Reindeer Chow Muddy Buddies are the perfect Christmas treat! (2024)

Reindeer Chow Muddy Buddies are the perfect no-bake Christmas treat! It's a blend of Chex cereal coated in a sweet chocolate and peanut butter concoction and dusted with powdered sugar. This easy Christmas Chex Mix Puppy Chow is a must-make during the holidays!

If you're looking for more easy Christmas treats, try Marshmallow Reindeer, adorable Christmas Kabobs, or salty and sweet Christmas Crack!

It's time to start belting out Christmas carols and planning your holiday treats!

The one thing that should definitely be on your list is Reindeer Chow. Of course, you'll want to make a batch to feed Santa's reindeer because they love reindeer food!

This festive recipe has been around for years, so we can't claim it as our own, but we just love it. Whether you call it Christmas puppy chow or Christmasmuddy buddies, there are plenty of recipes around the web, and it's so good we can't help but share!

OurBunny Chow is a huge hit every year, so we know you'll like this one too!

We love cute Christmas recipes with a theme. These sweet Rolo Reindeer are a hit with kids, and so are these Reese's Reindeer!

Why You'll Love Reindeer Food with Chex Cereal

• The Addictive Flavor & Crunch: This is one crave-worthy flavor combo--chocolate + peanut butter that coats the crunchy cereal perfectly.
• It's SO Easy: In literally 10 minutes (less if you start snacking before it cools), you've got a wonderful DIY holiday treat to share at parties or give as homemade gifts.
• No-Bake Christmas Treat: No oven needed to make this festive Christmas snack! It's perfect for filling holiday tins or treat bags.

Because they come from the heart, Edible Christmas Gifts are the best!

Ingredient Notes

Here's what you'll need to make this Holiday Muddy Buddy Recipe with M&Ms:

• Chex Cereal: The classic choice is Rice Chex, but you can use Corn Chex or a combination of both for a different flavor and texture.
• Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips, Creamy Peanut Butter, and Butter: These ingredients create a delicious coating for the Chex mix. You can use either semi-sweet, milk chocolate chips or white chocolate based on your taste. The peanut butter adds a creamy, nutty flavor to the mix. If you have peanut allergies, you can substitute it with almond or cashew butter.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the mix. If you don't have any on hand, you can omit it, but it does add a nice touch.
• Powdered Sugar (confectioners): The powdered sugar coats the Chex mix and creates a sweet, powdered finish. You can adjust the amount of powdered sugar to your taste, but 1 ½ cups is a good starting point.
• M&Ms (or other seasonal candy): M&M's are a popular choice for their colorful appearance, especially if you go red and green. But you can substitute them with other small candies like Reese's Pieces or holiday-themed candy.

The full recipe and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

Substitutions

If you don't have the exact ingredients in your pantry, you can substitute or add any of the following ingredients to your Reindeer Puppy Chow.

• Popcorn
• Kettle corn
• Pretzels
• Peanuts
• Bugles (the chips)
• Chocolate chips
• Marshmallows

Gluten-Free Reindeer Chow

Reindeer Chow with M&Ms is most commonly made with Chex Mix cereal; if you use the Rice version, it's gluten-free! So grab a box, and let's go! Making a Christmas version of amuddy buddies recipeis so fun!

How to Make this Delicious Reindeer Chow

This snack mix is an easy recipe; you'll want to get the kids involved.

First, place your cereal in a large mixing bowl.

STEP 1 - MELT CHOCOLATE, PEANUT BUTTER, AND BUTTER: Prep a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper and set it aside.

It's time to melt that delicious chocolate and peanut butter concoction, so place your chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl (Image 1).

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Cook for 1 minute and stir. If it's not completely melted, put it back in for a few more seconds. Once it's melted, add your vanilla and mix (Image 2).

STEP 2 - POUR OVER CHEX CEREAL: Now, pour it over your Chex Cereal in your bowl and mix with a spatula until well coated (Image 3).

STEP 3 - ADD POWDERED SUGAR AND MIX: Take a large plastic zip-top bag and place your powdered sugar inside, then add your chocolatey cereal. Close and shake it up so that all the squares are evenly covered with sugar (Image 4).

Finally, place the Reindeer Chow on the baking sheet and let it cool to room temperature.

Once you're ready to serve, add your holiday M&MS or other season candy and chow down (Image 5)!!

Expert Tips to Make the Best Christmas Muddy Buddy Recipe

• Mixing: Be careful not to roughly stir the chocolate mixture into the cereal. And don't over-stir your Reindeer Mix when adding the candy; it may crush the cereal.
• Zippered Bag: A gallon-size bag may not be large enough to mix this recipe. A2-gallon Ziploc bag is better.
• Half-Batch: This is unlikely, but you can half the Christmas Puppy Chow recipe if you need a smaller batch.
• Make-Ahead: Make a batch up to a week in advance and store it in an airtight container until you're ready to serve. It's a great time-saving snack for holiday gatherings.

How To Store

• So your chocolate doesn't melt, store your Reindeer Chow Recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If your house isn't overly warm, you can keep it on the kitchen counter.
• Your Reindeer puppy chow lasts 1-2 weeks if stored in an airtight container.
• Freeze your muddy buddies for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.

Don't even think about heading to a Christmas party without a batch of this magical reindeer food! Package it up in a cute tin and share it with friends and family.

Recipe FAQs

More Easy No-Bake Christmas Desserts

Love this Reindeer Chow recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.

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Printable Recipe

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