Reindeer Bait

This easy reindeer bait recipe is a family holiday tradition, and it’s one of our favourite Christmas treats. It’s festive and delicious!

Christmas is just around the corner, and if there’s one thing that brings holiday cheer, it’s embracing the time-tested traditions of festive treats. One such classic is reindeer bait — a sweet and tasty snack mix featuring an irresistible combination of muddy buddies, crunchy pretzels, buttery popcorn, festive sprinkles, and M&Ms.

It’s ‘bait’ because you’ll likely have a hard time keeping away hands while waiting for Santa’s arrival! With it’s perfect balance of delicious flavours combined with its adorable name, Reindeer Bait is a must-have recipe for your holiday gatherings.

Why You Will Love this Reindeer Bait Recipe

• Easy to make recipe.
• Festive and cute for Christmas parties!
• Addictive sweet and salty snack!
• Perfect party food!
• Adaptable, you can make this recipe your own with different add-ins
• Easy to make ahead and freezes well!
• This recipe doubles well if needed.
• Fun treat for festive movie nights!

What is Reindeer Bait?

Reindeer bait is a snack mix commonly made with popped popcorn, pretzels, and candy that is coated in white chocolate and decorated with fun sprinkles.

It is also known as:

• Reindeer food
• Reindeer poop
• Elf bait
• Reindeer chow
• Christmas snack mix

What are Muddy Buddies (Puppy Chow)?

Muddy buddies are a snack mix made of Chex cereal coated in a mixture of chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter, which is then covered in powered sugar.

It is also known as:

• Monkey munch
• Muddy munch
• Monster munch

Christmas Snack Mix Variations and Mix-in Ideas

I love this Christmas snack mix recipe as it is, but here are some more ideas for you:

• Add more colour by drizzle the popcorn mixture over with coloured candy melts in addition to the sprinkles.
• Swap the M&M’s for any festive chocolate candies such as red and green sixlets.

How to Store Reindeer Bait Trail Mix

Reindeer bait can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or resealable plastic bags for up to a week.

You can also freeze any leftover reindeer bait in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for a couple hours prior to enjoying.

About the Equipment Needed for Christmas Muddy Buddy Mix

There isn’t really any special equipment needed to make Christmas reindeer bait, just two sheet pans, parchment paper, a few large mixing bowls, a spatula, and a small microwave-safe bowl.

I would make sure that your large mixing bowls are actually pretty big so you don’t get any spill over when you are stirring together your ingredients. You may also want a big bowl for serving.

About the Ingredients for Reindeer Bait Mix

This reindeer mix is made with just a few ingredients:

Popcorn – 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels makes about 8 cups of popped popcorn. Freshly popped is best, I have an air popper which works great, but you can also use store bought popcorn. (I used store bought this time, and while it still tasted great, I prefer when the mix is all white. The yellow just throws off the festive feel.)

M&M’s – 2 cups is about 16 oz, of M&Ms, or about 400 grams. You can use less depending on how much chocolate (and colour) you want.

Pretzels – I used pretzels twists but you can pretzel sticks or mini twists.

Chocolate – You can use any kind of white chocolate or white candy melts here, but I think white chocolate keeps everything bright and delicious. Candy melts don’t taste as good in my opinion. Using high quality white chocolate will give you the best results.

Sprinkles – Use Christmas sprinkles or any festive sprinkles of your choice.

Cereal – You want to use wheat, corn, or rice Chex cereal for this snack. I usually use rice Chex.

Peanut butter – Use your favourite smooth and creamy peanut butter. You can also substitute with any other nut or seed butter. You should avoid natural-style peanut butter though as it can be too oily.

Butter – Unsalted or salted butter works here.

Powdered sugar – Icing sugar or confectioners sugar.

Looking for More Easy Christmas Dessert Recipes

Check out more of my favourite easy recipes for Christmas treats!

These festive gingerbread bars are frosted with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting that perfectly balances out the spiced sweetness of the bar.

Peppermint Chocolate Cake Roll with a creamy peppermint filling and chocolate ganache on top. A beautiful, festive dessert for the holidays!

What could be more festive this holiday season than this lightly spiced Eggnog Sheet Cake smothered in eggnog cream cheese frosting.

How to Make Reindeer Bait

Yields: 20 Servings | Prep time: 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
• 2 cups Christmas M&M’s
• 2 cups pretzels
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cups Christmas sprinkles

For the Muddy Buddies:

• 9 cups Chex cereal
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

Pop your popcorn into a large bowl using your preferred method. (Try to remove unpopped kernels.) Add the M&M’s and pretzels.

Heat 2 cups of white chocolate chips in the microwave for 60 seconds. Stir. Then heat again for 30 seconds, and stir until smooth. Heat again in 30 second intervals if necessary.

Pour the melted chocolate over the popcorn mixture. Use a spatula to gently stir until the chocolate has coated everything evenly.

Spread the popcorn mixture on one of the prepared baking sheets, and spread out into an even layer.

Sprinkle the chocolate covered popcorn mixture over with the sprinkles.

Set aside to cool.

To prepare the muddy buddies, pour the chex cereal into a large bowl, set aside.

Heat 1 cup of white chocolate chips, the peanut butter, and the butter in the microwave for 60 seconds. Stir. Then heat again for 30 seconds, and stir until smooth. Heat again in 30 second intervals if necessary.

Stir vanilla into the melted chocolate mixture,

Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal, and stir until the cereal is coated over evenly.

Pour into a large resealable plastic bag, and add the powdered sugar. Seal the bag and shake until well coated.

Spread onto the remaining prepared baking sheet to cool.

Gently break apart the set chocolate covered popcorn into snack-sized pieces.

Combine in a large bowl with the muddy buddies.