yummy – everyone will love it!
More Easy Recipes for Christmas
Looking for more easy goodies to make for a merry Christmas this year? You need to try these recipes, too!
- Grinch Kabobs are fun fruit skewers with marshmallows that are great for a light holiday snack!
- If you want another gift idea that’s easy for the kiddos to make, you have to try our Hot Chocolate Spoons!
- Or make a batch of Reindeer Pretzels – they are easy and perfect for Christmas platters!
If you take a picture and share them on Instagram make sure to #kidsactivityzone or tag us @kidsactivityzoneblog so we can see them!
Remember if you enjoy making this treat to comment below and give us a five-star review! It would make our day!
Reindeer Chow
Ingredients
- 9 cup crispy rice cereal squares
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 cup red and green M&Ms
- 1 cup mini peanut butter cups
Instructions
- In a large bowl add cereal and set aside.
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate and butter; add peanut butter and mix until smooth or in a microwavable bowl add chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.
- Stir vanilla extract into chocolate mixture. Pour over cereal in a bowl. Stirring until evenly coated. Pour into a 2-gallon resealable food storage plastic bag.
- Add powdered sugar into a large plastic bag and shake until well coated.
- Spread on waxed paper to cool completely. After it is completely cooled add in M&Ms and peanut butter cups, gently stir to combine.
- Store in an airtight container.
