Reindeer Chow Muddy Buddies are a no-bake holiday favorite. Crunchy Chex cereal is coated in a warm chocolate–peanut butter mixture, tossed in powdered sugar, and finished with seasonal candies for a festive, irresistible snack. This simple Christmas Chex Mix (also called Puppy Chow) is quick to make and perfect for parties, gift tins, or holiday movie nights.
This festive treat goes by many names—Reindeer Food, Christmas Puppy Chow, or Christmas Muddy Buddies—but the delicious result is always the same. It’s an easy recipe the whole family can help make, and the colorful candies make it especially fun for kids.
Why You’ll Love Reindeer Chow
- Addictive flavor and crunch: Chocolate and peanut butter coat the cereal perfectly, giving each bite a rich, crunchy texture.
- Fast and simple: You can make a batch in about 10 minutes, which makes it a great last-minute holiday treat.
- No baking required: No oven is needed—just melt, toss, and shake. Ideal for filling tins, mason jars, or treat bags for gifting.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you’ll need for this Holiday Muddy Buddy recipe with M&Ms:
- Chex cereal: Rice Chex is classic and naturally gluten-free; Corn Chex or a mix works too.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and butter: These form the chocolate-peanut butter coating. Swap to milk or white chocolate if preferred. For peanut allergies, use almond or sunflower seed butter.
- Pure vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor; optional but recommended.
- Powdered (confectioners’) sugar: Coats the cereal and gives the signature powdery finish. Start with about 1 1/2 cups and adjust to taste.
- Seasonal candies: Red and green M&Ms are festive; you can use Reese’s Pieces, small chocolate candies, or other holiday candy.
The full recipe quantities and instructions are below in the printable-style recipe card.
Substitutions
If you want to switch things up or use pantry staples, try adding or substituting any of the following:
- Popcorn
- Kettle corn
- Pretzels
- Peanuts or other nuts
- Bugles chips
- Extra chocolate chips or mini marshmallows
Gluten-Free Version
Use Rice Chex to keep this recipe gluten-free. Always check ingredient labels if you need a certified gluten-free product.
How to Make Reindeer Chow
This is an easy, kid-friendly recipe. Follow these simple steps:
- Prep: Pour the cereal into a very large mixing bowl. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper and set it aside.
- Melt the coating: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, and butter. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and return to the microwave in 15–30 second intervals if needed until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Coat the cereal: Pour the warm chocolate–peanut butter mixture over the cereal and gently fold with a spatula until the cereal is thoroughly coated.
- Powder and shake: Place the powdered sugar in a large zip-top plastic bag, add the coated cereal, seal, and shake until all pieces are evenly dusted with powdered sugar. Pour the powdered cereal onto the prepared cookie sheet to cool.
- Add candy and serve: When the mix has cooled to room temperature, stir in seasonal M&Ms or other candies and serve.
Tips for the Best Muddy Buddies
- Gentle mixing: Stir softly so you don’t break the cereal pieces.
- Bag size: Use a large zip-top bag (2-gallon if possible) so there’s room to shake the cereal and sugar without spilling.
- Smaller batches: You can halve the recipe if you don’t need as much.
- Make ahead: Prepare up to a week in advance and store in an airtight container for easy serving at parties.
Storage
- To keep the chocolate from softening, store Reindeer Chow in an airtight container in the refrigerator if your home is warm. Otherwise, a cool pantry is fine.
- This Reindeer puppy chow will stay fresh for 1–2 weeks when stored properly.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Recipe Card
Servings: about 10 cups • Prep time: 10 minutes • Cook time: 2 minutes • Total time: 12 minutes
Ingredients
- 9 cups Chex cereal (any variety)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup seasonal M&Ms or other small candies
Instructions
- Pour cereal into a very large mixing bowl. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper and set it aside.
- Place chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute and stir. If not fully melted, microwave in 15–30 second intervals until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the melted mixture over the cereal and mix gently until all pieces are coated.
- Put powdered sugar into a large zip-top bag. Add the coated cereal, seal, and shake until every piece is covered. Spread the mixture on the prepared cookie sheet to cool.
- Once cooled, stir in the M&Ms or other candies and serve.
Recipe FAQs
Nutrition (approximate)
Calories: 588 kcal, Carbohydrates: 90 g, Protein: 10 g, Fat: 23 g, Saturated Fat: 11 g, Sugar: 44 g. Nutritional values are estimates and will vary by brands and portion sizes.
This quick, crowd-pleasing Reindeer Chow is a holiday classic. Package it into festive tins or bags for easy edible gifts, bring it to parties, or set out a bowl for movie night. Enjoy!
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