Kitchen science: White chocolate is mostly cocoa butter and sugar, so it scorches easily: short bursts of warmth melt it gently, and it sets into a smooth, snowy coat as it cools.
Let's make a snowy snack mix fit for a hungry reindeer: red noses and pretzel antlers! This easy recipe is for ages 5 to 11 (grades K–5th), takes about 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes waiting) and serves 8. Crumb, our tiny chef, reads every step aloud with a picture, so a child can follow along, and every hot or sharp step is marked for a grown-up.
Reindeer chow is Christmas puppy chow: crispy cereal in a white chocolate coat, shaken with powdered sugar, then dotted with red and green candies for noses and pretzels for antlers. It's a no-oven treat for holiday parties and gift bags, and every step after the microwave is one a child can do.
1½ cups white chocolate chips1½ cups (360 ml) white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon oil
½ cup powdered sugar½ cup (120 ml) powdered sugar
1 cup red and green candies1 cup (240 ml) red and green candies
1 cup pretzels1 cup (240 ml) pretzels
Tools
A mixing bowl, Measuring cups, Measuring spoons, The microwave (grown-up), A flat spatula.
Steps
Wash your hands with soap for twenty seconds.
Pour 6 cups of crispy rice cereal into your biggest bowl.Pour 6 cups (1440 ml) of crispy rice cereal into your biggest bowl.
In a second bowl, put 1½ cups of white chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of oil.In a second bowl, put 1½ cups (360 ml) of white chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of oil.
Grown-up step: A grown-up microwaves it 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time, till smooth.
Grown-up step: A grown-up pours the melted white chocolate over the cereal.
Fold gently till every piece is coated white.
Sprinkle on ½ cup of powdered sugar and fold till it looks snowy.Sprinkle on ½ cup (120 ml) of powdered sugar and fold till it looks snowy.
Stir in 1 cup of red and green candies: red noses and green leaves!Stir in 1 cup (240 ml) of red and green candies: red noses and green leaves!
Mix in 1 cup of pretzels: they look just like antlers!Mix in 1 cup (240 ml) of pretzels: they look just like antlers!
Fill a bowl and munch like a reindeer at a snow party.
Safety notes
Hot! A grown-up does this part.
Contains milk, wheat, soy. Tap "Allergies?" on the Kitchen's front page and the swaps fill themselves in where there is one.
Hard or chewy candy is a choking risk for little ones under 4: leave it off for them.
Read the label on packets for allergies.
A bit messy.
Sticky fingers.
Kitchen science
White chocolate is mostly cocoa butter and sugar, so it scorches easily: short bursts of warmth melt it gently, and it sets into a smooth, snowy coat as it cools.
Make it your own
Use dried cranberries and mini marshmallows instead of the candies.
Drizzle melted dark chocolate over the top once it's set.
Pack it in little bags and tie on a tag for a friend.
Questions about reindeer chow
What is reindeer chow?
Reindeer chow is a Christmas snack mix: crispy cereal coated in white chocolate and powdered sugar, mixed with red and green candies and pretzels. It's the holiday cousin of puppy chow, also called muddy buddies.
Is reindeer chow the same as reindeer food?
Not quite. Reindeer chow is cereal coated in white chocolate. Reindeer food on our site is a simple no-cook snack mix of cereal, pretzels, marshmallows and dried fruit that kids pour into little bags.
How do I stop white chocolate from burning in the microwave?
Heat it in 30-second bursts and stir between each one. White chocolate scorches faster than dark, so stop while a few chips are still lumpy and stir until they melt in the warm bowl. A grown-up does the microwave step.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Keep it in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week. Add the candies shortly before serving if you want them bright.