Reindeer Food

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/22/21
Reindeer food recipe

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 9 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
99 Calories
1g Fat
23g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 9
Amount per serving
Calories 99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 33mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Everyone knows about Santa's cookies. But what about treats for the ones who are pulling the sleigh?

Reindeer food (also sometimes called magic reindeer food or magic reindeer dust) is for Santa's reindeer. After all, they get hungry on Christmas Eve, too. The theory behind the magic dust is that if it's sprinkled outside your house, the starlight shining on the sugar will guide the reindeer to you for their present drop and give them a munch of oats to keep up their stamina for the next stop on their journey.

This easy-to-make project is going to be a fun tradition for your kids who will act like reindeer to sneak a taste. After the kids sprinkle it on the lawn, it will eventually "vanish" because the ingredients are eco-friendly and biodegradable.

Don't wait until Christmas to try this, it's a cool idea to use year-round. Just vary the color of the sugar based on the holiday and turn these into Cupid treats for Valentine's Day, rabbit treats for Easter, and so on. Just change the poem to match the holiday.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked rolled oats

  • 2 to 6 tablespoons red-colored sugar

  • 2 to 6 tablespoons green-colored sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Reindeer food ingredients
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a medium bowl, mix together rolled oats, red-colored sugar, and green-colored sugar until well incorporated.

    Mixed together rolled oats
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Transfer sugared oats to zip-topped plastic bags, adding more colored sugar for a festive effect.

    Oats in bag
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Tie with a ribbon and attach the following poem:

    Sprinkle this reindeer food outside tonight.
    The moonlight will make it sparkle bright.
    As the reindeer fly and roam
    This will guide them to your home.

    Tie with ribbon
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. On Christmas Eve, hand each child a package of reindeer dust and let them untie the ribbon and sprinkle it on the lawn while reciting the poem. Then, all they have to do is wait!

    Serve reindeer food
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Fun Fact

The day before Christmas Eve, read this legend to the kids to get them really amped up for feeding the reindeer.

The Legend of Magical Reindeer Dust

It has once been said, that right before you go to bed,

You should sprinkle magic reindeer food,

To quickly bring Santa and his brood,

For many years the legend has been told,

To boys and girls, both young and old,

Sprinkle the food throughout your yard,

Then finding your house won't be so hard!

The reindeer can smell the food for 100 miles,

Just do not leave it in big piles!

After you do this you must go to sleep very fast,

So Santa and his reindeer will not pass!