Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe | Reindeer Food

As Christmas approaches it is time to start thinking about your holiday baking. This easy, no-bake Christmas puppy chow recipe (also known as reindeer food in my house 🙂) is so simple and utterly delicious, a win win during a busy holiday season. 

We all have heard of the classic Puppy Chow (aka muddy buddies). This Reindeer food recipe is a Christmas version of the already loved Chex mix snack. 

This easy recipe is a must have on your list of holiday treats to make this year. The sweet snack mix is sure to be a hit and, if your family is anything like mine, it won’t last long after you make it. It is a perfect combination of salty and sweet and is so fun to make during the Christmas season.

Ingredients For This Yummy Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe

• Chex cereal (I prefer rice Chex or corn Chex)
• Dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• Creamy peanut butter
• Vanilla extract
• Butter
• Powdered sugar
• Mini peanut butter cups
• Red & green m&ms 
• Pretzels 

Step By Step Instructions On How To Make Reindeer Chow 

In a large bowl measure out 5 cups of your Chex cereal- I used rice Chex for this recipe- and set aside

In a saucepan add butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips over low heat stirring constantly

Once the above mixture is melted add vanilla 

Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the Chex

Stir until the Chex is completely covered with the chocolate mixture

Add the powdered sugar to the Chex mix- you can either do this in a bowl or if you have little hands helping adding the Chex and powered sugar to a ziplock bag and letting them shake it up it is a fun way to get kids involved

Once the Chex is completely covered with powdered sugar pour into bowl

Add m&ms, peanut butter cups and pretzels

Enjoy!

This mixture will stay good for 1 week in an airtight container and up to 3 months if frozen. 

Tips & Variations When Making Your Puppy Chow Mix

The m&m, peanut butter cup and pretzel mixture is my favorite but you could throw in other things as well! Some great additions would be mini marshmallows, peppermint bark, white chocolate chips or candy canes.

This can become a sweet snack mix when you use semisweet chocolate chips, if you prefer a less sweet snack dark chocolate chips would be a great choice (and is my preference for this holiday mix). I tend to steer away from milk chocolate chips because they are just too sweet with all of the other ingredients

Make sure that the Chex/chocolate mixture is at least at room temperature before adding in the powdered sugar. You could even chill it for about 15 minutes to ensure the powdered sugar sticks well

​If you would prefer to melt the peanut butter, chocolate chips and butter a little quicker you could put them in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave

Carrie from Eating On A Dime has a fun post sharing how she uses red and green candy melts to provide an even more festive look to her muddy buddy recipe

This 3 ingredient hot cocoa dip is another fun and fast no bake Christmas recipe!

This snack is perfect for a special treat while playing Christmas Lights BINGO or Christmas Pictionary! You could also serve it alongside some hot cider! If you are looking for more special Christmas activities to do with your kids this season this post is for you.

I would love to hear from you if you try this yummy recipe!