Over the years we adapted the recipes to match party-colored themes and holidays and every Christmas Eve the littles leave it out for Reindeer below we've included some free printable labels for your food munch bags.
The next morning on Christmas day, remove the Reindeer Chow and replace it with a toy (usually in the same kind of bag, see below) it's just a little magic at Christmas time for the kids.
Everything we purchase is at a local dollar store and it's a fun tradition we have done for our kids and now the grandkids we hope they pass it on to the next generation.
It's the first bowl to be emptied at every party so make a double batch because it's pretty addicting if you love peanut butter and chocolate!
The candy is super easy to make and perfect for gift giving around and holidays sure to brighten up a child's dream that Christmas Eve night in anticipation, which makes such a fond memory.
Made traditionally with cereal, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar super simple and it makes a large amount at one-time e have some other additions to keep those reindeer full all night while delivering presents to Santa (wink wink).
Everyone loves the peanut butter and chocolate combination and these even freeze well so you can make them ahead of time.
This recipe can be adapted to match any holiday or party theme just by using tinted white chocolate and is perfect for gender reveal parties in all pink or blue, fundraisers, birthdays, and other holidays.
For these instructions and free labels for gift-giving, scroll down to the printable recipe card and print off this easy candy recipe!
Food For Our Christmas Reindeer Simple Instructions
We make this special for the kids, for Christmas Eve.
Our tradition is to have the kids place the reindeer chow in a decorative plastic bag or tin (holiday-themed) and leave it out in the front yard the night before on Christmas Eve for the Reindeer.
The next morning we would remove the chow (while they are asleep) and replace it with a gift from the reindeer IE candy canes, any small toy or something wrapped that can't be ruined by any weather conditions or bring animals to eat (your snack chow) since it's food.
The kids look forward to that tradition every year and it's fun to watch how excited they get.
Ingredients You Will Need for Reindeer Chow(scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements)
- peanut butter
- butter
- corn or wheat squares
- white or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- butter
- powdered sugar
- vanilla
- colorful coated chocolate pieces in matching colors to your holiday or party theme
- Optional Additions: pretzels, popcorn popped, cashews, or another kind of nut, another square style cereal you prefer IE: cinnamon toast crunch, shredded mini-wheats, raisins or craisins, white chocolate covered pretzels
Quick Tips on Making Reindeer Chow
- you will need a microwaveable bowl
- melt chocolate in 30-second intervals in the microwave
- use any flavored extracts we prefer vanilla or orange-flavored
- double bag your lunch bags to keep from one breaking and opening on the bottom
- any holiday can be transformed in colors just by using color-coordinated candies, mint is a nice alternative for Christmas
- dark white or milk chocolate can be used and white chocolate can be tinted with food coloring or use candy melts
- using just Chex cereal is gluten-free
- any nut or seed butter can be substituted
- for gift-giving, store the reindeer chow in mason jars or in zip lock bags then into a pretty holiday tin for gift-giving
- these are perfect for fundraisers, gift-giving, holidays, parties, and gender reveals with tinted white chocolate
- the mix can be frozen ahead for up to 3 months in freeze zip lock bags
- warmer climates need them to rest longer before storing so they don't get soggy or freeze them until ready to distribute for gift-giving, place flat on a cookie sheet when freezing on parchment paper then place in freezer bags
- any coated candy pieces other than M&M's can be used we used red and green for the holiday or mint-flavored
- other additions: any shaped pretzels, popcorn popped, cashews, goldfish crackers, nuts of any kind, another square style cereal you prefer IE: cinnamon toast crunch, shredded mini-wheats, raisins or craisins, white chocolate or dark chocolate covered store-bought pretzels
- for outdoor reindeer magic, have the kids place a small amount of reindeer chow/food in front of your home on the lawn in a tin or in a secured ziplock bag on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning before the kids wake up, replace the bag with a fun toy, candy cane, etc.
Special Holiday Snack Foods and Events Mix
As I said before the creativity for when, where, and how to make chocolate-covered peanut butter candy is endless.
Charity events are perfect and these are always great fundraisers.
These are great for gameday shaped into footballs, baby showers in white pastel-colored dipped chocolate, or any other occasion just leaving them in round shapes.
Again get creative, these are so moldable and fun I am sure you will be able to give me some more ideas and I would love to hear about them.
Free Labels for Reindeer Munch Bags CLICK HERE
Pin for Later Reindeer Food
A Little Christmas Magic to Make it Special
When you make candy homemade, it sure shouts out you're someone special.
The best part about them is no one has to know how easy these are to make!
One last thing, I have also used almond butter instead of peanut butter.
If you have food allergies you can also try substituting with sunflower butter included in the recipe card.
Reindeer Chow
Yield: 12
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 15 Min
This is a beautiful holiday treat, usually referred to as muddy buddies. We made it for Christmas so the kids could leave out some for the reindeer.
Ingredients
- 14 cups of corn or rice square cereal or use mini wheat, cinnamon toast crunch (and any brand)
- around 1 cup of holiday green and red-coated chocolate candy pieces (or use mint flavored for holiday mixed with red and green)
- 12-ounce bag of white chocolate chips (or melting wafers) semi-sweet chips (used white)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy or crunchy (or use a seed butter for nut food allergies)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or orange extract
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a medium-sized glass bowl, add the peanut butter, and butter and microwave for 30 seconds.
- Add the chocolate.
- Then continue in the microwave for around 2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds until it's all melted and combined.
- Depending on your wattage it may take a few more seconds.
- Once it's melted and add the vanilla.
- Stir together.
- In a large bowl add half of the cereal and add around half this melted mixture to the cereal stirring until coated.
- Using a doubled paper lunch bag(one inside the other) add 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar, close the bag tight and shake it to coat the cereal.
- Add another 1/2 cup and again repeat this process until it is nicely coated
- Repeat this with the rest of the remaining cereal the same way.
- Place on wax paper, or parchment to dry for around 1 hour.
- Store this in mason jars if gift giving or a large plastic air-tight container for yourself.
- Please read all the quick tips under the notes below also.
- Substitute Recipe for Peanut Allergies using the same method
- 9 cups Corn Chex, Rice Chex, or a mix of both
- 1 cup chocolate chips any flavors of the colorful chocolate-coated candy pieces
- 1/2 cup sun butter or soy butter
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Notes
Quick Tips
- you will need a microwaveable bowl
- melt chocolate in 30-second intervals in the microwave
- use any flavored extracts we prefer vanilla or orange-flavored
- double bag your lunch bags to keep from one breaking and opening on the bottom
- any holiday can be transformed in colors just by using color-coordinated candies, mint is a nice alternative for Christmas
- dark white or milk chocolate can be used and white chocolate can be tinted with food coloring or use candy melts
- using just Chex cereal is gluten-free
- any nut or seed butter can be substituted
- for gift giving store in mason jars or in zip lock bags then into a pretty holiday tin for gift-giving
- these are perfect for fundraisers, gift-giving, holidays, parties, and gender reveals with tinted white chocolate
- the mix can be frozen ahead for up to 3 months in freeze zip lock bags
- warmer climates need them to rest longer before storing so they don't get soggy or freeze them until ready to distribute for gift-giving, place flat on a cookie sheet when freezing on parchment paper then place in freezer bags
- any coated candy pieces other than M&M's can be used we used red and green for the holiday or mint-flavored
- other additions: any shaped pretzels, popcorn popped, cashews, goldfish crackers, nuts of any kind, another square style cereal you prefer IE: cinnamon toast crunch, shredded mini-wheats, raisins or craisins, white chocolate or dark chocolate covered store-bought pretzels
- for outdoor reindeer magic, place a small amount of reindeer chow/food in front of your home on the lawn in a tin or secured ziplock bag on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning before the kids wake up, replace the bag with a fun toy, candy cane, etc.
Pin for Later
Try Some Of Our Other Favorite Holiday Recipes
Peanut Brittle
Baked Caramel Corn
Irish Potato Candy
No-Bake Rum Balls
Easy Fudge Recipe
Salted Caramel Bites
