Reindeer chow is the most-pinned Christmas snack recipe of the season, every year without exception. The combination of chocolate, peanut butter, Chex cereal, and powdered sugar produces a sweet, salty, crunchy mix that takes 15 minutes to make and fills enough bags to give to everyone on your list. The problems people search about are consistent: chocolate coating that clumps instead of coating evenly, powdered sugar that turns damp and sticky instead of fluffy white, and a finished mix that goes soft within a day. This guide solves all three. You get the full base recipe with tested ratios, the correct shaking technique for even coating, 11 variations from a white chocolate version to a peanut-free school-safe mix, gifting bag ideas, and a full make-ahead and storage guide that keeps reindeer chow crisp for two weeks.
Check out our related guide on Easy No-Bake Christmas Treats You Can Make in 30 Minutes.
What Reindeer Chow Actually Is
Large bowl of finished reindeer chow, powdered sugar dusted over the top, red and green M&Ms and pretzel pieces visible, photographed from above on a white surface with Christmas decoration in the background
Reindeer chow is a no-bake Christmas snack mix built on the same base as muddy buddies or puppy chow: rice or corn Chex cereal coated in a melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture, then tossed in powdered sugar until every piece is covered in a white, snowy coating. For the Christmas version, red and green M&Ms, mini pretzels, holiday sprinkles, and mini peanut butter cups get mixed in after the powdered sugar step to give the finished mix a festive, colorful look.
The name comes from the playful idea that the mix is what you leave out for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve, the same way children leave carrots or oats for Rudolph and the team. In practice, the mix rarely makes it that far before it gets eaten.
The appeal is straightforward. It is sweet and salty at once. The Chex cereal gives it crunch. The chocolate and peanut butter coating gives it richness. The powdered sugar gives it a crisp, snow-white surface that looks as festive as it tastes. It makes an enormous batch for minimal effort, which is why it dominates Christmas snack and gifting boards on Pinterest every December.
Pro Tip: Make two batches at once when cooking for the holidays. One for the house and one for gifting. The recipe scales directly and the extra 10 minutes of work produces enough reindeer chow to fill eight to ten treat bags.
Reindeer Chow: Full Ingredients
: All base recipe ingredients measured into small bowls on a white surface: Chex cereal, chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, with add-ins in separate small bowls beside them
This recipe makes approximately 10 to 12 cups of finished reindeer chow, enough for eight to ten treat bags or one large serving bowl for a party.
For the Base:
- 9 cups (about 350g) rice or corn Chex cereal
- 1 cup (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup (85g) creamy peanut butter
- 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (180g) powdered sugar, divided between two bags
Festive Add-Ins:
- ¾ cup red and green M&Ms
- ½ cup mini pretzels
- ½ cup mini Reese’s peanut butter cups (optional)
- 2 tbsp Christmas sprinkles
The 1½ cups of powdered sugar divided between two gallon zip-lock bags is the key measurement. Using less than one cup total leaves patches of exposed chocolate on the cereal. Using more than two cups creates an overly sweet, paste-like coating rather than a light, snowy dusting.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Six-panel image showing melted chocolate mixture, chocolate poured over cereal in a bowl, cereal being transferred to zip-lock bags, bags being shaken, finished mix spread on parchment, and candy and sprinkles being added to the finished mix
Step 1: Measure the Cereal
Pour nine cups of Chex cereal into a large mixing bowl. Set aside. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Melt the Chocolate Coating
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high for one minute. Remove and stir vigorously. If the chocolate chips are not fully melted, microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring after each, until the mixture is smooth and glossy. Do not overheat. Remove from the microwave while a few chips are still visible and stir until the residual heat finishes the melting. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 3: Coat the Cereal
Let the chocolate mixture rest for 90 seconds off heat, stirring occasionally. Pour over the Chex cereal. Use a large rubber spatula to fold the cereal gently in the chocolate, turning from the bottom up, until every piece is coated. Work quickly but gently to avoid breaking the cereal squares.
Step 4: Shake With Powdered Sugar
Divide the chocolate-coated cereal evenly between two large gallon-size zip-lock bags. Add three-quarters of a cup of powdered sugar to each bag. Seal both bags tightly. Shake each bag for 20 to 30 seconds, rotating and redistributing the pieces halfway through. The mix should look completely white with no dark patches visible through the bag.
Step 5: Spread and Cool
Pour the coated cereal from both bags onto the parchment-lined baking sheet in a single, even layer. Break apart any clumped pieces gently. Let the mix rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes until the chocolate coating is fully set and the mix feels dry to the touch.
Step 6: Add the Festive Mix-Ins
Scatter the M&Ms, mini pretzels, Reese’s cups, and sprinkles over the spread-out mix. Toss gently to distribute. Dust with an extra tablespoon or two of powdered sugar if desired for a more snow-covered appearance. Transfer to a serving bowl or divide into treat bags.
Popular Asked Questions
What is the difference between reindeer chow and puppy chow?
Reindeer chow and puppy chow are the same base recipe: Chex cereal coated in melted chocolate and peanut butter, then shaken in powdered sugar. The difference is in the add-ins and the context. Puppy chow (also called muddy buddies) is the year-round version with no specific seasonal additions. Reindeer chow is the Christmas version, dressed up with red and green M&Ms, holiday sprinkles, mini pretzels, and sometimes candy cane pieces or Reese’s cups. The name reindeer chow comes from the tradition of leaving out a snack mix for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve. The recipe, the technique, and the ingredient ratios are identical. Only the add-ins and the name change.
How long does reindeer chow last?
Reindeer chow stored in an airtight container at room temperature stays fresh and crispy for up to two weeks. Do not refrigerate it. The humidity in a standard refrigerator causes the powdered sugar coating to absorb moisture and turn damp and sticky. If the powdered sugar surface looks dull or feels slightly tacky after several days, dust with a fresh tablespoon or two of powdered sugar and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. The base without candy add-ins can be frozen for up to six weeks. Thaw at room temperature and add fresh M&Ms and sprinkles before serving.
Can you make reindeer chow without peanut butter?
Yes. Replace the peanut butter in the chocolate coating with an equal amount of sunflower seed butter, almond butter, or cashew butter. Sunflower seed butter is the most allergy-friendly option for school settings and produces a mix with an almost identical texture to the peanut butter version. The flavor is slightly milder. You can also skip the nut or seed butter entirely and use just chocolate chips and butter for the coating. The result is a thinner chocolate coating but the recipe works without any nut or seed product.
What is the best way to package reindeer chow for gifting?
Clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon are the most popular gifting format for reindeer chow because the colorful mix is visible through the bag without any additional decoration. Mason jars work well for a more substantial, display-worthy gift. Kraft paper bags with a folded-over top and a sticker seal give a handmade, artisan feel appropriate for neighbors and colleagues. For close friends and family, a small cardboard holiday gift box with a printed ingredient label inside gives the gift a more considered, elevated presentation. One batch of Christmas reindeer chow fills eight to ten standard treat bags, enough to cover most holiday gift lists from a single afternoon of cooking.
Can you make reindeer chow gluten-free?
Yes. Use Rice Chex as the cereal base. Rice Chex is certified gluten-free by General Mills. Check that your chocolate chips, peanut butter, and powdered sugar are also produced in gluten-free facilities if celiac disease is a concern. Most major brands of chocolate chips and peanut butter are naturally gluten-free but some are processed in shared facilities with wheat. The add-ins are where the most gluten risk appears. Standard M&Ms are gluten-free. Many pretzel varieties are not. Use certified gluten-free pretzels or skip them and substitute with gluten-free rice crackers if needed.
Final Thoughts
Reindeer chow earns its place as the most-shared Christmas snack recipe on Pinterest every December for good reason. The recipe takes 15 minutes, produces enough to fill a dozen gift bags, and the result tastes genuinely better than anything store-bought in the same category. Once you have the correct shaking technique and the two-batch powdered sugar method down, the rest is just choosing which variation to make.
The classic chocolate peanut butter version is always the crowd favorite. The peppermint bark variation is the one that earns the most compliments from people who think they already know what to expect. And the peanut-free version is the one that makes you the most popular gift-giver on the school party list.
Which variation are you making this Christmas? The classic red and green, the peppermint bark version, or the dark chocolate for a more grown-up gift? Leave a comment below and tell us how many bags your batch filled.
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