Description
Reindeer Chow is a festive and delicious Christmas snack mix made with crispy Rice Chex cereal coated in a rich peanut butter and chocolate mixture, then dusted with brownie mix. Combined with colorful M&M’s, mini peanut butter cups, and crunchy pretzel twists, this sweet and salty treat is perfect for holiday parties and feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
Chocolate Coating
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Coating Mix
- 1 cup dry brownie mix (or 1 cup powdered sugar mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder)
Add-ins
- 1 bag Christmas M&M’s (12 ounce bag)
- 2 cups mini peanut butter cups
- 2 cups pretzel twists
Instructions
- Prepare the cereal base: Place the Rice Chex cereal in a large mixing bowl to make sure it’s ready for coating.
- Melt chocolate and peanut butter: In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the semisweet chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until the mixture is fully melted and smooth.
- Coat the cereal: Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture over the cereal. Use a spatula to gently toss and stir, ensuring every piece of cereal is thoroughly coated.
- Add brownie mix coating: Place the dry brownie mix into a large resealable gallon-sized plastic bag. Add the chocolate-coated cereal to the bag, seal it tightly, and shake vigorously until the cereal is well coated with the brownie mix.
- Cool and dry: Spread the coated cereal in a single layer over a sheet of parchment paper. Allow it to cool completely until the coating is dry and set. This prevents clumping and maintains crunchiness.
- Combine the final ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the dried coated cereal with the Christmas M&M’s, mini peanut butter cups, and pretzel twists until evenly distributed.
- Serve and enjoy: Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and enjoy as a festive holiday snack that’s both sweet and salty.
Notes
- No holiday party is complete without a big bowl of Reindeer Chow, a perfect crowd-pleaser with layers of chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
- For a gluten-free version, check that all mix-ins like pretzels and brownie mix are certified gluten-free.
- You can substitute the brownie mix with powdered sugar mixed with cocoa powder as an alternative dusting ingredient.
- Make sure to cool the coated cereal completely to maintain the best crunch and avoid sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 434 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 686 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg
