Reindeer Chow, an easy, fun, and favorite holiday treat!
This is one of those holiday treats my family always made and is also commonly known as muddy buddies.
I doctored them up a little for more of a festive flair by adding holiday m&ms! I KNOW you’re going to love this reindeer chow!!
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Reindeer Puppy Chow – you need to try this ASAP!
I love this time of year! There are so many goodies that are preserved just for the holidays, it just makes our favorite treats extra special!
Why is that anyway… we think we can only have these yummies when the temperature drops? Who knows, but I’ll take ’em and I’ll especially take this Christmas Puppy Chow!
Take me to the recipe for Reindeer Chow already!
Thank you so much for your eagerness to view my recipe.
If you would rather not hear my super helpful tips and tricks, FAQ, and my overall awesomeness and get straight to this delicious Reindeer Chow – you can very easily scroll all the way to the bottom of this post for the full printable FREE recipe! Bon appetit.
Reindeer Chow is one of my favorite holiday treats!
How do you make Reindeer Chow:
- Melt the peanut butter and butter.
- Add in the chocolate and stir until dissolved.
- Stir in the vanilla.
- In a large bowl stir together half of the peanut butter mixture and half of your cereal.
- In a double lined paper bag, add some (but not all!) of the powdered sugar and the remaining cereal. Shake!
- Then add in some M&Ms, some more powdered sugar, some of the previously mixed cereal, and some of the remaining peanut butter mixture.
- Shake and repeat until all the ingredients are combined and the cereal is coated with powdered sugar!
Puppy Chow Chex Mix Recipe, Muddy Buddy Chex mix, Reindeer Chow – call it what you want, but I call it delicious!
What is reindeer chow?
Reindeer chow is a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate, cereal, candy, and powdered sugar.
It goes by other names like muddy buddies and puppy chow. Depending on the type of candy you use you can make this for any holiday!
I used red and green for a Christmas themed recipe, but you can easily use pink candy for Valentine’s Day, pastel-colored candy for Easter and so on!
Can you freeze reindeer chow?
Yes! I love sticking this in the freezer and eating it that way!
It will keep for at least a month in the freezer, but honestly, it never lasts that long in my house, because we eat it up so fast!
How to store reindeer chow?
Store in an airtight container. I like to then place it in the freezer and eat it slightly frozen- yum!
What do you think? Is this Christmas Puppy Chow something you and your little ones will enjoy?!
This reindeer chow was always a favorite among my cousins and myself growing up. Eating it immediately takes me back to my childhood. Going sledding, the anticipation of Santa Claus and just that magical feeling you get around this time of year!
I even made these cute mason jar gift containers so I can give them away to my neighbors and family! Grab a pack today and start packaging up those gifts!
I hope you make these and start some traditions of your own! Do you already have some traditions? What are some musts you make??
Make sure to check out some of my other favorite holiday recipes like Christmas Tree Frosted Cupcakes, Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies, and these cute Christmas Tree Meringues!
Tools used to make Reindeer Chow:
- Tupperware Thatsa Bowl 32-cup in Rain Drop Blue by Tupperware
- OXO Good Grips Nylon Spoon
- New Star Foodservice 42917 1 Spoons Combo Set Measuring Cups, Silver
- Brown Paper Lunch Bag (40 Bags) XL Heavy Lunch Bags, 60% Larger Than Standard Bags
Reindeer Chow {Muddy Buddies}
Ingredients
- 14 Cups Chex cereal
- 18 oz holiday m&ms
- 12 oz semi sweet chocolate bar or chips
- 1/2 Cup unsalted butter
- 1 Cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4-5 Cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Melt the peanut butter and butter in a microwave safe dish. Microwave in 30 second intervals until butter is melted. Add the chocolate a little at a time until all is melted into the mix. You might need to microwave one last time to make sure everything is melted and add the vanilla. Stir together.
- In a large bowl add half of the cereal. Drizzle half of the chocolate peanut butter mixture into the cereal in the bowl. Mix with a spoon.
- Place one large paper bag into another one. Add 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar and half of the mixed cereal into the bag. Close this tightly and shake vigorously. Add more powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time if needed until all the cereal is coated. Add 1/4 of the m&ms into the bag and toss. Place in an air tight container.
- Continue these step with the remaining ingredients. Keep stored in an airtight container. I personally love to keep it in the freezer, YUM!
Video
Nutrition
This post was updated on 11/29/2018 with new photos.
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Jeri says
I was looking for this recipe…I saw it on Thifty Thursday! Thanks, I pinned it to make for Christmas treats.
Katherines Corner says
Wonderful for munching on while you watch a sweet Hallmark Christmas movie too 🙂
Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. I featured you on facebook!♥
April @ Angels Homestead says
Thank you so much for sharing your Muddy Buddy recipe at last weeks Saturday Spotlight on Angels Homestead!
Hope to see you again soon!
April
claire says
Thank you for linking up at Craft, Create and Inspire last weekend 🙂 your awesome project is featured this week !!
Come grab an “I’ve been featured button” hope you will join us again this weekend
http://livel0vecreate.blogspot.co.uk/ (new url)
claire x
[email protected] says
love this and the photos are amazing! This is a Tasty Tuesday at I’m Not a Trophy Wife on Tuesday! Please head over and grab a button on Tuesday!!! [email protected]
ps something tells me you will be featured several times!!! laura
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above says
This looks so good. Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. Have a great week.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Kelley Sparacino says
I love puppy chow now reindeer chow 🙂 I’m going to make some small baggies of it for my son’s class party this week & I absolutely LOVE your graphic/logo. Is it possible to get just the graphic “Reindeer Chow” without the photo of the mix in the background? I would love to use it for a printable tag & of course would be happy to pay you for your time!
Thanks & Merry Christmas, Kelley
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks so much, this sounds like a great idea! I will be contacting you shortly!
Joleen says
Reindeer chow-nice! Love the name 🙂 This snack is seriously so addicting.
http://bythesparklingsea.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/holiday-muddy-buddies/
Happy holidays!
sheila b says
Can this be made without the peanut butter?
Dana DeVolk says
I’ve never tried but I don’t see why not. Just double up on the chocolate, yum! Let me know how it comes out, thanks!
Judie Dutton says
These look yummy, and I definitely want to make them. Does it matter what kind of chex cereal you use?
Dana DeVolk says
I recommend the rice chex, they are light and crispy and I think the flavor work with it the best. Thanks!
Judie Dutton says
Thanks!
Becky says
How many boxes of cereal should I buy for this??
Dana DeVolk says
One family size will work, 18 ounces 🙂
debbie a says
great recipe and thanks
Can anyone suggest a substitute for PB for those of us with nut allergies??
Lauren says
Approx. how many servings does this make? I love the idea as giving this as a gift to my coworkers, and I’ve already purchased cute bags. But I’m not sure if I need to do a double batch or not.
Dana DeVolk says
Easily 20 servings! Thanks for stopping by, I hope they like it!
Sarah Metzger says
I’m also planning to make a batch or two for my coworkers. (Using your mason jar idea gift jar idea, too!!) How many oz are you estimating per “serving”? Or how many 32oz mason jars would a batch fill? I’m guessing 3 – 4 jars?
Dana DeVolk says
I hate to say that I’m not entirely sure. It really makes a LOT. Depending on the size of the mason jars you use too. If you are using the smaller mason jars, I’d say you would get at least 12 portions if not more.
Kara says
What a great idea to add the holiday M&Ms! I love it! I want to make this for gifts and Christmas day, but need to make some early. How do you recommend storing it, and how long do you think it will be good? Thanks so much! ::)
Dana DeVolk says
When I make muddy buddies I always store it in an air-tight container in the freezer. That is just a personal preference but it will keep for weeks like that. So, if you want to make it ahead of time, I suggest making this without the m&m’s, freeze it and then right before handing them out as gifts, mix in the m&m’s and package it up. I hope that helps!
Kara says
Thanks so much for your help! That sounds perfect. 🙂
Ann says
How much butter?
Dana DeVolk says
1/2 cup
Linsey F. says
How much you think the serving size is?
Dana DeVolk says
According to similar pre-packaged products like this a serving size is 1/3 Cup. However, if you are giving it as gifts or separating it into portions I would serve it in 1 Cup portions.