This Allergy Friendly Reindeer Chow recipe has become a Christmas tradition in our home.
However, you may call it Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies.
Whatever you call it, it’s ADDICTING!
This year, I decided to try my hand at this holiday classic by making it allergen friendly. No soy, no dairy, no nuts, no gluten.
Why? Because, apparently I like a challenge. Ha!
As it turns out, the swaps I made worked perfectly. The “first time’s the charm” is rarely my reality in the kitchen. So you better believe I was doing a happy dance.
The good thing is, no one will ever know this is an altered version of the original. #highfive
Here are the substitutions I made in this Allergy Friendly Reindeer Chow:
Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels for the regular dark chocolate chips.
Sunbutter made from sunflower seeds for the almond (peanut) butter.
Rice Chex cereal in place of wheat Chex cereal.
Snyder’s gluten free twisty pretzels for regular “gluten-filled” pretzels.
Extra virgin olive oil in place of butter.
Phew! Okay, not too difficult right? Allergy Free Reindeer Chow for the win!
I purchased all of these items from my local grocery store…in South Dakota…if I can find it, you can find it! Ha!
I am happy to report this Allergy Friendly Reindeer Chow can be eaten by my son’s friend who is allergic to soy, dairy, and nuts. FINALLY a yummy treat I can serve him!
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If you have ever tried to find foods that don’t contain soy, good luck. SO MANY store bought items, even the “healthy” stuff has soy in it.
Let’s get to it! Here is your reindeer chow ingredient shopping list:
- 8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups Snyders gluten free mini pretzels
- 1 cup Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup nut free Sunbutter
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup holiday M&Ms (optional) or a dairy free candy coated chocolate gems
The M&Ms are optional because I cannot find dairy and soy free candy coated chocolate for the life of me!
Plus, Ryan prefers this Allergy Friendly Reindeer Chow without the candies. The kids and I have a different opinion. 😉
Merry Christmas and Happy Eating! Tell me down in the comments what your favorite vegan holiday goodies are.
Allergy Friendly Reindeer Chow
Equipment
- bowl
- microwave
- gallon sized plastic bags
Ingredients
- 8 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups gluten free Snyders mini pretzels
- 1 cup Enjoy Life dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Sunbutter
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup holiday candy coated chocolates or M&Ms optional
Instructions
- Pour Chex cereal and pretzels into a very large bowl. Set aside.
- In two gallon-sized Ziploc bags, add 1 cup powdered sugar to each bag. Set aside.
- In a medium sized glass bowl, add chocolate chips, Sunbutter, and olive oil. Microwave 2 minutes on power setting 5. Stir until combined and the chocolate is completely melted. Stir in the vanilla.
- Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and pretzels. Gently mix until cereal and pretzels are coated.
- Pour 1/2 the chocolatey mixture into the two gallon-sized bags. Seal bags and shake until powdered sugar coats all the cereal mixture.
- Open each bag and lay the bags on their sides to allow the mixture to cool and dry out a bit.
- When mixture is cool, add candy coated chocolates to each bag. Store in an airtight bags until ready to package for gifts or set out for company to enjoy.
Notes
- Add more powdered sugar to the bags if you need more sugar coating after shaking the bags. Depending on the brand of ingredients and measurements, you may need a little more sugar to coat the Reindeer Chow properly.
- Use regular peanut butter and chocolate chips, butter for the olive oil, and any kind of Chex cereal if allergies are of no concern.
- The M&Ms are optional because I cannot find dairy and soy free candy coated chocolate for the life of me! Plus, Ryan prefers this Reindeer Chow without the candies. The kids and I have a different opinion. 😉
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I have a nut allergy. I’m very bad and somethings that are made in the same place as nuts I can’t have. But I have been eating m&m’s all most all my life and I have never had a problem as long as they are the plain m&m’s.
That’s so good to know! Thank you for for sharing your experience. Blessings!
Hi- I have a peanut allergic kid, M & M’s are not safe- they are are made on the same equipment as peanuts and tree nuts. Sixlets are a safe choice for peanut allergy kids, but they do contain whey.
Thank you for sharing! I did not know this. I have several peanut allergy friends who eat M&Ms so it never occurred to me. Merry Christmas!
Terrific recipe!! Will be great for my son and his special needs class!!!
Oh good! I actually just made a batch today to give as gifts this week. 🙂 Enjoy!
Looks yummy Sammi! I actually just bought almost all these ingredients for “normal” Chex mix. Maybe I’ll switch it up this year:)
Hey Brenda! Yes, give this one a try. 😉 I think I have made it 5x this year already. Ha! Merry Christmas!