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This Reindeer Chow recipe is a festive snack mix for your next Christmas party! It’s the perfect easy treat to add a little extra magic to your holiday season.

It’s almost the most wonderful time of year! I call this recipe Reindeer Chow or Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix, but it goes by a lot of different names: Reindeer Food, Reindeer Snack Mix, Santa’s Reindeer Chow, Reindeer Chow Muddy Buddies, Reindeer Puppy Chow, or Christmas Puppy Chow. Regardless of what you call it, this recipe is the perfect treat for Christmas!

a photo of Christmas Chex Mix - Reindeer Chow Recipe

Whatever you decide to call it, this Christmas Puppy Chow recipe is a fun treat that is easy to make. And, it’s a HUGE hit as an edible gift.

A photo of Christmas chex mix in a box

This easy Reindeer Chow is the perfect blend of sweet chocolate and salty pretzels!

For mix-ins, don’t feel like you need to use the exact ingredients! We use Snowcap candy, holiday M&M’s and mini peanut butter cups. But, you can absolutely swap my ingredients out for your favorite mix-ins! Here are a few suggestions:

  • A dash of holiday-colored sprinkles
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Chopped Nutter Butters
  • Chopped large Reese’s cups
  • Nestle chocolate bells
  • Peppermint sticks
  • Peanuts
  • Cheerios

If you can find the Christmas shaped pretzels, they’re a super cute addition!

a close up photo of Christmas chex mix with pretzels

Ways to Serve Christmas Chex Mix

You can make this recipe ahead of time, and serve it in so many ways, like:

  • In a large bowl at your holiday party
  • In festive cellophane bags, given as individual gifts
  • In a Christmas-themed Gallon Ziplock bag, given to neighbors

Or, serve on a Christmas cookie tray with Christmas Cracker Candy, Candy Cane Peppermint Chocolate Bark, Peanut Butter Brownies, and Brownie Mix Cookies!

a photo of rice chex coated in colored candy melts

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find candy melts?

You can typically buy candy melts at the craft store. Wal-Mart also carries them in their wedding/baking aisle, or buy them on Amazon here.

What if I can’t find colored candy melts?

That’s fine! Just purchase all white candy melts. If you’d still like to add color, separate the white candy melts into three bowls and add food coloring to make one bowl red and one bowl green.

Add the food coloring after the candy melts are melted and stir vigorously.

a photo of red, white and green chocolate coated chex cereal

Can I substitute white chocolate chips for the candy melts?

Sorry, but no. They are not made of the same ingredients and the white chocolate chips don’t melt very well.

Where can I buy mini peanut butter cups?

You can typically find mini Reese’s cups in the baking aisle by the chocolate chips. I have also been able to find them at Aldi on the endcap that displays their chocolate bars.

a bowl of ingredients for Christmas Puppy Chow before they're mixed together

Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix Tips and Tricks

Reading the recipe card below is important before you start. This recipe is easy, but it’s one of those recipes where a bit of preparation really helps out!

Here are a few extra tips to help you out:

  • I like to have my powdered sugar read to go in the Ziploc bags while I melt the candy melts in the microwave.
  • Do not let the cereal sit too long before coating in powdered sugar, or the chocolate will set and the powdered sugar won’t stick.
  • After tossing in the powdered sugar, feel through the cereal with your hands and break up any clumps.
a photo of Holiday puppy chow on a table

You can store this puppy chow in an airtight container for up to one week. I hope that you enjoy this recipe, and Happy Holidays!

an overhead photo of christmas chex mix

Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix

Yield: 16 cups
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Author: Michelle Goth
This Reindeer Chow recipe is a festive snack mix for your next Christmas party! It's the perfect easy treat to add a little extra magic to your holiday season.
4.99 from 50 ratings
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Ingredients
 

  • 9 cups Rice Chex, or Corn Chex
  • 1.5 cups white candy melts
  • 1.5 cups red candy melts
  • 1.5 cups green candy melts
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, divided

For the mix-ins:

  • 2 cups mini pretzels, pretzel sticks or pretzel twists
  • 7.6 ounces of mini peanut butter cups
  • 1.5 cups Christmas M&M’s
  • 6 ounces SnoCap candies

Instructions
 

  • Melt the candy melts: In 3 separate microwave-safe bowls place the white, red and green candy melts.
  • One by one, place each microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Heat in 30 second intervals until it is melted and smooth.
  • Coat the cereal in chocolate: To each bowl of melted chocolate, add 3 cups of the Chex cereal. Toss gently to coat with the melted candy melts.
  • Coat the cereal in powdered sugar: Prepare 3 gallon-sized Ziploc bags with 1 cup of powdered sugar in each bag.
  • Transfer each bowl of coated cereal to a bag of powdered sugar. Seal the bags and shake to coat the cereal.
  • Let the cereal rest in the fridge: Place the Ziploc bags in the fridge and allow them to rest for 10 minutes.
  • Add mix-ins:To a large mixing bowl, add all three bags of coated cereal and the mix-in ingredients. Toss gently to combine, then serve.

Notes

Store this recipe at room temperature for up to 1 week, in an air-tight container.
Serving: 1, Calories: 283kcal, Carbohydrates: 63g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 102mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 34g
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