Reindeer Chow

With all of the baking and cooking that’s happening during the holiday season, sometimes all you need is a no-bake, no stress, super quick recipe to feed a crowd. Right? That’s where reindeer chow comes in!

This Reindeer Chow is a holiday rendition of my Easter bunny bait. This time, instead of the Easter bunny, we’re tempting Santa’s reindeer! This recipe is a quick, easy, and loaded with sweet-and-salty chocolate flavor. It’s perfect to bring to parties or to gift to friends and family. Or, do like we do, gobble up by the handful.

Why I Love This Reindeer Chow Recipe

• It’s quick to make. Not to mention, so easy! This reindeer chow is ready to eat in 20 minutes.
• Perfect for a crowd. This is a kid-friendly and crowd-friendly treat, and it’s super easy to scale and customize the recipe. You can mix in any candies or nibbles you’d like (I include some easy variations later on).
• Versatile. I love having a bowl of reindeer chow on the table during the holidays, and it makes a great addition to a Christmas charcuterie board. A bag or jar of this chocolatey Christmas muddy buddies mix also makes a great gift for teachers, friends, or hosts.

Looking for more easy no-bake holiday recipes? Try my 4-ingredient peanut clusters and peanut butter buckeyes, next. And don’t miss these chocolate-covered Christmas Oreos!

Ingredient Notes

These are some notes on the important ingredients in this easy reindeer chow recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list with the full details.

• Chex Mix – I use a combination of corn and rice Chex mix along with Honey Nut Cheerios for the puppy chow component. You can use all or one of these cereals, it’s up to you.
• Chocolate Chips – You’ll melt the chocolate chips with butter and peanut butter to make the coating. For best results, choose good quality chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter – I recommend shelf-stable, creamy peanut butter. Natural peanut butter contains excess oils that tend to separate.
• Powdered Sugar – Also called confectioner’s sugar.
• Cocoa Powder – You can use any type of cocoa powder you’d like. I like natural unsweetened cocoa powder, while Dutch-processed cocoa powder will yield a darker color and more intense cocoa flavor.
• Mix-ins – I fill out my reindeer chow with add-ins like Chrismas M&Ms, mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, and pretzels for some salty contrast. Really, though, just anything goes!

How to Make Reindeer Chow

This sweet, salty, chocolatey snack comes together quicker than you can list all the reindeer names! It’s super easy to make whenever I need a last-minute holiday dessert. Here’s a quick recipe overview. You’ll find the printable instructions in the recipe card after the post.

1. Cover the cereal in chocolate. Start by adding the Chex mix and Cheerios to a bowl. Separately, melt chocolate chips with butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Afterward, pour the melted chocolate over the cereal and toss gently to coat.
2. Toss with powdered sugar. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder to a large gallon Ziploc bag. Add the chocolate-covered cereal to the bag and give it a good shake until the cereal is well-coated in sugar. Spread the muddy buddies out onto a baking sheet to cool.
3. Combine. Lastly, toss in your mix-ins, like candies and pretzels, and stir to combine. Enjoy!

Easy Mix-in Ideas

One of the great things about reindeer chow is it’s super customizable. Here are some of my favorite ways to switch it up. You can get as creative as you like when it comes to your reindeer chow ingredients and mix-ins:

• Salty snacks. Popcorn, Bugles chips, or potato chips.
• Nuts. The perfect way to add more crunch! Use plain or salted peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, or any medley of nuts you prefer.
• Dried fruit. Add in chocolate- or yogurt-covered raisins, craisins, dried cherries, apricots, or a mix of dried fruit.
• Candy. Mix in just about any candy you like! Andes Mints, chocolate chips, Hershey’s Kisses, or you can chop up your favorite candy bars.
• Different flavors. Swap out the chocolate muddy buddies in this reindeer chow recipe with my peppermint puppy chow instead!

How to Store Reindeer Chow

• On the counter. Once it’s cooled completely, the finished reindeer chow will last in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also keep this mix in the fridge for longer-term storage.
• Freeze. You can freeze the prepared muddy buddies (without the mix-ins) in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. When you’re ready to use, let it come to room temperature, then assemble the snack mix as directed.

More Christmas Desserts

• Krispie Peanut Butter Balls
• Coconut Date Balls
• Chocolate Rum Balls
• Chocolate Truffles