If you're after a quick, fun and totally magical Christmas activity, these reindeer food bags are absolutely perfect! They take less than 10 minutes, are super budget-friendly and make the cutest little gifts for kindy and school friends.
They're also a gorgeous Christmas Eve tradition to pair with treats like my Chocolate Reindeer Brownies and our super cute Reindeer Noses.
Reindeer food is a simple mix of oats, colourful Christmas sprinkles or M&Ms, and a sprinkle of magic (the edible kind!), packed into little bags with a fun printable label. The kids love to leave them outside on Christmas Eve so Rudolph and his reindeer friends can find their way straight to your home.
As a mum, I love that this tradition is easy, inexpensive and always a huge hit with little ones. They adore scooping, shaking and sprinkling the mix, and it's honestly one of those memories that sticks. So if you love quick and easy festive projects with the kids, you'll also want to check out my 5-minute Christmas Bauble Cookies or these cute Christmas Marshmallow Pops.
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
- Perfect for gifting - great for classmates, teachers, daycare and neighbours.
- Kid-approved tradition - little ones love making (and sprinkling!) reindeer food.
- Budget-friendly yet looks polished thanks to the free printable labels.
- Ready in 10 minutes - unbelievably fast for such a cute result.
- Flexible & customisable - gluten-free, pet-safe and sparkly options included.
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Reindeer Ingredients
This reindeer food couldn't be simpler - here's all you need to make the magic happen!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
- Rolled/old-fashioned oats - stick to plain oats so the mix looks clean and festive.
- Christmas M&Ms - red and green, or use gluten-free choc gems for an allergy-friendly version.
- Printable label - print on thicker 200-250gsm paper or photo paper so it holds its shape.
- Clear sealable bags - most $2 shops or craft stores sell them.
Variations
- Gluten-Free Reindeer Food - Use certified gluten-free oats and swap M&Ms for GF-friendly choc gems or candy-coated chocolate.
- Pet-Safe Version - Skip glitter completely and use coloured sugar or coloured sprinkles instead. Keeps pets and local birds safe and still looks festive.
- Super Sparkly Mix - Add a pinch of edible glitter (you may need to try cake-decorating shops). The shimmer looks magical on Christmas Eve!
- Classroom Gift Bags - Let kids scoop and build their own bags for classmates. Lay out bowls of oats, sprinkles and labels and let them "DIY" their gifts.
How To Make Reindeer Food
Follow these simple steps to whip up a batch of festive reindeer food with the kids.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
1. Print & cut labels: Print the free Reindeer Food labels (see link below).
2. Add oats: Place ½ cup of rolled oats into each small gift bag.
3. Mix in the magic: Add a spoonful of M&Ms or festive sprinkles and gently shake.
4. Seal & label: Seal the bag, fold a label over the top and secure with tape or a small staple.
5. Sprinkle on Christmas Eve: Scatter the mix outside so Santa's reindeer can find your home!
FREE Printable 'Reindeer Food' Gift Bag Label
Small Label Size Printable
Large Label Size Printable
Recipe Tips
- Use rolled oats, not quick oats - they hold their shape better and look nicer in the bag.
- Print labels on thicker paper for a clean, professional finish.
- Choose the label size (6 or 9 per page) based on your bag size.
- Colour printing works best to make the labels bright and festive.
- Make in bulk - this recipe doubles or triples perfectly for classroom or daycare gifting.
- Avoid real glitter - only use edible glitter, or stick to coloured sugar for child, pet and wildlife safety.
- Storage: Keep bags in a cool, dry spot for up to 2 months.
Reindeer Food FAQs
Yes - as long as you skip glitter. Use plain oats and coloured sugar or sprinkles for a bird and wildlife-friendly version.
Small cellophane bags, zip-seal snack bags, or craft treat bags all work perfectly.
Yes - it's extremely kid-friendly and such a fun activity!
The only adult job is printing and attaching the labels.
More Christmas Recipes To Make With The Kids
The Christmas countdown sends kids into full excitement mode - so why not lean into it with some easy, kid-friendly festive recipes?
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Reindeer Food
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups rolled/old fashioned oats
- 1 cup red and green M&Ms
Instructions
- Print out our free 'Reindeer Food' labels (see tips below) and cut out using scissors.
- Place a ½ cup scoop of rolled oats into each bag.
- Sprinkle over some Christmas M&Ms and shake together.
- Seal the bags together and use sticky tape or double-sided tape to attach the label to the top.
- On Christmas Eve, sprinkle the 'Reindeer Food' outside for Rudolph and his friends!
Notes
- Use rolled oats, not quick oats - they hold their shape better and look nicer in the bag.
- Print labels on thicker paper for a clean, professional finish.
- Choose the label size (6 or 9 per page) based on your bag size.
- Colour printing works best to make the labels bright and festive.
- Make in bulk - this recipe doubles or triples perfectly for classroom or daycare gifting.
- Avoid real glitter - only use edible glitter, or stick to coloured sugar for child, pet and wildlife safety.
- Storage: Keep bags in a cool, dry spot for up to 2 months.
Champagne4lulu says
Love this, but just be careful using m&ms in there as chocolate can be toxic for dogs. We actually make this every year but use sprinkles / 100s and 1000s in them. Looks really pretty especially with Christmas colours.
Lucy says
Yes absolutely! We only sprinkle this in a section of our yard where our beautiful old golden retriever can't get to! Sprinkles are a great idea!
Me says
was just going to say same. I like the Xmas sprinkles idea.