Reindeer Chow

Most recipes for reindeer chow are sweet, holiday-themed versions of muddy buddies, aka puppy chow, with red and green chocolate candies. This version of Chex mix reindeer mix is what hard-working reindeer nibble on when they’re craving something salty, cheesy and a little spicy. The reindeer chow recipe includes a variety of savory snacks and cereal, all coated in a sweet (maple syrup) and savory (Cajun seasoning) dressing, then baked to intensify the flavors.

Bag this snack mix and top it with a festive bow for holiday gifting, or put out a big bowl at your holiday open house. Save a smaller bowl to leave out with the milk and cookies for, you know, the reindeer.

Ingredients for Reindeer Chow

Kayla Blydenburgh for Taste of Home

• Snacks: A mix of salty snack-aisle favorites acts as the savory base for this reindeer chow recipe. We call for 2 cups each of Bugles, pretzel sticks and cheese-flavored snack crackers.
• Cereal: Hit up the cereal aisle for bite-sized shredded wheat and Corn Chex. Adding some cereal to the mix tones down the salty intensity of the snack foods with more neutral flavors and adds a pleasant, light crispness to the mix.
• Pecan halves: Pecans add their wonderful buttery crunch and a toothsome chew to contrast the crispy textures of the other ingredients. Opt for halves to keep them about the same size as the other ingredients. Pecan pieces will work flavor-wise, but they’re so small that they’ll all wind up at the bottom of the bowl.
• Butter: A stick of butter, melted, helps carry the flavor aromas of the other dressing ingredients as it coats the Chex Mix reindeer mix, and it aids the whole mix in browning when baked.
• Maple syrup: A splash of maple balances out the savory flavors with a little sweetness. You can substitute pancake syrup too.
• Worcestershire sauce: Fridge-door staple Worcestershire sauce adds contrast to the sweet and salty profile of the snack mix, rounding it out with the sauce’s distinctive tangy, savory flavor.
• Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning is an easy way to add a dynamic mix of spices and aromatics from a single jar. Use homemade Cajun seasoning or your favorite store-bought version.
• Cayenne pepper: Most Cajun seasoning blends will already contain some spice, but a little extra cayenne boosts this reindeer chow recipe with even more heat.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the snack ingredients

Kayla Blydenburgh for Taste of Home

Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place the Bugles, pretzel sticks, snack crackers, shredded wheat, Corn Chex and pecans in a large bowl. Gently mix them to combine.

Step 2: Make the dressing

Kayla Blydenburgh for Taste of Home

In a microwave, melt the butter, then stir in the maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the snack mixture, tossing and stirring gently with a rubber spatula to coat the snacks. Transfer the mixture to an ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan.

Step 3: Bake the reindeer chow

Kayla Blydenburgh for Taste of Home

Bake the snack mix for one hour, stirring it every 15 minutes. Let it cool completely before moving it to an airtight container for storage.

Kayla Blydenburgh for Taste of Home

Reindeer Chow Variations

• Swap snacks: This recipe is very flexible. As long as the volume of snacks is about the same, you can easily substitute the salty snacks for other options depending on what you have and what you like. Replace the cheese crackers with butter crackers, replace the Bugles with cheese curls, or replace the pretzel sticks with pretzel snaps or bagel chips. Really, you can’t go wrong.
• Add some candy: If you’re a fan of salty-sweet combinations, feel free to add in some red and green chocolate-coated candies to the snack mix once it’s completely cooled.
• Customize the spices: Instead of using Cajun seasoning, you can season the dressing with a sweet and smoky barbecue rub or make your own custom spice blend. Start with dry onion and garlic, perhaps a pinch of thyme, some paprika for color and anything else that sounds tasty to you.

How to Store Reindeer Chow

Store reindeer chow in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.

Can you freeze reindeer chow?

Yes, you can freeze this holiday snack mix. Freezing prevents it from going stale or getting soggy if you’re not likely to move through it quickly. Once it’s completely cooled, transfer it to a zip-top bag, then gently press out as much air as possible before sealing. Reindeer chow will keep in the freezer for two to three months. Let it come to room temperature before serving.

Reindeer Chow Tips

Kayla Blydenburgh for Taste of Home

Can you cook reindeer mix in the air fryer or the microwave?

You can cook reindeer chow in an air fryer, microwave or slow cooker instead of in the oven. Follow this recipe for homemade Chex mix for times and temperatures.

How do you prevent snack mix from going soggy?

A key step in making the best, crunchiest version of this reindeer chow recipe or any other snack mix recipe is spreading it out to cool after it’s done cooking. You can leave it on the baking sheet until it has cooled to room temperature. This step lets the moisture evaporate completely and helps make the snack mix crunchy. Another key is storing it in an airtight container.

How do you reduce the sodium in reindeer mix?

It’s true that snack mixes can be salt bombs. To help keep the sodium in check, choose low-salt pretzels, crackers and snacks, and opt for unsalted butter and a salt-free Cajun or all-purpose seasoning blend.