Reindeer Munch is a simple sweet and salty snack to enjoy at holiday parties or while watching Christmas movies. This easy gluten-free mix uses popcorn, Rice Chex cereal, cashews, cashew butter, grain-free pretzels and optional festive M&M’s coated in a sugar-free powdered sweetener. Includes grain-free, paleo and low carb options.
An easy Holiday Snack Mix Recipe
Reindeer Munch, Christmas Chow, Reindeer Chow, Santa’s Munch Mix, Bunny Bait, Muddy Buddies, Puppy Chow – no matter what you call it, this stuff is so fun and simple to make!
It makes the perfect snack to munch on while you’re wrapping gifts or watching some festive holiday movies.
And you can’t beat how easy it comes together too. My kids loved helping me mix this classic sweet and savory treat together. We add everything into a resealable bag and shake! So simple and super fun for the kids.
The best part about making your own snack mix is that you can easily customize the ingredients with what you have in your pantry. Our version is made slightly healthier using cashew butter and coconut oil in place of butter making it dairy-free and vegan. You can also use use Gluten-Free Rice Chex or grain-free cereal, grain-free pretzel twists and grain-free pretzel sticks to make this mix grain-free and paleo-friendly.
To make this slightly lower in sugar, you can use powdered maple sugar or powdered Lakanto monkfruit sweetener instead of powdered or confectioners’ sugar. Don’t get me wrong, this is definitely still not health food but it is once a year for the kids.
Recipe ingredients
- Creamy unsalted cashew butter OR sub any nut butter or seed butter
- Organic coconut oil – we are using refined coconut oil since it doesn’t leave any hint of coconut flavor. You can also sub with vegan butter, ghee OR butter if not dairy-free
- Pure vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Fine sea salt
- Gluten-Free Rice Chex cereal: sub with grain-free cereal “O’s or grain-free cereal flakes of choice (we like Love Bird Unsweetened Grain-Free O’s and Nucoconut Grain-Free Coconut Crunch Cereal)
- Popped popcorn:
- sub with grain-free cereal “O’s or grain-free cereal flakes of choice (we like Love Bird Unsweetened Grain-Free O’s and Nucoconut Grain-Free Coconut Crunch Cereal) OR Popped Lotus Seeds
- Gluten-free OR grain-free pretzel sticks , we like FitJoy
- Gluten-free OR grain-free pretzel twists , we like Quinn’s Snacks OR FitJoy
- Roasted cashews
- Lakanto powdered maple sugar: you can also use powdered monkfruit sweetener ,OR any powdered sweetener OR powdered sugar of choice
Optional
- Red & Green Holiday M&M’s or Holiday Candies or Holiday sprinkles: leave out if desired – this adds a festive holiday touch
HOW TO MAKE REINDEER MUNCH
- In a large bowl heat-safe bowl, combine nut butter and coconut oil. Melt over a double-boiler OR microwave in 20-second increments until melted, stir until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Set aside.
- Add popcorn, cereal, both pretzels and cashews into a large gallon sized resealable bag. Pour melted nut butter mixture over. Seal bag tightly. Gently shake while pressing nut butter mixture into cereal, until coated well.
- Open bag and add powdered sweetener, seal bag again and shake until coated evenly.
- Pour snack mix into serving bowls. Add optional holiday M&M’s, if desired
This Christmas Reindeer Munch is sweet, salty with a delightful crunch in every bite.
It will be hard to stop eating this by the handful so it’s just perfect for sharing.
Package it up into portions for a delicious homemade gift for friends, family and neighbors.
More holiday treats you will love:
Reindeer Munch is a simple sweet and salty snack to enjoy at holiday parties or while watching Christmas movies. This easy gluten-free mix uses popcorn, Rice Chex cereal, cashews, cashew butter, grain-free pretzels and optional festive M&M's coated in a sugar-free powdered sweetener. Includes grain-free, paleo and low carb options.
- 2/3 cups creamy unsalted cashew butter OR sub any nut butter or seed butter
- 3 tablespoons refined coconut oil , or sub with vegan butter, ghee OR butter if not dairy-free
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 4 cups Gluten-Free Rice Chex cereal , sub with grain-free cereal "O's or grain-free cereal flakes of choice (we like Love Bird Unsweetened Grain-Free O's and Nucoconut Grain-Free Coconut Crunch Cereal)
- 3 cups popped popcorn , sub with grain-free cereal "O's or grain-free cereal flakes of choice (we like Love Bird Unsweetened Grain-Free O's and Nucoconut Grain-Free Coconut Crunch Cereal) OR Popped Lotus Seeds
- 1 cup gluten-free OR grain-free pretzel sticks , we like Quinn's Snacks OR FitJoy
- 1/2 cup gluten-free OR grain-free pretzel twists , we like Quinn's Snacks OR FitJoy
- 1/2 cup roasted cashews OR any nuts
- 1 1/3 cups powered maple sugar , OR any powdered sweetener (Lakanto powdered monk fruit for lower sugar) OR any powdered sugar of choice + more as needed
- 1/2 cup Red & Green Holiday Candies or holiday sprinkles , for topping (leave out if desired - adds that festive holiday touch)
In a large bowl heat-safe bowl, combine nut butter and coconut oil. Melt over a double-boiler OR microwave in 20-second increments until melted, stir until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Set aside.
Add popcorn, cereal, both pretzels and cashews into a large gallon sized resealable bag. Pour melted nut butter mixture over. Seal bag tightly. Gently shake while pressing nut butter mixture into cereal, until coated well.
Open bag and add powdered sweetener, seal bag again and shake until coated evenly.
Pour snack mix into serving bowls. Add optional holiday M&M's, if desired.
