How to Make Reindeer Food for Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Santa isn’t the only one who deserves a treat — his reindeer work hard too! 🦌✨ Making reindeer food is a fun, family-friendly activity that adds even more magic to the night before Christmas. Here’s how to make your own sparkly mix to guide Santa’s sleigh right to your home!
1. What You’ll Need
You only need a few simple ingredients to make magical reindeer food. Most of them are things you already have in your kitchen!
- 1 cup of oats (reindeer love oats!)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar or sprinkles
- A pinch of edible glitter (for sparkle ✨)
- A spoonful of Christmas cheer ❤️
Mix everything in a bowl and let your kids stir while saying: “Come on Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen — we’re ready for you!”
2. Eco-Friendly Version
If you’ll be sprinkling your reindeer food outdoors, skip the glitter and use colored sugar or bird-safe sprinkles instead. The reindeer (and your local wildlife) will thank you! 🌍
3. When to Sprinkle the Magic
Right before bedtime on Christmas Eve, take your kids outside and sprinkle the reindeer food on your lawn, driveway, or porch. As the poem says:
Sprinkle on the lawn tonight,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home! 🌟
4. Package It as a Gift
Reindeer food also makes a wonderful homemade gift! Add the mix to small bags or jars, tie with red ribbon, and attach a cute tag that says “Reindeer Food — Sprinkle on Christmas Eve.” 🎁
You can even download our free printable reindeer food label to make it look extra festive.
5. Keep the Magic Alive
After sprinkling your mix, head inside to enjoy cookies and milk while you track Santa’s flight on the NORAD Santa Tracker. When your kids wake up, they’ll see “hoof prints” where the reindeer landed — a sign they really came!
For even more Christmas Eve fun, explore our fun activities for kids waiting on Santa or read reindeer facts kids will love to learn more about Santa’s flying friends!