Reindeer Chow: A Festive Treat to Make and Munch
Looking for the perfect festive yet fun treat to make and munch on? Enter Reindeer Chow! This Reindeer Chow recipe is SUPER simple to make with under 5 ingredients and makes for the perfect festive gift for friends, neighbors and coworkers. Keep reading to see how to make this delicious Reindeer Chow recipe.
When it comes to Reindeer Chow also know as Muddy Buddies by some- the love is deep. This Christmas/festive version might just be my absolute favorite as it is perfect for this time of the year, and literally a QUICK and easy much and eat treat for the entire family! It also makes a cute gift to give to neighbors and co-workers- just portion it out into a small cellophane bag and add a name tag- and voila – SIMPLE and easy and oh so cute!
Reindeer Chow Ingredients & Easy Substitutions
- Rice Chex Cereal – Using Chex (rice, corn or wheat) is my absolute favorite as it really just makes this recipe. However you can always substitute it with Rise Crispies as well if you want.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: I like to use semi-sweet but you can also use dark if you want. As long as it melts – whether it is bar, chip or disc doesn’t matter.
- Pretzels: You can use the small mini pretzel size like I did or you can use sticks as well. I don’t recommend using the large sizes.
- Candy: You can add your favorite candy to this- I love using Red & Green M&M’s in this Reindeer Chow as it gives you the perfect little Christmas festive vibe. You can also use Mini Peanut Butter cups, Pieces of twix, basically whatever candy you like.
- Powdered Sugar: I didn’t use it on my recipe but you can always use powdered sugar to give it a bit extra oomph and remind you a bit of snow almost.
- Colorful Sprinkles: I used these to basically top everything off. Best tip I can give to make them stick is to add sprinkles when the chocolate is setting and coated.
- Salted Butter & Vanilla Extract: I didn’t use either in my recipe however, you can totally add them to make the Reindeer Chow a bit more flavorful and exciting.
- Add-Ins: You can also try to add things like Salty Nuts, Mini Marshmallows, Chopped Candy Bar pieces, Chopped Oreos, Chocolate Chips- the best part is whatever you want to add is your choices- and the sky is the limit when it comes to making Reindeer Chow.
Reindeer Chow Tips & Tricks
- Do Not Overheat the Chocolate: You only want to heat the chocolate for about 1 minute completely and then add 15 second intervals after that until it becomes the consistency you wish.
- Be Gentle When Mixing: After you have given everything a little she be care not to over shake or mix too hard as you will crush the candy, break the pretzels and be left with little bite-sized pieces.
- Cut in Half or Double The Recipe: The best part of the Reindeer Chow is that it is easily adjustable to what you need. It also stores awesome. If you are doubling just make sure you have a large enough zip bag or container to store it in unless you are giving it out to others.
- When Storing: Be sure to store in a airtight container or a Ziplock bag at room temperature or refrigerator for only a week // you can also freeze it for about a month. Just make sure to let it thaw to room temperature before serving.
Reindeer Chow (Christmas Puppy Chow)
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips, disks or spheres work
- 2 cup Rice Chex Cereal
- 1 cup mini pretzels
- 1 cup red and green M&M's
- Powdered Sugar optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups of Chex or Rice Krispies cereal, 1 cup of pretzels, and 1 cup of M&M's.
- Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips either in microwave or stovetop, stir and pour over the mixture.
- Stir until everything is coated, then spread out on a baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with festive colored sprinkles and let it set in refrigerator for 2 hours, or sit out for about 3 hours at room temperature.
- Once hardened, break it into pieces and serve in a festive bowl. Enjoy!
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days or freeze up to 1 month!
There you have it Reindeer Chow is not only a tasty and addictive snack, but it also makes for a wonderful homemade gift to give and share with others during the holiday season. Who doesn’t enjoy a festive treat! What are some of your favorite ways to make Reindeer Chow? What concoctions do you like to add to yours? Let me know in the comments below..
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