Reindeer Food Recipe (Christmas Puppy Chow)

Introduction

This Reindeer Food Recipe—also known as Christmas Puppy Chow—is the perfect blend of crispy cereal, smooth chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and a sweet shower of powdered sugar. Its bright, festive look and irresistible flavor make it a must-have treat at every holiday party or cozy night in. Whether you’re looking for a quick gift, a fun snack for kids, or an eye-catching party bowl, Reindeer Food always delivers on both taste and holiday spirit.

A Holiday Classic with Magical Flavor

Puppy Chow (also called Muddy Buddies) gets a holiday twist in this Reindeer Food version. By adding a handful of festive sprinkles, red and green candies, or even crunchy pretzel pieces, you’ll create a visually stunning treat that captures the magic of Christmas. The combination of crunch, sweetness, and just a hint of saltiness makes this snack utterly addictive and a near-instant favorite with kids and adults alike.

Simple Steps, Show Stopping Results

Holiday baking doesn’t have to mean hours in the kitchen. This Reindeer Food requires just a few basic ingredients and can be whipped up in under 20 minutes. Melting the chocolate and peanut butter together yields a rich, creamy coating for the cereal, while the powdered sugar bath locks in all the deliciousness for a delightfully messy, finger-licking snack.

Serving Suggestions for a Merry Snack Table

Pile your Reindeer Food high in a festive bowl, pack it into clear bags tied with ribbons for easy gifting, or add it to cookie tins alongside other treats. For an even more decadent touch, toss in white chocolate chips, peppermint candies, or mini marshmallows just before serving. A mug of hot cocoa on the side is the perfect finishing touch!

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This batch makes about 12 generous servings, perfect for parties and family snacking. Each serving contains approximately 230-260 calories, depending on mix-ins. While it’s definitely a treat, the joy and togetherness it brings more than make up for the splurge.

Reindeer Food Recipe (Recap)

Holiday Puppy Chow is the ultimate crowd-pleaser—simple to make, endlessly customizable, and charmingly festive. With every crunchy, chocolatey bite, you’ll be reminded why this classic treat belongs at the center of every Christmas celebration.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free holiday planning.

Instructions

1. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until fully melted and smooth (about 1-2 minutes total).
2. Stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Gently fold in the Chex cereal until all pieces are evenly coated with the chocolate mixture.
4. Transfer the coated cereal into a large gallon-sized zip-top bag. Add powdered sugar, seal the bag, and shake vigorously until every piece is coated in sugar.
5. Spread the puppy chow out onto a baking sheet or parchment paper to cool and set for about 10 minutes.
6. Once cool, mix in the red and green candies, sprinkles, and any other desired add-ins like pretzels or marshmallows.
7. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Weekly Meal Planning

This holiday recipe is fantastic for weekly meal prep, party planning, or assembling gifts ahead of time. Save and schedule this recipe to plan your baking days, organize ingredient lists across all your holiday treats, and keep shopping seamless with a consolidated list.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities for all saved recipes
• Sorts your shopping list by store section for faster, easier trips
• Avoids double-purchasing or missing essential items
• Makes coordinating multiple holiday treats stress-free

Pro tip: When prepping for holiday gatherings, schedule your recipes to see exactly how many boxes of cereal or bags of chocolate chips you really need—minimizing food waste and last-minute runs!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes (microwave)
Total Time: 20 minutes