5 from 1 vote

Reindeer Chow Chex Mix (Christmas Puppy Chow!)

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Sweet and salty, this Reindeer Chow Chex Mix is the perfect party snack mix for the holidays. A twist on the classic Puppy Chow dessert, this colorful and sweet treat is great for potlucks, parties or to give out as gifts in tins for Christmas! Santa’s reindeer will be flying to your house fast for these Christmas treats!

Reindeer Chow Chex Mix in three red individually sized bowls from the side.


 

Why We Love Christmas Reindeer Chow Chex Mix

  • Sweet Party Mix– Perfect for Christmas movie nights, a little extra magic for Christmas Eve, or a special treat for potlucks or a holiday party. This sweet and salty mix is so fun and colorful, and is the perfect treat for Christmas time.
  • Easy To Make – This Christmas snack mix comes together fast, no baking is required for this easy recipe.
  • Makes Great Gifts– Homemade gifts can mean so much, and this sweet mix is perfect for sharing with family and friends during the holiday season.

What Is Puppy Chow?

Puppy Chow, also known as Muddy Buddies is a party treat made with a chocolate peanut butter sauce that coats Chex cereal, then the sweet treat is often tossed in powdered sugar. This easy reindeer chow is a sweet twist on the classic puppy chow mix, which has tons of peanut butter chocolate flavor.

Puppy chow gets its name from looking similar to puppy kibble in a bowl, but it’s a delicious treat that is not safe for dogs – only humans!

Prefer more chocolate? Try the hilarious chocolate reindeer poop for a treat that will make everyone giggle!

Try my Mint Muddy Buddies for another sweet party mix that’s perfect for the holidays. Or try my Cinnamon Sugar Crunch Chex Mix too! It’s sweet and salty with a buttery crunch your family and friends will love.

Ingredients For Christmas Reindeer Chow Chex Mix

  • ¾ cup peanut butter – I used creamy peanut butter.
  • ½ cup butter unsalted
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips semi-sweet
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups Corn Chex cereal
  • 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup pretzels
  • 1/2 cup M&Ms I used red and green
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup candy canes broken pieces about 12 candy canes
  • 2 tablespoons red and green sprinkles

Love easy holiday treats? Try these easy turtle candies, they make great gifts!

How To Make Christmas Reindeer Chow Chex Mix

Butter and peanut butter in a large bowl with M&Ms and pretzels in bowls nearby on the counter from overhead.
  1. In a microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter and butter. Microwave for 20-second intervals, mixing in between until the butter and peanut butter melt into a smooth sauce.
Melted peanut butter sauce in a bowl with a wooden spoon from overhead on a counter with other ingredients nearby in bowls from overhead.
  1. Add half of the chocolate chips to the peanut butter. Microwave for 30- second intervals at half power, mixing in between each interval until the chocolate is fully melted.
Half melted chocolate chips being stirred in a peanut butter sauce in a bowl on a counter from overhead with more chocolate chips and M&Ms in bowls on the counter nearby.
  1. Add the other half of the chocolate chips and melt at 30 second intervals. Pour the vanilla into the mixture and stir.
Vanilla being stirred on a wooden spoon into a chocolate peanut butter sauce in a large bowl from overhead with the vanilla bottle,  M&Ms and sprinkles in containers nearby.
  1. Place half of the cereal into a large mixing bowl. Pour half of the peanut butter chocolate mixture over the cereal.
Half of the chocolate sauce being mixed into Chex cereal in a bowl on a counter with more chocolate sauce, M&Ms, and sprinkles nearby on the counter.
  1. Gently fold the melted chocolate into the cereal with a large spoon or silicone spatula.
Chex cereal fully coated in chocolate sauce in a bowl from overhead with M&Ms and sprinkles in bowls on the counter nearby from overhead.
  1. Add the chocolate coated cereal and half of the powdered sugar to a large zip-top bag, at least gallon size. Seal the bag and shake the bag well until the cereal is fully coated in powdered sugar. Pour the coated cereal pieces into a large serving bowl.
Adding powdered sugar to a chocolate coated cereal in a zip top bag from overhead on a counter with M&Ms and sprinkles in a bowl nearby.
  1. Repeat the process with the second half of the cereal. Coat the cereal with the chocolate peanut butter mixture, followed by shaking the cereal with powdered sugar in a large zip-top bag.
  2. Top the first layer of the chocolate Chex cereal with half of the pretzels, M&Ms, white chocolate chips, candy canes pieces, and sprinkles.
Powdered sugar coated cereal in a large bowl from overhead on a counter with M&Ms, peppermint candy cane pieces, white chocolate chips and pretzels in bowls on the counter nearby.
  1. Add the rest of the cereal mixture, then add the remaining pretzels, M&Ms, white chocolate chips, candy canes pieces and sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!
Christmas reindeer chex mix topped with colorful M&Ms, peppermint pieces, white chocolate chips, and pretzels in a bowl on the counter from overhead with the other ingredients in bowls on the counter nearby.

Variation Ideas

Swap The Cereal– I’ve used Corn Chex Mix, but other varieties such as Rice Chex Cereal work, or the store brand works too.

Change The Chocolate Candies – Try peppermint chocolate candies, chocolate chips, or pieces of Andes mints! Raid the holiday chocolate aisle at the grocery store and use your favorites!

Swap The Peppermint Candy– You can swap out the candy cane pieces for mini candy canes, or crush gently some of the round peppermint candies and sprinkle on top.

Leave Out A Mix In- Don’t have M&Ms? Can’t stand white chocolate? Don’t like salty pretzels? After the reindeer chow muddy buddies have been mixed with chocolate, any of the mix-ins can be swapped for your favorite mix-ins, or left out of this fun reindeer mix.

How Long Does Reindeer Chow Chex Mix Last?

Store this Reindeer Chex Mix in an airtight container at room temperature and it will last for 1-2 weeks. Expect that it will taste it’s best within the first few days, but honestly, it usually is eaten long before it is no longer good! If I’m making it for gifts, you can make it ahead of time a day or two.

Really the only part I would be concerned with is the pretzels may go a little soft if they absorb moisture from the peanut butter. You could leave the pretzels out, or mix them into the party mix as you portion it and easily make this mix a couple days ahead of time.

I’ve never tried freezing this party mix before. Let me know if you try it, it seems like it should freeze but I can’t recommend freezing if I haven’t tried it.

Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix in a large serving bowl from overhead on a counter.
Recipe

Reindeer Chow Chex Mix (Christmas Puppy Chow!)


Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 16 Servings
Reindeer Chow Chex mix is a Christmas twist on the classic treat, puppy chow! Peanut butter chocolate-covered Chex Mix cereal is then covered in powdered sugar and mixed with colorful red and green chocolates, sprinkles, candy cane pieces, and pretzels for a delicious sweet and salty party mix.

Ingredients  

  • ¾ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup butter unsalted
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips semi-sweet
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups Corn Chex cereal
  • 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup pretzels
  • 1/2 cup M&Ms I used red and green
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup candy canes broken pieces, about 12 candy canes
  • 2 tablespoons red and green sprinkles

Instructions

  • In a microwave-safe medium-sized bowl, add the peanut butter and butter. Microwave for 20-second intervals, mixing in between until the butter and peanut butter melt into a smooth sauce.
  • Add half of the chocolate chips to the peanut butter. Microwave for 30- second intervals at half power, mixing in between each interval until the chocolate is fully melted.
  • Add the other half of the chocolate chips and melt at 30 second intervals. Pour the vanilla into the mixture and stir.
  • Place half of the cereal to a large bowl. Pour half of the peanut butter chocolate mixture over the cereal.
  • Gently fold the melted chocolate into the cereal with a large spoon or silicone spatula.
  • Add the chocolate coated cereal and half of the powdered sugar to a large zip-top bag, at least gallon size. Seal the bag and shake the bag well until the cereal is fully coated in powdered sugar. Pour the coated cereal pieces into a large serving bowl.
  • Repeat the process with the second half of the cereal. Coat the cereal with the chocolate peanut butter mixture, followed by shaking the cereal with powdered sugar in a large zip-top bag.
  • Top the first layer of the chocolate and powdered sugar-covered Chex cereal with half of the pretzels, M&Ms, white chocolate chips, candy canes pieces, and sprinkles.
  • Add the rest of the cereal mixture, then add the remaining pretzels, M&Ms, white chocolate chips, candy canes pieces and sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Sometimes when you are shaking the cereal chocolate mixture with the powdered sugar, the cereal will clump together. Use your fingers to feel the bag for any clumps, and simply separate them through the bag with your fingers.
I like to let the puppy chow mix cool for 5-10 minutes after shaking it with the powdered sugar, I’ll even sometimes throw it in the fridge or freezer to firm up a little faster. While you don’t have to take this step, this can guarentee the chocolate hardens a little bit before throwing it with the M&Ms and sprinkles, which can sometimes bleed if the melted chocolate is a little too warm accidentally.

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword chocolate, Christmas, party mix, white chocolate

Did You Make This?

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