Our reindeer chow recipe is a fun, peanut free alternative to Christmas puppy chow! Our easy to follow instructions, step-by-step photos, and tips for success will help ensure you mix up a great batch of reindeer chow the first time. If you love no bake Christmas treats, and sweet snacks, this is a must-try!
Reader Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Amazing recipe, easy and very little mess.” – Henry
“Found this stuff after searching for Christmas Puppy Chow recipes. Turns out this is just as good. Will put both into my Christmas rotation!” – Randy
Puppy chow, also known as muddy buddies, is a popular Midwestern treat that pretty much everyone loves. It hits on so many levels: salty, sweet, crunchy, easy… it’s just darn delicious. A a puppy chow loving Midwesterner who’s developed nearly 70 dessert recipes, including over 20 no-bake dessert recipes, for this website, I’ve been making flavor variations on this classic for years (have you tried our strawberry puppy chow or cookies and cream muddy buddies yet?!). I decided it was time for another festive version to share during the holiday season, and through testing different ratios and mix-ins, I perfected this peanut-free version that’s just as addictive as the original.
Our version of reindeer chow doesn’t include peanuts, making it a treat that can be enjoyed by more people. Whether you want to set it out as a fun holiday snack, package it up as nice individual homemade gifts, or set it out on Christmas Eve for the reindeer, this no bake treat is a great choice for your holiday merriment. And don’t forget to check out our other Christmas recipes too!
You’ll Love Our Recipe for Reindeer Chow
Our recipe is peanut / peanut butter free making it more accessible to people who cannot have peanuts. It’s a great alternative to Christmas puppy chow (but I say make both!).
Cute and easy. This festive red, white, and green treat is mixed up in minutes and there’s no need to turn on the oven!
Fun for the whole family! Both for eating and making. This easy treat is a great recipe to try with those sweet little helpers who are eager to participate.
Smaller Batch, but easy to double or triple if needed! Our base recipe makes a smaller batch of reindeer chow (so nice if your house is overflowing with holiday treats!) but can easily be doubled or tripled for parties or gifting!
Puppy Chow vs. Muddy Buddies
Puppy chow and muddy buddies are two names for the exact same treat: cereal coated in chocolate and peanut butter, then tossed in powdered sugar. “Muddy Buddies” is the official name that General Mills uses for the recipe, while “puppy chow” is the more common regional nickname, especially in the Midwest. Both refer to this classic snack mix that’s been a party favorite for decades. Our reindeer chow is a festive, peanut-free variation on this beloved treat that swaps white chocolate for the traditional chocolate-peanut butter combo and adds holiday colors with m&ms and sprinkles.
Ingredients Needed for this Reindeer Chow Mix
- Rice Chex Cereal. The classic base ingredient for any puppy chow or muddy buddy recipe.
- Cheerios Cereal. Adds another texture and flavor to this fun holiday snack mix!
- Holiday Milk Chocolate m&ms. Gives our reindeer chow a fun pop of holiday color as well as more chocolate flavor.
- Pretzels. We use classic mini twist pretzels, but you can use pretzel sticks (broken in half works best), holiday pretzels, or whatever shape you like best! The only kind I wouldn’t recommend is the large pretzel rods.
- White Chocolate. Coats our mixture and adds sweetness. Using white chocolate also makes the holiday m&ms and sprinkles pop in this fun dessert! I recommend using a white chocolate bar vs. white chocolate chips if possible (more notes below). Almond bark or white melting wafers are other options to try.
- Neutral Oil. Used to help melt our white chocolate (more notes below). You can use vegetable oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, or coconut oil (although coconut oil option can alter the taste a bit).
- Holiday Sprinkles. Adds that final, festive touch to our treat. We’ve used nonpareils, but you can use standard sprinkles (sometimes called jimmies), confetti sprinkles (sometimes called quins), or whatever blend you’d like!
See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full instructions and ingredient measurements.
Tips for Melting White Chocolate
White chocolate is notoriously challenging to melt. Using bar chocolate (instead of chocolate chips) makes a big difference when melting white chocolate because chocolate chips have stabilizers in them to help them hold their shape when heated. Using a bar removes this hurdle. Additionally, using a small amount of a neutral oil (a must if you’re using chips!) helps the chocolate from drying out and seizing up as you try to melt it.
How to Make Reindeer Food
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Add your Chex cereal, Cheerios, m&ms, and pretzels to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Add the white chocolate and neutral oil into a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each cycle, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal mixture.
Gently stir until all of the ingredients are well coated.
Transfer the coated cereal mixture to the lined baking sheet, spreading it out across the pan.
Top with your favorite holiday sprinkles (measure with your heart).
Allow the chocolate coating to set up. You can do this at room temperature, but the fridge will help set it best.
Break the treat into smaller, bite-sized clusters and enjoy!
Reindeer Food Recipe Variations
Add peanuts. Some versions of reindeer chow add in peanuts to the mix. If you’re into that, go for it! To do so, I’d recommend adding in 1 Cup of ‘cocktail peanuts’ and an additional 1 ounce of white chocolate to make sure everything gets well coated.
Swap out some or all of the Rice Chex. Some people like to use a blend of Rice Chex and Corn Chex (just use equal portions of each) for puppy chow. Crispix is another great alternative to the Rice Chex (replace the Rice Chex completely).
Mix-in different candies. You could swap out the milk chocolate m&ms for peanut m&ms, mini Reeses, Cadbury mini ‘snow ball’ candies, or other festive chocolate-based holiday candies you love.
How to Store Reindeer Chow Mix
Store your reindeer chow in an airtight container or zip top bag for up to 1 week at room temperature or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. You can also freeze this treat for up to 2 months if desired.
Reindeer Food Recipe FAQs
This recipe takes about 40 minutes from start to finish BUT the actual hands-on time is only about 10 minutes… the rest of the time is for cooling, letting the chocolate set.
You can make reindeer chow up to one week in advance when stored in an airtight container at room temperature, or up to two weeks if stored in the refrigerator. For even longer storage, you can freeze this treat for up to two months. This makes it ideal for holiday party prep or for making homemade gifts well in advance. Just wait to package it in decorative bags or jars until closer to when you plan to gift or serve it to ensure maximum freshness and the best presentation.
Love this Recipe? Try One of These Easy Christmas Treats Next!
Homemade Reindeer Chow Recipe
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl (for cereal mixture)
- Microwave Safe Bowl (for melting chocolate)
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 Cups plain Cheerios
- 1 + ½ Cups milk chocolate holiday m&ms
- 1 + ½ Cups pretzels (shown with mini twists)
- 8 ounces white chocolate, rough chopped
- ½ Tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or grapeseed)
- 1 Tablespoon holiday sprinkles (shown with nonpareils)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add your Chex cereal, Cheerios, m&ms, and pretzels to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chopped white chocolate and neutral oil in the microwave in 30-second increments. Stir in between each cycle, until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the white chocolate over the cereal mixture and gently stir to coat the other ingredients. Continue to stir until everything is well-coated.
- Transfer the coated cereal mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading it to the edges of the pan to create a somewhat even layer.
- Top with your favorite holiday sprinkles.
- Allow the chocolate to set up completely. You can do this at room temperature, but the fridge will speed things up.
- Once set, break the reindeer chow into smaller, bite-sized cluster and enjoy!
Notes
- Add peanuts. To do so, add 1 Cup of ‘cocktail peanuts’ and an additional 1 ounce of white chocolate to make sure everything gets well coated.
- Swap out some or all of the Rice Chex. Some people like to use a blend of Rice Chex and Corn Chex (just use equal portions of each) for puppy chow. Crispix is another great alternative to the Rice Chex (replace the Rice Chex completely).
- Mix-in different candies. You could swap out the milk chocolate m&ms for peanut m&ms, mini Reeses, Cadbury mini ‘snow ball’ candies, or other festive chocolate-based holiday candies you love.
Henry says
Amazing recipe, easy and very little mess.
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this sweet treat Henry! Happy Holidays!
Kevin Tattitch says
These are so addicting. So good.
Meredith says
Glad to hear you’re loving this reindeer chow too Kevin, thank you!
Randy says
Found this stuff after searching for Christmas Puppy Chow recipes. Turns out this is just as good. Will put both into my Christmas rotation!
Meredith says
Glad you like this version too Randy!! And great choice making them both for the holidays 🙂
Marge says
My kiddo loves this! Thanks!