Reindeer Chow Recipe

Introduction

Reindeer Chow is a festive, sweet snack mix perfect for holiday gatherings. Combining chocolate, peanut butter, and colorful M&M’s, this treat is both crunchy and delicious.

Ingredients

• 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips (divided)
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups red and green M&M’s
• edible glitter spray (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder until well combined.
3. Step 3: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine ¾ cup of the semisweet chocolate chips and the creamy peanut butter. Heat on 50% power for 30 seconds at a time, stirring well after each interval until fully melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Step 4: Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture over the cereal. Stir gently but thoroughly to coat all the pieces evenly.
5. Step 5: Sprinkle the powdered sugar and cocoa powder mixture over the coated cereal. Gently stir until the cereal is completely covered. Place the bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes to set the coating.
6. Step 6: Remove the cereal from the freezer and stir in the red and green M&M’s along with the remaining ½ cup of chocolate chips.
7. Step 7: Spread the mixture evenly on a large baking sheet or over parchment or wax paper. If desired, lightly spray with edible glitter to add a festive sparkle.

Tips & Variations

• For a nut-free version, substitute the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or omit it entirely and add extra chocolate chips.
• Use holiday-themed M&M’s or other colorful candies to match different celebrations.
• Freeze the mixture only briefly to prevent the coating from becoming too hard; it should be crisp but easy to bite.
• Store in an airtight container to keep the cereal crunchy.

Storage

Store the Reindeer Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Avoid humid environments to maintain crispness. If it loses crunch, briefly toast in a low oven (around 250°F) for 5 minutes before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

Yes, you can use crunchy peanut butter for added texture, but it may make the coating slightly less smooth.

Is it possible to make this recipe vegan?

To make a vegan version, choose dairy-free chocolate chips, use a plant-based peanut butter, and substitute the powdered sugar with a vegan-friendly alternative.

Reindeer Chow Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 130 reviews

• Author: Julian
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 9 servings 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Reindeer Chow is a festive and crunchy holiday snack mix made with Rice Chex cereal coated in a chocolate and peanut butter mixture, dusted with cocoa powder and powdered sugar, and studded with red and green M&M’s for a colorful, sweet treat perfect for parties or gifting.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips (divided)
• 1 ½ cups red and green M&M’s

Wet Ingredients

• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Optional

• Edible glitter spray

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Instructions

1. Prepare the cereal: Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl and set it aside to be coated later.
2. Mix dry coating: In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder, mixing thoroughly to create an even dry chocolate mixture.
3. Melt chocolate and peanut butter: In a microwave-safe bowl, add ¾ cup of semisweet chocolate chips together with the creamy peanut butter. Heat in the microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds intervals, stirring well after each interval until the mixture is smooth and fully melted. Stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
4. Coat the cereal: Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture over the cereal in the large bowl and stir well to ensure every piece is evenly coated.
5. Add dry coating: Sprinkle the powdered sugar and cocoa powder mixture over the chocolate-coated cereal and gently stir until the cereal is fully coated with the dry mixture. Place the coated cereal into the freezer for 15 minutes to set the coating.
6. Add mix-ins: After freezing, remove the cereal mixture and stir in the red and green M&M’s along with the remaining ½ cup of semisweet chocolate chips evenly throughout the mixture.
7. Set and decorate: Spread the finished mix evenly on a large baking sheet or a piece of parchment/wax paper to cool and set. Optionally, spray with edible glitter spray for a festive touch until you achieve your desired sparkle effect.

Notes

• Freezing helps the coating set and keeps the cereal crunchy.
• You can store Reindeer Chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• For a nut-free version, substitute the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter.
• Edible glitter spray is optional but adds a festive appearance perfect for holiday gatherings.
• Stir gently after adding powdered sugar mixture to avoid breaking the cereal.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Snack
• Method: No-Cook
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Reindeer Chow, holiday snack, sweet snack mix, peanut butter chocolate cereal, M&M’s snack, Christmas treat, festive snack