Reindeer Chow

Name: Reindeer Chow
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 3 cups rice chex; 3 cups cheerios; 3 cups pretzel sticks (crushed slightly); 3 cups holiday m&ms; 2 cups salted peanuts; 16 oz white chocolate; 2 tbsp coconut oil

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By: Erin Antoniak • Updated On May 1, 2026

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Simply put, this Reindeer Chow is a must. Include it in your holiday dessert line up for a delicious mix of cereals, white chocolate, peanuts, M&Ms, and pretzels!

The ultimate treat for reindeer… and us!

This holiday season, switch up the cookie lineup and spruce up the buffet of sweets with this delicious and crunchy reindeer chow!

Reindeer chow is one of my favorites to make because it’s a hodge-podge of flavors and each bite is filled with the most delicious treats! Yummy cereals, candy, pretzel sticks, and loads of white chocolate. Yes, please!

One of the great things about this recipe is that you can stick with the ingredient list below, or you can get creative and add whatever salty or sweet addition that you’d like! But for now, let’s get started with the classic combo of Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzel sticks, M&Ms, and more.

Ingredients in reindeer chow

To make this reindeer chow recipe you will need two types of cereal, pretzel sticks, M&Ms, peanuts, white chocolate, and a bit of coconut oil.

Rice Chex: Start with 3 cups of Rice Chex. This will add a light and fluffy crunch!
Cheerios: Next, use 3 cups of the cereal classic: Cheerios. The plain kind will be best.
Pretzels: Add some salty flavor with 3 cups of pretzel sticks. You can slightly crush them for more texture, or break them in half for bite-sized pieces.
M&Ms: Use 3 cups of M&Ms as the chocolate component! I recommend using the holiday mix for cheery and festive colors.
Peanuts: Add some nutty protein with 2 cups of peanuts.
White chocolate: White chocolate will be used as the “glaze” in this chow. Use 1 16 oz bag.
Coconut oil: Last but not least, you will need 2 tbsp of coconut oil to help the white chocolate melt down properly.

Tools needed to make this recipe

You will need 5 main cooking items in addition to two measuring cups. Gather the following, and let’s make a delicious dessert!

Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Large mixing bowl
Stirring utensil
Small mixing bowl
Measuring cups: 1 tbsp, 1 cup

Photo of ingredients for Reindeer Chow with labels.

How to make this holiday reindeer chow recipe

Reindeer chow is simple to make and comes together in just 5 minutes! After combining the ingredients, we’ll let it chill in the fridge for half an hour.

First, mix the Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzel sticks, M&Ms, and peanuts in a large mixing bowl.

Add the white chocolate and coconut oil to a bowl and microwave them for 30-second increments. Stir after each increment and repeat until the mixture is completely melted.

Pour the white chocolate and coconut oil mixture over the snack mix and stir until each piece is coated.

Evenly spread the coated mixture onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Once cooled, break the mix into chunks and serve!

Substitution Tip

Looking to mix things up? Here are some simple swaps you can make to customize your holiday chow to your liking!

Cereal
Another cereal that will work well in this recipe is Rice Krispies.

Pretzel sticks
Pretzel sticks aren’t required for this recipe. If you have regular mini pretzels taking up space in the pantry, use ’em!

M&Ms
Feel free to swap out M&Ms for any candy that you love. Reese’s Cups would add a delicious peanut buttery flavor while crushed up Twix bars would add caramel and texture!

White chocolate
White chocolate can be replaced with chocolate chips or even peanut butter chips!

Add ons
Of course, all of the above can be added to the chow rather than substituted! You can also add some festive red and green sprinkles for extra cheer.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make Reindeer Chow

Storing leftovers

Reindeer chow should be kept in an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for a longer shelf life, but storing at room temperature is also fine. It should remain fresh and tasty for about 4 days!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Dying for some more sweet holiday treats? Here are some fun and festive ideas!

Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.

If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!

Erin Antoniak

Reindeer Chow

5 from 46 votes

A delicious mix of cereals, white chocolate, peanuts, M&Ms, and pretzels that's an easy holiday dessert!

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings: 16 servings

Course: baking, cookies, Dessert, holiday, Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 543

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

3 cups rice chex
3 cups cheerios
3 cups pretzel sticks crushed slightly
3 cups holiday m&ms
2 cups salted peanuts
16 oz white chocolate
2 tbsp coconut oil

Method

In a large bowl, mix together rice chex, cheerios, pretzels, m&ms, and peanuts.
Microwave white chocolate and coconut oil in 30 second increments, stirring after each one, until completely melted.
Pour white chocolate over snack mix and stir until each piece is coated.
Lay out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
Break apart into chunks.
Store in airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 543kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 11gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 322mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 4gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 320IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 156mgIron: 4mg

Notes

Melt the White Chocolate in 30-Second Increments: Add your white chocolate and coconut oil to a bowl and microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring after each one, until completely melted. This slow, gentle method prevents the chocolate from burning and seizing up.
Make Sure Every Piece Gets Coated: After pouring the melted chocolate over the cereal mix, stir everything thoroughly until each piece is fully covered before spreading it out. Any uncoated spots won’t hold together when you break it into chunks later.
Refrigerate for the Full 30 Minutes Before Breaking Apart: Don’t rush the chilling step! The fridge time is what sets the chocolate and allows everything to harden into those satisfying, snackable chunks. Pull it out too early and you’ll have a sticky mess instead.