Christmas Reindeer Crack

Christmas reindeer crack, or Christmas chow, is a festive twist on the classic puppy chow recipe. 

With its salty-sweet crunch, you’ll have to fight Rudolph for your share!

It might be traditional to leave carrots out for the reindeer on Christmas Eve. But they’ll appreciate something different this holiday season.

I’ll bet Santa will be happy to dig into this Christmas reindeer crack, too!

Christmas Reindeer Crack

There are several variations for chow recipes, each with its mix of Chex, candy, crackers, and more. 

But this Reindeer version is so festively sweet that I make it every year. It’s one of my favorite yummy December snacks.  

Crunchy, light, and not overly salted, Chex is the perfect partner for sweet white chocolate.

Plus, the combination of crisp corn Chex, crunchy peanuts, and pretzels is divine! It’s a flawless balance of sweet, savory, and salty. 

The only thing missing is a sprinkling of edible glitter.

Ingredients

Some like this snack mix with white chocolate, and some like it with milk. Either way, it’s totally delicious! Here are the ingredients I use:

• Mini pretzels. Pretzels are essential for that tremendous salty flavor and crunch. I recommend these Christmas-shaped pretzels for extra cuteness.

• Cereal squares. One thing almost all chow recipes agree on is the use of Chex Mix. It’s perfectly textured and flavored to pair with any kind of chocolate and comes in a variety of flavors.

• Dry-roasted peanuts. They add a different sort of crunch and a nice, roasted flavor. Omit if you want to make the snack mix nut-free.

• M&M’s. I prefer to use M&M’s over regular chocolate chips because they have a softer bite. Plus, they add great color!

• White chocolate. Although you can use dark or milk chocolate, white looks gorgeous against the red and green M&M’s. Be sure to use good quality chocolate as cheaper brands don’t always melt smoothly. 

Tips & Tricks

This recipe is no-bake and super simple. Still, here are a few tips that will make it perfect every time:

• Prepare the tray ahead of time. You’ll need to pour the mix out quickly before the chocolate begins to set. So, be sure to have your tray lined and ready before you start.

• Use a big bowl! You need to toss the whole batch in chocolate and will need the extra room to get everything coated.

• Toss, don’t stir. If you try to stir, pieces can break, and you might miss bits on the bottom. Instead, toss the mixture in the chocolate like you would a salad.

• Use high-quality chocolate. It’ll melt far better and coat everything well.

• Melt the chocolate with a double boiler. A double-boiler is a pot with a couple of inches of water set to simmer. Place a metal bowl to cover the top, without touching the water, and let the steam melt the chocolate. It’s gentler than using the microwave.

• Avoid getting steam in the chocolate. Water, too! Both will cause the chocolate to seize up and become lumpy. 

• Serving suggestion. I like to make it for parties, serving in a big bowl, or as little gifts in adorable, festive bags.

How Long Does This Mix Last?

I would recommend making this as close to the day you need it as possible. 

That being said, if stored in an air-tight container, it should last up to 2 weeks. 

Keep it in a cool, dry place to avoid the chocolate from melting.

Variations of Christmas Reindeer Crack

I’m sure Prancer, Dancer, Donner, and Vixen are all huge fans of this white chocolate delight.

But I have a feeling Comet, Cupid, Dasher, and Blitzen are all dark chocolate lovers. As for Rudolph? He’ll eat it all!

To make everyone happy, why not try out a few different variations:

• Vary the Chex and chocolate. Try using different flavors, such as chocolate or caramel. Swap the white chocolate for milk or dark chocolate instead.

• Vary the other ingredients. Change up the M&M flavors and colors. Or swap them out for Reese’s Pieces instead. Substitute festive mint and white chocolate pretzels. Add in dried fruits, mini marshmallows, or sprinkles.

• Make it gluten-free. Simply use gluten-free pretzels and corn or rice cereals.

• Mix in almond bark. Try mixing some almond bark with your white chocolate for a fresh and nutty taste.