This Christmas Chex Mix Recipe is super easy and one of my favorite holiday treats to make when I host a Christmas party. It makes a big batch and is a huge hit with a crowd.
It also makes a great school party snack if there aren't any students with peanut allergies. The kids love this Chex Christmas mix because it adds to the little extra magic that's in the air during Christmas time.
This recipe is adapted from the original Chex Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies recipe. With some simple additions, including Christmas sprinkles, mini marshmallows, and chocolate candies, it becomes a Christmas puppy chow recipe.
Why You'll Love This Easy Christmas Chex Mix Recipe
- Quick and Simple! It's a no-bake sweet treat and comes together in less than 15 minutes. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, a no-fuss recipe with simple ingredients is a welcome addition.
- Perfect Snack Combination! One of my favorite things about this is the combination of a sweet and salty snack.
- Customize It With Your Favorite Mix-Ins! One of the great things about this easy recipe is how forgiving it is, meaning you don't have to follow the exact ingredients to make this festive treat. Add in what you like and leave out what you don't like.
If you're in the mood to make no bake holiday treats, my Christmas Wreath Cookie Recipe is one of my all-time favorites. They're so easy to make! And you can't really go wrong with Christmas Crack with Pretzels and Old Fashioned Bourbon Balls when you're hosting a holiday party. All of these recipes
Another recipe that I love making for holiday parties is this Christmas Tree Cherry Hand Pie. Similar to this Chex mix, it can be made in less than an hour. The hand pie recipe only requires 3 ingredients, which makes it super easy!
Gift This Sweet Chex Mix Recipe
This Easy Christmas Chex Mix recipe is one of our favorite homemade gifts to give to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and school staff to wish them happy holidays. I love gifting baked goods because it tells someone you're thinking about them without having to add one more item to your holiday shopping list. Plus, if you're like me, and food is your love language, it's a nice gesture during the Christmas season.
After making the festive snack mix, divide it into cellophane bags. Attach a tag with the recipient's personal information, and you're all set to give the reindeer mix!
Substitutions
- Chex Cereal - I used rice Chex and corn Chex varieties. But once you coat it with the melted chocolate mixture, you can't tell the difference. I would recommend something on the plain side, not something already sweetened.
- Creamy Peanut Butter - I recommend the creamy version of peanut butter rather than the chunky one. You want a smooth chocolate mixture to coat the cereal. Avoid natural peanut butter that has oil that tends to separate.
- Snyder's Itty Bitty Pretzels - I love these mini pretzel twists because they complement the mini marshmallows. If you can't find the itty bitty size, mini pretzels or even pretzel sticks will do.
- Reese's Minis Peanut Butter Cups - These can easily be confused with Reese's miniature peanut butter cups. Minis are even tinier! I buy the ones that are already unwrapped. The regular miniature ones would work if you can't find the mini ones. They're just a little bigger.
Variations
- Nuts - Cashews, almonds, or any of your favorite nuts can be a great addition to this festive recipe.
- White Chocolate Chips - replace the semisweet chips in the melted chocolate mixture with white chocolate instead.
- Other Nut Butters - For someone with a peanut allergy, this Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix Recipe can be made with seed butter or a peanut-free spread.
Ingredients
*Please scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe and specific ingredient amounts.
How To Make This Christmas Chex Mix
Step 1. Add chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir. Heat for an additional 30 seconds and stir until creamy and smooth.
Step 2. Add Chex cereal to a large bowl. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal and toss to coat.
Step 3. Spoon the cereal mixture into a gallon plastic bag. Next, add the powdered sugar, shake, and rotate the bag until all the cereal has been coated.
Step 4. Pour the cereal onto a large, rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper in an even layer. If the mixture is warm, let it cool to room temperature.
Step 5. Sprinkle m&m’s, peanut butter cups, pretzels, and mini marshmallows onto the baking sheet and stir to combine.
Storage & Freezing
Place the Chex mix into an airtight container or resealable food-storage bag for up to 1 week. Keeping it in the refrigerator will extend the freshness to a couple of weeks.
Freeze the reindeer mix by placing it into an air-tight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Natalie's Pro Tip
I reserve a small portion of each of the add-ins to add after I stir everything together. This keeps the M&M's and Reese's minis from getting coated with powdered sugar.
Don't add the Holiday Sprinkles to the reindeer mix too early, or they will end up getting lost. If I'm serving the reindeer chow at a holiday party, I put it in a large serving bowl with a scoop and add the sprinkles to the top. Filling clear plastic cups with the mix to create individual servings is a great way to serve it at a Christmas party. Add the sprinkles after the cups are filled.
Notes/FAQs
If you don't have a Ziploc bag handy, you can mix the powdered sugar with the cereal in the mixing bowl. The large bag makes the process a little easier.
Work quickly to toss the mixture gently and evenly. You can also add the chocolate in small amounts, stirring in between to ensure even coating.
Yes, you can melt the chocolate on the stovetop using a double boiler. Just heat it gently while stirring until smooth.
Absolutely! Use gluten-free Chex cereal, gluten-free pretzels, and double-check that the candy is gluten-free.
The chocolate may have started to harden before being fully mixed. Make sure the mix is ready to go as soon as the chocolate is melted and stir quickly.
Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix Recipe
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
- parchment paper
- Rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups rice Chex cereal
- 4 cups corn Chex cereal
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 10- ounce bag red and green m&m candies
- 1 7.6- ounce bag mini Reese’s peanut butter cups
- 1 cup Snyder’s itty bitty mini pretzels
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 Tablespoons Christmas sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Add chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir. Continue heating for 30 seconds and stir until creamy and smooth.
- Add Chex cereal to a large mixing bowl. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the cereal and toss to coat.
- Spoon cereal mixture into a gallon ziplock bag. Add powdered sugar and shake and rotate the bag until all the cereal has been coated.
- Pour the cereal onto a large, rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. If the mixture is warm, let it cool to room temperature.
- Sprinkle m&m’s, peanut butter cups, pretzels and mini marshmallows onto the baking sheet. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Notes
Storage & Freezing
Place the Chex mix into an airtight container or storage bag for up to 1 week. Keeping it in the refrigerator will extend the freshness to a couple of weeks. Freeze the reindeer mix by placing it into an air-tight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.Nutrition
Christi says
I need a double batch! Gorgeous pics!