Description
This festive Reindeer Chow recipe is a delightful holiday snack mix combining chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and a variety of crunchy and sweet mix-ins like pretzels, mini peanut butter cups, M&M’s, and white chocolate chips. It’s sweet, salty, and perfect for sharing during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Mixture
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips (255 grams)
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter (203 grams)
- 2 tablespoons caramel sauce (40 grams)
- 3 tablespoons salted butter (42 grams)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (4 grams)
Base Ingredients
- 7 cups Chex cereal (210 grams)
- 1½ cups powdered sugar (160 grams)
Mix-ins
- 1½ cups mini pretzels (60 grams)
- 1½ cups mini peanut butter cups (30 grams)
- 2 cups Christmas M&M’s (340 grams)
- ½ cup salted peanuts (213 grams)
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (85 grams)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chocolate Mixture: In a microwavable bowl, combine semisweet chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, caramel sauce, and salted butter. Microwave in 20-30 second intervals, stirring between each to prevent burning, until the mixture is fully melted and smooth. Then stir in the pure vanilla extract until evenly incorporated.
- Coat the Cereal: Pour the Chex cereal into a large bowl and pour the melted chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel mixture over it. Gently stir to coat all the cereal pieces evenly, taking care not to break them.
- Sweeten with Powdered Sugar: Place the powdered sugar into a gallon-sized plastic bag (or use two if necessary). Add the coated cereal mixture into the bag, seal it, and shake well until all pieces are coated with powdered sugar.
- Add Mix-ins: Transfer the powdered sugar-coated cereal back into a clean large bowl. Fold in the mini pretzels, mini peanut butter cups, Christmas M&M’s, salted peanuts, and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Notes
- Use clear plastic bags for coating with powdered sugar to allow even mixing and easy shaking.
- Microwaving in short intervals helps avoid burning the chocolate mixture.
- Be gentle when stirring the cereal to keep it from breaking.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- This snack is perfect for holiday parties and gifting in decorative bags.
