Reindeer Chow

If Santa gets cookies, his reindeer need more than oats and carrots!  This Reindeer Chow is a delicious medley of peanut butter and chocolate-coated cereal with M&M’s and mini Reese’s cups. 

Other favorite Christmas treats include Oreo Truffles, Microwave Fudge, or this Christmas Snack Mix.

Fun And Festive Reindeer Chow

Muddy Buddies (or Puppy Chow) is hands down, one of my kids’ favorite treats; they’ll ask for it almost weekly! So if there’s an excuse to jazz it up for Christmas, it’s a done deal at our home. 

Ingredients In Reindeer Chow

• Rice Chex: This is the base of the recipe, providing a crunchy texture and a neutral flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: Adds a rich, nutty flavor and helps bind the chocolate mixture to the cereal.
• Milk or Semisweet Chocolate Chips: These contribute to the chocolatey flavor and, when melted, help coat the cereal pieces.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps smooth out the chocolate and peanut butter mixture, making it easier to coat the cereal.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the mixture with a hint of vanilla.
• Powdered Sugar: Coats the cereal, adding a sweet, powdery texture that contrasts with the crunchy cereal.
• Optional Additions (Christmas-colored M&M’s, Mini Peanut Butter Cups): These add extra texture, flavor, and festive colors to the mix.

How To Make Reindeer Chow

1. Prepare Cereal: Place toasted rice cereal in a large bowl.
2. Melt Mixture: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter, chocolate chips, and unsalted butter. Microwave in short bursts, stirring until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract and sea salt.
3. Coat Cereal: Pour the melted mixture over the cereal, stirring until evenly coated.
4. Add Powdered Sugar: Put half the coated cereal in a zip-top bag, add powdered sugar, and shake. Repeat with the remaining cereal and sugar.
5. Mix Extras: Transfer the coated cereal to a large bowl and add optional items like M&M’s and mini peanut butter cups.
6. Store: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze for a chilled snack.

Variations

• Reindeer Chow without peanut butter. Swap out the peanut butter for white chocolate chips and replace the miniature Reese’s cups with another chocolate bite-sized candy (like Whoppers®) or miniature marshmallows.
• Make it salty. Add some miniature pretzel twists to the mix.
• Swap the chocolate. We love milk chocolate in Reindeer Chow but use your favorite type of chocolate — dark or semi-sweet instead!

More Holiday Fun

• Christmas Cookies
• Christmas Oreo Pops
• Christmas Mason Jar Gift Ideas
• Mexican Wedding Cookies
• Christmas Candies

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5 from 4 votes

Reindeer Chow

By Chelsea Lords

If Santa gets cookies, his Reindeer need more than oats and carrots! Reindeer Chow is a delicious medley of peanut butter and chocolate-coated Chex cereal with M&M's and mini Reese's cups.

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

USMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 9 cups toasted rice cereal like Rice Chex
• ▢ 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• ▢ 1 cup milk or semisweet chocolate chips I like Guittard or Ghirardelli
• ▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ Optional Additions
• ▢ 1 bag (12 ounces) Christmas-colored M&M's (can use peanut butter or peanut M&Ms for extra peanut butter!)
• ▢ 2 cups mini peanut butter cups

Instructions 

• PREP: Measure cereal into a large bowl ; set aside.
• MELT: In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butter. Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, stirring in between each burst for 15 seconds, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Add the vanilla and salt. Pour over the prepared cereal and stir until the cereal is evenly coated.
• POWDERED SUGAR: Pour half of the cereal mixture into a gallon-sized zipper-top plastic bag, and pour half of the powdered sugar over it. Seal and shake until the cereal is evenly coated. Repeat with the other half of the cereal and powdered sugar in the same or a different bag. Shake until all the cereal is well coated.
• JAZZ IT UP: Empty the mix into a large bowl, and add in the M&M's and miniature Reese's cups.
• STORAGE: Store leftover Reindeer Chow in an airtight container at room temperature-- or in the freezer if you like it chilled.

Nutrition

Serving: 8servings | Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 62.9g | Protein: 6.7g | Fat: 20.1g | Cholesterol: 18.9mg | Sodium: 331.4mg | Fiber: 2.1g | Sugar: 35.4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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