The Ultimate Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix (Christmas Gift Recipes!)
Imagine the ultimate holiday snack mix, a delightfully chaotic and utterly addictive blend of crunchy cereals coated in a rich chocolate-peanut butter shell, dusted in a snowy layer of powdered sugar, and tossed with a treasure trove of festive goodies like M&M’s, mini peanut butter cups, salty pretzels, and soft marshmallows. That, my friends, is the irresistible, can’t-stop-eating magic of this Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix. This is, without a doubt, the easiest, fastest, and most crowd-pleasing snack you will make all season.
I promise you, a batch of this Reindeer Chow is the most welcome gift you can give. Every handful is a perfect, crunchy, chocolatey, peanut-buttery adventure. It’s a fantastic recipe to make with kids (they love the shaking part!) and is guaranteed to be the first thing to disappear from any holiday gathering.
Get ready to create the ultimate holiday snack, a recipe so simple and delicious that it will become your go-to for every festive occasion and gifting need.
Why This Reindeer Chex Mix is the Perfect Holiday Gift
You are going to be completely obsessed with how incredibly easy and addictive this snack mix is. It’s a holiday classic for a reason! Here’s why:
- The Perfect Salty & Sweet Combination: The mix of rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, salty pretzels, and sweet candies is a perfectly balanced flavor explosion that is impossible to resist.
- Ready in Under 15 Minutes: This is the ultimate last-minute recipe! With no baking and just a quick melt in the microwave, you can have a huge batch ready in a flash.
- A Fantastic, Inexpensive Edible Gift: This recipe makes a massive 14-serving batch, perfect for dividing into festive bags or jars to give as delicious and thoughtful homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, and friends.
Recipe Snapshot
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 2 minutes |
| Total Time | 12 minutes |
| Servings | 14 servings (about 14 cups) |
| Calories | 591 kcal per serving |
| Course | Snack, Dessert |
| Cuisine | American |
| Difficulty/Method | Easy / No-Bake |
Your Shopping List for This Irresistible Snack Mix
This crowd-pleasing recipe comes together with a fun mix of cereal, candy, and pantry staples.
→ For the Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
Let’s Get Mixing! Your Step-by-Step Guide
Ready for the fastest, most addictive snack mix of your life? It comes together in just a few easy steps.
Part 1: The Chocolate Peanut Butter Coating
- Melt the Base: In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir. Continue heating in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until the mixture is completely creamy and smooth.
- Coat the Cereal: In a very large mixing bowl, combine the rice Chex and corn Chex. Pour the warm chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the cereal and use a large spatula to gently toss and fold until all the cereal is evenly coated.
Part 2: The Snowy Shake and Final Assembly
- Shake it Up!: Carefully spoon the coated cereal into a gallon-sized zip-top bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal the bag tightly (getting the air out), and shake vigorously! Turn it, flip it, and toss it until every single piece of cereal is covered in a beautiful, snowy layer of sugar.
- Cool and Combine: Pour the sugar-coated cereal onto a large, rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread it out. If it’s still warm, let it cool to room temperature for a few minutes.
- Add the Goodies: Sprinkle the M&M’s, mini peanut butter cups, mini pretzels, mini marshmallows, and optional Christmas sprinkles over the cooled cereal. Gently stir everything together to combine. Your Reindeer Chow is ready to enjoy!
Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix with Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Heat on high for 1 minute and stir. Continue heating in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until creamy and smooth.
- Add both Chex cereals to a very large mixing bowl. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal and toss gently with a spatula to coat.
- Spoon the coated cereal mixture into a gallon ziplock bag. Add the powdered sugar, seal the bag, and shake vigorously until all the cereal is evenly coated.
- Pour the mixture onto a large, rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and spread out. If the mixture is warm, let it cool completely to room temperature.
- Sprinkle the M&M’s, mini peanut butter cups, pretzels, mini marshmallows, and optional sprinkles over the cooled cereal. Stir gently to combine and enjoy.
Notes
WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for Perfect Reindeer Chex Mix
These simple secrets will ensure your holiday snack mix is a massive success.
- Use a VERY Large Bowl and Bag. Don’t try to skimp on size! You need a huge bowl to gently mix the cereal without crushing it, and a large (gallon-sized or even a 2-gallon) zip-top bag gives you plenty of room to shake the cereal without it clumping together.
- Gently Fold, Don’t Stir. When coating the cereal with the chocolate, use a large spatula and a gentle folding motion. This helps prevent the delicate Chex cereal from breaking into small pieces.
- Cool Before Adding Candies. For the prettiest results, let the powdered sugar-coated cereal cool on the baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes before you stir in the M&M’s and peanut butter cups. If the cereal is too warm, it can cause the candy coatings and chocolate to melt and smear.
- The Perfect Edible Gift. This is my go-to holiday gift! I scoop the finished mix into clear cellophane bags, tie them with a festive ribbon, and add a tag that says “Reindeer Chow.” It’s always a huge hit!
- Customize to Your Heart’s Content! Feel free to add other mix-ins like salted peanuts, chocolate-covered pretzels, or different kinds of festive candies. The possibilities are endless!
Keep It Fresh! Storing Your Holiday Snack Mix
Reindeer Chex Mix has a great shelf life, making it the perfect make-ahead treat for the busy holiday season.
- Storage: Once fully cooled, store the Reindeer Chex Mix in a large airtight container or zip-top bags at room temperature. It will stay fresh and crunchy for up to a week. No need to refrigerate!
FAQs: Your Reindeer Chex Mix Questions, Answered!
Can I make this nut-free?
Yes, with a few key substitutions. You can use a seed butter like SunButter in place of peanut butter and swap the Reese’s cups for a nut-free candy, like chocolate-covered caramels or extra marshmallows and M&M’s.
Can I use a different kind of cereal?
Of course! While the Rice and Corn Chex combination is classic, you could use all of one type, or substitute with Crispix or even Golden Grahams for a different flavor profile.
Can I make this on the stovetop instead of the microwave?
Yes. You can melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter together in a small saucepan over low heat. Just stir constantly until the mixture is smooth and creamy, then pour it over the cereal as directed.
My powdered sugar coating looks clumpy and isn’t coating evenly. What happened?
This can happen if you pour all the cereal into the bag at once and then dump the sugar on top. For the most even coating, try adding half the cereal, then half the sugar, then the rest of the cereal, and the rest of the sugar. This gives everything more room to move around and get coated as you shake.
Final Thoughts: Your Easiest Holiday Gift Recipe
There is nothing quite like a recipe that delivers pure, unadulterated, snackable joy with almost no effort. This Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix is a perfect storm of salty, sweet, crunchy, and chocolatey goodness that is impossible to resist. It’s a celebration in a bowl, and the perfect delicious gift to share with everyone on your list. Happy Holidays and Happy Snacking!
