‘Reindeer Bait’ Is the Best Part About the Holidays—Here’s How to Make It Yourself
Updated: Nov. 20, 2020
Make sure Santa's sleigh stops at your home by mixing up a tempting batch of Reindeer Bait.
Similar to Santa’s Trash, dirt cakes and puppy chow, Reindeer Bait is the latest viral trend that’s far more delicious than its name would suggest. Best of all, it’s not so hard to recreate at home with pantry ingredients. In fact, you can probably work with what you have on hand, especially if you’re someone who stocks up on sweets and salty snacks. All you need are pretzels, chocolate, sprinkles, and well, whatever else you’d like!
Leaving milk and cookies out for Santa is a wonderful tradition, but Rudolph, Prancer, Blitzen and the whole crew might like a little snack too.
Reindeer Bait Is Easy to Make
Start by combining sweet treats like marshmallows, M&M’s (we recommend the new Sugar Cookie M&M’s) and even some broken candy canes on a baking sheet. Then you need to think salty—this is where you can add mixed nuts, potato chips, mini pretzels and everyone’s favorite, Chex! White chocolate is the glue that holds everything together, so put a generous amount of either white chocolate chips or a chopped white chocolate bar into a bowl and microwave until everything is smooth and creamy.
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Once melted, pour the white chocolate over all of the tray of goodies, making sure to mix the concoction well in order to coat every last bit. Refrigerate the tray for one hour, and once it sets, break the Reindeer Bait into smaller pieces and serve. It’s that easy!
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Reindeer Bait requires no strict recipe, it doesn’t take any special skills and you don’t even have to turn on the oven to make it. That’s why it’s a perfect no-bake recipe the whole family can help make. You can also get pretty creative with this recipe. White chocolate is recommended because it evokes winter snow, but think of all the options. Dark or milk chocolate would be equally good, and what if you drizzled salted caramel on the whole thing? The sky’s the limit!
Still Looking for Something Festive? Try These Holiday Treats!
Candied Walnuts
Turn ordinary walnuts into a taste holiday snack with this simple candied walnuts recipe that’s prepared on the stovetop. With plenty of brown sugar and a hint of pepper, the crunchy candied walnuts are a nice complement to a fruit and cheese tray. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Holiday Salsa
When we offer this cream-cheesy salsa of fresh cranberries, cilantro and a little jalapeno kick, everyone hovers around the serving dish until it’s scraped clean. —Shelly Pattison, Lubbock, Texas
Peppermint Popcorn
Crisp and minty, this simple holiday snack is a hit with all 10 of our children. For variety, use whatever kind of candy you like. —Shirley Mars, Kent, Ohio
Snow Pea Holiday Wreath
Santa himself might stop to sample this pretty-as-a-picture finger food! Crunchy green pea pods and juicy red tomatoes add a natural, fresh and festive holiday note to my buffet table. —Carol Schneck, Lodi, California
Festive Guacamole Appetizers
For ages, my brother's family and I have gotten together on Christmas Eve, and we always eat Christmas snacks while we open our presents. This Tex-Mex spin on classic appetizer pizza is one we have again and again. —Laurie Pester, Colstrip, Montana
Cucumber Canapes
I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts
Cinnamon Praline Nuts
Take these crunchy bites anywhere! Serve them at your holiday party, wrap up a batch for your favorite hostess, or sneak some for a midnight snack. —Amy Miller, Holstein, IA
3-in-1 Cheese Ball
Three incredible cheese balls with the flavors of pesto, horseradish-bacon and Gorgonzola make a dazzling display at any get-together. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Candied Bacon-Wrapped Figs
I stuffed figs with cream cheese and wrapped them in bacon and spices for an addictive flavor combo that’s sweet, salty and delicious. You can use dates, too. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Savory Party Bread
It's impossible to stop nibbling on warm pieces of this cheesy, oniony bread. The sliced loaf fans out for a fun presentation. It's one of the best savory appetizers I've found. —Kay Daly, Raleigh, North Carolina
Appetizer Wreath
I have lots of fun with this festive appetizer wreath. I often place a bowl of stuffed olives in the center. —Shirley Privratsky, Dickinson, North Dakota
Baked Spinach Dip Loaf
Any round loaf works as a serving bowl for this cream-cheesy dip, with spinach, cheddar, water chestnuts and, yes, bacon. Scoop the dip with the extra bread and veggies—then eat the bowl! —Frieda Meding, Trochu, Alberta
Goat Cheese Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are superstars in the hot appetizer category. I use baby portobello mushrooms and load them with creamy goat cheese and sweet red peppers. —Mike Bass, Alvin, Texas
Marinated Olive & Cheese Ring
We love to make meals into celebrations, and antipasto always kicks off the party for Italian dinners. This one is almost too pretty to eat, especially when sprinkled with pimientos, fresh basil and parsley. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
Cinnamon Candy Popcorn
This bright-colored holiday snack is more festive than traditional caramel corn. My family just loves it! Set out in pretty bowls, it makes a tasty table decoration. I also put it in sandwich bags for a children's party snack. —Kaye Kemper, Windfall, Indiana
Avocado Goat Cheese Truffles
Give guests the VIP treatment with luxurious truffles you can make in your own kitchen. The goat cheese is mild, and red pepper heats up each bite just a bit. Crackers are the perfect accompaniment. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Candy Snack Mix
Chock-full of raisins, peanuts and M& M's, this crunchy salty-sweet mix stays fresh for weeks. I keep it on hand to serve to unexpected guests or to fill decorative containers to give as last-minute gifts. —Mary Newsom, Grand Ridge, Florida
Peppermint Swirl Fudge
Indulge in candy-shop flavor with these rich swirled squares. For Christmasy color, I add crushed peppermint candies and red food coloring. —Suzette Jury, Keene, California
Santa Deviled Eggs
I love creating special deviled eggs for parties. These little Santas are easier to make than they look, and everyone raves over them. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Sweet & Salty Snowmen
My son and I made these pretzel snowmen using different candies. They make fun table decorations when set in glasses of coconut “snow.” —Carol Berndt, Avon, South Dakota
Reindeer Snack Mix
Rudolph and his pals will be dashing, dancing and prancing to gobble up this savory holiday snack mix. Humans also will enjoy the buttery, perfectly seasoned and wonderfully crunchy combination. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Party Shrimp
The marinade for this dish makes the shrimp so flavorful, you won't even need a dipping sauce. Even those who claim they don’t like shellfish really dig this appetizer. —Kendra Doss, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Seven-Layer Mediterranean Dip
I like traditional seven-layer Mexican dip, but I love Mediterranean ingredients even more. When I made this mashup, my husband wolfed it down. And he won’t even touch hummus or Greek olives on their own! —Bee Engelhart, Bloomfield Township, Michigan
Chocolaty Chips
My two little guys can't get enough of this sweet and salty snack that uses just three ingredients and is ready to eat in 15 minutes. The boys like to drizzle on the melted chocolate. Sometimes we replace the potato chips with apple slices. —Jami Geittmann, Greendale, Wisconsin
Apple-Pecan Baked Brie
As family arrives for a get-together, I make sure this fruity and savory Brie is in the oven so the aromas of cinnamon and apples fill the house. —Alicia Gower, Auburn, New York
Slow-Cooker Spiced Mixed Nuts
What slow cookers do for soups and stews, they’ll do for mixed nuts, too. The scent of spices is delightful, and the nuts are delicious. It makes a great snack to munch on during the holidays. —Stephanie Loaiza, Layton, Utah
Holiday Cornflake Cookies
I can't seem to make enough of these cornflake wreaths around the holidays. The cookies firm up quickly, so you'll need to place the Red Hots right away. —Kathleen Hedger, Fairview Heights, Illinois
Caramel Pretzel Bites
I created this recipe wanting to make my own version of a popular candy store pretzel log dipped in caramel, chocolate and nuts. These bites are smothered with homemade caramel. —Michilene Klaver, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Melting Snowmen
These sweet, minty snowmen that are sure to melt hearts. Feel free to experiment with different candies for the decorations. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Festive Holiday Sliders
Turkey sliders with ginger, horseradish and cranberry sauce refrigerate well, so I keep them ready for get-togethers when we bake gifts and wrap presents. —Pamela Miller, Big Rapids, Michigan
Inside-Out Veggie Dip
Kids have fun eating these bite-sized veggie snacks. Change up the seasonings in the dip to fit your family's tastes. The red and green colors are perfect for the holidays. —Judie Thurstenson, Colcord, Oklahoma
Reindeer Brownies
My son, Jeremy, is 36 but acts as if he's 5 when he sees these brownies—I've been making them for more than 30 years! My daughter, Jayme, and my four grandchildren love them, too. If you're short on time, a boxed mix works just fine. —Jeannine Schneider, Fremont, California
Pesto Twists
Use pesto you froze from your garden's bounty or purchase it prepared from the grocery store to fill these easy appetizers. They make fun little holiday snacks. —Jaye Beeler, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Peppermint Candy Cookies
Taking a cue from Star Mints, I created a buttery cookie with a holiday look. This one melts in your mouth faster than its candy cousin. —Gloria McKenzie, Panama City, Florida
Pomegranate Pistachio Crostini
Pomegranate seeds intrigue me, so I sliced French bread, smeared it with cream cheese, and added seeds, pistachios and chocolate. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Saltine Toffee Bark
Everyone loves these salty-sweet treasures—their flavor is simply irresistible. The bark is like brittle, but better. Get ready for a new family favorite! —Laura Cox, Brewster, Massachusetts
Candied Pecans
I pack these easy candied pecans in jars tied with pretty ribbon for family and friends. My granddaughter gave some to a doctor at the hospital where she works, and he said they were too good to be true! —Opal Turner, Hughes Springs, Texas
Calzone Pinwheels
Once you try these mini-sized calzones, you may never go back to the large ones. Not only do these pretty bites take advantage of convenient refrigerator crescent rolls, but they can be made ahead and popped in the oven right before company arrives. No one can eat just one and people love the cheesy, fresh taste! —Lisa Smith, Bryan, Ohio
Sensational Crabmeat Fondue
We entertain a lot, and luxurious crab fondue makes guests feel indulged. It feels fancy enough for the holidays. —Debbie Obert, Middleburg, Florida
Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps
The holidays around the house just wouldn't be the same without these classic wraps. Through the years, Christmas Eve guests have proven it's impossible to eat just one. —Laura Mahaffey, Annapolis, Maryland
Originally Published: November 20, 2020
