Christmas Muddy Buddy Recipe, aka Reindeer Chow

Perfect for parties or a gift, Christmas Muddy Buddy Recipe is a festive sweet snack that everyone will enjoy and the best part is it quick to make. Also known as Reindeer Chow it is made with Chex cereal, peanut butter, Christmas-colored chocolate, and M&Ms then coated in powdered sugar. It's sure to become a favorite family tradition.

Why this recipe works

• If you want a quick Christmas snack that is on the level of addictive then this is what you should make.
• This is a simple recipe that only takes a few ingredients and a microwave.
• It's great to make for your own family or to give away as gifts to teachers, friends, or coworkers. Everyone will appreciate it.
• It's a delicious sweet snack mix to serve at holiday parties during the Christmas season. It's always a crowd pleaser!

🛒 Ingredient notes

• M&Ms: Keep an eye out around Thanksgiving for the Christmas M&M bags to be on your grocer's shelves. In a pinch, I have bought a big bag of M&Ms and picked out all the red and green M&M. We just ate the other colors as a snack.
• Chex cereal: you have a choice to use rice Chex or corn Chex, whichever you prefer.
• Peanut butter: It is best to use a good quality creamy peanut butter. Be sure to divide the cup of peanut butter in half if you want two colors of cereal.
• Candy Melts: You can use white candy coating melts from Wiltons or white chocolate chips. They also sell white chocolate in squares at most grocery stores.

See the recipe card for a complete list and quantities.

🔪 Step by step instructions

1. For this recipe, it is best to gather all your ingredients and have everything in bowls ready to go. You are working with melted chocolate so it will be easier this way.

2. In a small microwave-safe bowl combine 1/2 cup of chocolate wafers and 1/3 cup peanut butter. Repeat doing the same in another small bowl.

3. Microwave one bowl at a time on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until you can stir the peanut butter mixture smooth.

4. Mix in green food coloring in one of the bowls, stir to mix well. Add more green food coloring until you have a nice Christmas green color.

Pour over one of the large bowls of cereal and toss gently coating the mixture over all of the cereal.

5. Sprinkle powdered sugar all over the chocolate-coated cereal. I find it easier to lift the bowl and toss gently but a large wooden spoon will work also. This should take at least one to two minutes to coat well.

6. Spread on wax paper to cool.

7. Repeat for the second bowl using red food coloring. It will probably not take as much food coloring to get a good red color. Pour over cereal and coat with powdered sugar just as you did above for the green.

Variations

This is a very easy recipe to add in some fun items to mix up the flavors. Try adding any one of these to your Christmas muddy buddies recipe.

• Use chocolate Chex mix cereal instead of corn or rice
• Festive sprinkles
• Mini pretzels
• Mint M&Ms
• Peanut M&Ms
• Peanuts, cashews, pecans, or any other favorite type of nuts
• Peanut butter chips, melt these instead of chocolate.
• white chocolate (just don't add the food coloring)
• Peanut butter flavored M&Ms
• Pieces of candy canes

💭 Storage Tip

If you plan on serving this recipe at a Christmas party it would be best to make it the day before and then store it in an airtight container such as a resealable food-storage bowl. You could also use a ziplock-type large plastic bag. Then when you are setting up for the party pour mixture into a festive bowl to serve.

🎀 Gifting

This Christmas version of a muddy buddies recipe is perfect for gifting at Christmas time. It's the perfect Christmas treat everyone will enjoy getting during the busy holiday season.

You can fill Mason jars with the mixture and tie a pretty ribbon and tag around the top.

❓ FAQ