By Becky Hardin
Published Dec 10, 2020
Eat like Rudolph with this reindeer chow snack mix recipe! This quick and easy holiday puppy chow comes together quickly and tastes delicious. I loaded it up with peanut butter cups, pretzels, peanuts, white chocolate chips, and of course, Christmas M&M’s to make it super festive. This reindeer mix has the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors and plenty of crunch! It’s a real crowd-pleaser on Christmas Eve. I guarantee won’t be able to stop at just one handful.
This reindeer chow recipe is my fun and festive take on classic puppy chow . I love the mix of sweet and salty flavors! I always make a big batch for party favors on Christmas Eve since my whole family loves this reindeer mix. It’s such a fun and simple recipe. My kids love to shake it up to get it all coated in powdered sugar!
What’s in This Reindeer Chow Recipe?
- Chocolate Chips: I used semisweet chocolate chips to create the coating, and I also added whole white chocolate chips to the snack mix for a pop of sweetness.
- Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter helps create a sticky coating.
- Caramel Sauce : Adds caramel flavor to the coating.
- Butter: Salted butter helps create a cohesive and flavorful coating.
- Vanilla Extract : Enhances the sweet flavor of the coating.
- Chex Cereal : Adds a light crunch to the mix. I used rice Chex, but corn also works.
- Powdered Sugar: Helps mattify the coating so it doesn’t remain sticky.
- Mini Pretzels: Add a touch of salty crunch to the mix.
- Mini PB Cups: Add an extra pop of chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
- Christmas M&M’s : Add a pop of festive red and green color and extra crunch.
- Salted Peanuts: Add an extra salty and crunchy element to balance the sweetness.
Tips for Success
- Using a large bag filled with powdered sugar is the best way to get the Chex fully coated. You can get your kids to help with this bit too!
- I made this reindeer chow for Christmas, but you can easily mix things up to serve it as a treat throughout the year. Swap the red and green candy for orange and black for Halloween and add in mini chocolate eggs for Easter! You can add in any chocolate candies you like!
How to Store
This reindeer mix is a great make-ahead recipe for the holidays. Store leftover reindeer chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 34 months. Let come to room temperature, then stir in the candies before serving.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips 255 grams
- ▢ ¾ cup creamy peanut butter 203 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons caramel sauce 40 grams
- ▢ 3 tablespoons salted butter 42 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ 7 cups Chex cereal 210 grams
- ▢ 1½ cups powdered sugar 160 grams
- ▢ 1½ cups mini pretzels 60 grams
- ▢ 1½ cups mini peanut butter cups 30 grams
- ▢ 2 cups Christmas M&M’s 340 grams
- ▢ ½ cup salted peanuts 213 grams
- ▢ ½ cup white chocolate chips 85 grams
Instructions
- In a microwavable bowl, combine the semisweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, caramel sauce, and butter. Microwave and stir chocolate mixture in 20-30 second intervals (checking in-between intervals to make sure it’s not burnt) until completely melted when stirred together. Stir in the vanilla extract. 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips, ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons caramel sauce, 3 tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pour the cereal into a large bowl and add in the chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel mixture. Stir the cereal in the mixture until it is all evenly coated being careful not to break the cereal pieces. 7 cups Chex cereal
- Grab a gallon-sized plastic bag (like a Ziplock bag) and add all the powdered sugar to the bag. Toss in the coated cereal and shake until all the powdered sugar adheres to the cereal. (You might need two bags to fit it all) 1½ cups powdered sugar
- Place cereal mixture into a clean large bowl and then stir in the mini pretzels, mini peanut butter cups, Christmas M&M’s, salted peanuts, and white chocolate chips. 1½ cups mini pretzels, 1½ cups mini peanut butter cups, 2 cups Christmas M&M’s, ½ cup salted peanuts, ½ cup white chocolate chips
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Snack Mix Recipes to Try!
Sweet and Salty Hot Buttered Cheerios Snack Mix
Crockpot Chex Mix
Salted Caramel Puppy Chow Snack Mix
Homemade Gardetto’s Snack Mix Recipe (Copycat Recipe)
Reindeer Chow Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips 255 grams
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter 203 grams
- 2 tablespoons caramel sauce 40 grams
- 3 tablespoons salted butter 42 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 7 cups Chex cereal 210 grams
- 1½ cups powdered sugar 160 grams
- 1½ cups mini pretzels 60 grams
- 1½ cups mini peanut butter cups 30 grams
- 2 cups Christmas M&M’s 340 grams
- ½ cup salted peanuts 213 grams
- ½ cup white chocolate chips 85 grams
Instructions
- In a microwavable bowl, combine the semisweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, caramel sauce, and butter. Microwave and stir chocolate mixture in 20-30 second intervals (checking in-between intervals to make sure it’s not burnt) until completely melted when stirred together. Stir in the vanilla extract. 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips, ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons caramel sauce, 3 tablespoons salted butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pour the cereal into a large bowl and add in the chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel mixture. Stir the cereal in the mixture until it is all evenly coated being careful not to break the cereal pieces. 7 cups Chex cereal
- Grab a gallon-sized plastic bag (like a Ziplock bag) and add all the powdered sugar to the bag. Toss in the coated cereal and shake until all the powdered sugar adheres to the cereal. (You might need two bags to fit it all) 1½ cups powdered sugar
- Place cereal mixture into a clean large bowl and then stir in the mini pretzels, mini peanut butter cups, Christmas M&M’s, salted peanuts, and white chocolate chips. 1½ cups mini pretzels, 1½ cups mini peanut butter cups, 2 cups Christmas M&M’s, ½ cup salted peanuts, ½ cup white chocolate chips
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
