Reindeer chow is rice cereal coated in a chocolate and peanut butter mix and tossed with powdered sugar then dressed up with red and green M&Ms for a festive and delicious holiday snack!

So these might be fighting words, but is it puppy chow or muddy buddies to you?

I’m a bit of a straddler on this… I grew up with it being called both things by various people so I’m really fine either way.

It’s not like “soda” versus “pop,” where there is clearly a correct answer. That being "soda" all the way.

Haha, now I’m definitely going to be making some enemies and pushing some buttons!

Similar question for today’s recipe though.

Reindeer chow is the classic name I know, and we’re basically just talking puppy chow with red and green M&Ms added in for some festive fun.

But recently I learned some people call this Christmas muddy buddies. Which of course makes total sense and is every bit as good a name. I just hadn’t heard it before!

Regardless, this will be a new favorite holiday treat for your friends and family!

Just like the original, reindeer chow is incredibly addictive! That chocolate and peanut butter combo, plus the powdered sugar coating and the extra pops of chocolate from the M&Ms. I mean, who could resist?!

Plus, it’s just 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes to mix up, so it’s super easy to make!

My kiddos definitely won’t let another year go by without having some of this Christmas snack mix. They are completely smitten.

(They’re also already demanding I make a white chocolate bark I tried last year. I thought it was a bit of a flop. It didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped but they adored it. ‍♀️)

So reindeer chow is now a holiday must in our house.

Rice Krispie Christmas wreaths are another. As are Rice Krispie Christmas trees. We make one batch early in the month and another later so we can have them both ways.

And for kiddos, these 3 easy and cute Christmas treats are a must! (They're also simple to make for the creatively challenged like me.)

Old fashioned ginger snaps and my grandmother’s 4-ingredient chocolate chip brownies are other holiday classics in my family.

And of course we have several cookie recipes we make this time of year - chocolate chip, gingerbread, decorated sugar cookies and more.

But it’s fun to have some snacks on hand throughout the day.

And this reindeer chow is the perfect handful to grab when you need a little sweet fix.

(If you need a savory fix instead, definitely check out our homemade Chex mix. We’ve made it every year since I was a little girl and I still adore it!)

I will caution, however, that just a handful of this stuff is a tall order. It is SO addictive! It’s hard to stop eating it!

OK, let’s get cooking — or mixing rather — so you can enjoy this deliciousness too!

Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up below on how to make reindeer chow. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on making reindeer chow:

• Microwave: I prefer melting my chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a microwave-safe bowl. It’s fast and easy. You can also melt the chocolate in a small pot on the stove over medium-low heat and then stir in the peanut butter until smooth if you prefer.
• Mixing bowl: I like to mix the cereal and the powdered sugar in a mixing bowl to easily stir it and get everything evenly coated. However, you can also toss the cereal with the powdered sugar in a large ziploc bag.
• Cooling time: Letting the cereal cool for a few minutes after you add the melted chocolate and peanut butter is super helpful. It means the powdered sugar won’t just melt onto the cereal, it’ll form a white coating around it. Just don’t walk off and leave it too long or the powdered sugar won’t stick at all.
• Powdered sugar: You’ll want to start with 1 ¼ cups of powdered sugar to add to the cereal mix. Add an extra ¼ cup as needed, up to 2 full cups total, to make sure everything is well coated and it's adhering.

As for the peanut butter, I’ve never tried substituting almond butter or another alternative butter. You could certainly try that though if you need this to be peanut-free.

As is, it’s also gluten-free because rice Chex is gluten-free naturally. (Most store brand versions are as well, just be sure to check your box.)

Oh, and the red and green M&Ms are classic here. That’s what makes it the “reindeer” version or the Christmas muddy buddies.

But I did think to myself the other day that this could be pretty with some other red and green holiday candies as well. Just make sure they are small enough to grab in a handful and not too hard. (For instance, mini mints would not be great. Mini nonpareils though maybe could work well.)

I hope you give this reindeer chow a try for a fun and festive holiday treat that everyone will adore! Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Come February, check out this Valentine’s Day snack mix, aka Cupid’s crunch. Also so addictive, and very pretty!