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Reindeer Chow

This Reindeer Chow (a seasonal version of Puppy Chow) is fun and festive and loaded with sweet and salty flavors! It is the perfect snack for your next holiday get together!

A PERFECT PARTY TREAT

I love mixes during the holiday season, or pretty much all year long. The combinations that there are are pretty much endless. This Reindeer Chow is my personal go-to for the holiday season! With minimal ingredients and time, this is a great recipe to put out at parties, give as gifts or just to munch on when you are hungry. We always make this as a family and is a standing tradition that it is not Christmas unless we make our Reindeer Chow Recipe! So if you are looking for a fun treat to make with the kids, to give as gifts or to bring to your next holiday gathering look no further.

Reindeer Chow in white bowl.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Does Reindeer chow need to be kept refrigerated.?

Not if you are going to eat it within 2-3 days. Just make sure to keep it in a ziptop bag or a lidded container. I really enjoy eating it cold so maybe give that a try!

Is there another variation I could make?

Reindeer Chow is so easy and versatile that you can make so many changes! Try using Cinnamon Chex or Chocolate Chex Cereal – both are so delicious! You can add in mini marshmallows or dried fruit to change it up!

Can I use other nut butters in Reindeer Chow?

I am not really familiar with other nut butters but as long as the consistency of your nut butter is similar to peanut butter and isn’t too oily, then it should work here. If you need your Reindeer Chow to be peanut-free, you can substitute the peanut butter with white chocolate chips and replace the peanuts and mini peanut butter cups with miniature marshmallows, and whole chocolate chips.

How do I store?

Store in an airtight container or ziptop bag at room temperature for a week or in the refrigerator if you like it chilled for 10 days! This can also be frozen, you can make it ahead of time and freeze it in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving but make sure you try it frozen, game changer!

Pinterest image of Reindeer Chow in a gift box tin.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • Corn Chex
  • Rice Chex
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • peanut butter 
  • salted butter
  • vanilla extract
  • salt
  • powdered sugar
  • christmas m&ms
  • pretzels
  • salted peanuts
  • Reese’s mini peanut butter cups
Ingredients needed: corn chex, rice chex, semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, salted butter, vanilla, salt, powdered sugar, Christmas M&Ms, pretzels, salted peanuts and Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups.

HOW TO MAKE REINDEER CHOW:

In a large bowl add both kinds of Chex cereal and stir gently to avoid breakage to completely mix, set aside. In a medium glass bowl add chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter and melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each one until the mixture is melted and completely smooth.

Chocolate, butter and peanut butter melted together in bowl.

Add in the vanilla extract and salt, stirring until fully combined. 

Salt and vanilla added to melted mixture.

Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top of the Chex cereal and gently mix (to avoid breakage) with a spatula until fully covered. 

Chocolate mixture poured over chex cereal in bowl and stirred together.

Working in two batches, pour half the Chex mix into a ziptop bag with 1 cup of powdered sugar, seal the bag and shake until all the cereal is covered with powdered sugar.  

Cereal mixture in ziptop bag mixed with powdered sugar.

Pour the powdered sugar Chex mix onto a baking sheet and place aside. Repeat with the other half of the Chex cereal and powdered sugar in the same bag, making sure to seal the bag and shake until the Chex cereal is completely covered. Pour the cereal mixture onto the baking sheet and allow to cool completely. To speed up the process, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Powdered sugar covered cereal cooling on baking sheet.

Once you are ready to serve or share, add the cereal mixture to a large bowl, mix in your M&M’s,  pretzels, peanuts, and Reese’s peanut butter cups and mix until fully combined. 

All ingredients in white bowl before mixing together.

Then dig in!

Overhead of Reindeer Chow in white bowl with ingredients next to bowl.

WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? YOU MUST TRY THESE!

Square image close up of Reindeer Chow in gift box tin.

Reindeer Chow

This Reindeer Chow (a seasonal version of Puppy Chow) is fun and festive and loaded with sweet and salty flavors! It is the perfect snack for your next holiday get together!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Chilling Time:: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 25

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Corn Chex
  • 3 cups Rice Chex
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 12 ounce bag of Christmas M&Ms
  • 3 cups twisted pretzels
  • 1 cup salted peanuts
  • 2 cups Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Instructions

  • In a large bowl add both kinds of Chex cereal and stir gently to avoid breakage to completely mix, set aside.
  • In a medium glass bowl add chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter and melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each one until the mixture is melted and completely smooth.
  • Add in the vanilla extract and salt, stirring until fully combined.
  • Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top of the Chex cereal and gently mix (to avoid breakage) with a spatula until fully covered.
  • Working in two batches, pour half the Chex mix into a ziplock bag with 1 cup of powdered sugar, seal the bag and shake until all the cereal is covered with powdered sugar.
  • Pour the powdered sugar Chex mix onto a baking sheet and place aside. Repeat with the other half of the Chex cereal and powdered sugar in the same bag, making sure to seal the bag and shake until the Chex cereal is completely covered.
  • Pour the cereal mixture onto the baking sheet and allow to cool completely. You can place it in the refrigerator to speed up the process.
  • Once you are ready to serve or share, add the cereal mixture to a large bowl, mix in the M&M’s, pretzels, peanuts, and Reese's peanut butter cups and mix until fully combined and enjoy!

Notes

  • Several different variations can be made to this recipe, see above for some tips!
  • This is great to give as gifts.
  • Double this recipe easily to serve more to guests or give away.
  • This can be frozen, see tips above.
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 21g | Sodium: 381mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 33g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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