These Reindeer Food Bags are so much fun to make. All kids (and grownups) will love to sprinkle this magic reindeer dust in their yard to guide the reindeer and Santa’s sleigh to their home on Christmas Eve.
I’ve included a tutorial to make the reindeer food bags and a free printable in the post so you can make your own!
Try this easy craft to bring a little more magic to your Christmas holidays this year. It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Don’t forget to either write a letter to Santa’s address, or call the official Santa phone number to let him know what’s on your Christmas list. If you call him, he’ll let you know if you’re on the naughty or nice list too!
What do kids normally leave for reindeer to eat?
In nature, reindeer enjoy eating moss, herbs, grasses of all types and shoots of shrubs. When the weather is cold, reindeer will scrape away at the snow away with their hooves to get to any available food.
Traditionally, reindeer also will eat carrots, apples, and oats as well as other grains from feeders.
Many households make cookies for Santa Claus to leave out on Christmas Eve, but what about can we leave for his hungry reindeer?
Many children like to leave them cookies our for reindeer like they do for Santa – I’ve been told that reindeer like gingerbread cookies the best!
For today’s magic reindeer food, we’ll be combining oats with sugar and sugar crystals to give them a sweet treat for Christmas Eve.
I first did this reindeer food DIY project so many years ago when my daughter was a little girl. The delight in her eyes as she sprinkled the special “magic reindeer food” as she eagerly awaited Santa’s coming was one of the highlights of our Christmas celebrations each year.
There is nothing quite like the anticipation of a small child for Christmas. Those are the kinds of memories that will stay with you well after they are grown and living their own lives. And the reindeer are anticipated almost as much as Santa himself!
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Bring the magic of Christmas to your children with magic reindeer food bags. They will think that the crystals of sugar guide Santa's sleigh right to their house!🤶🎄🎅 Share on XWhat is magic reindeer food?
To adults, this fun reindeer snack is a wonderful way to instill the magic of Christmas with a small child. To a child, magic reindeer food IS the magic.
Your child will be so excited thinking that they are making something that will actually help Santa’s reindeer get through the long ride on Christmas Eve.
This magic reindeer food recipe is one of those special holiday memories. You can make it for your grandchildren, as well, if your children are grown. It is super easy to prepare, too.
Is this reindeer food recipe safe for birds and wildlife?
The ingredients in the reindeer snack are all edible so you won’t need to worry about birds or other wildlife eating it if you sprinkle it outdoors.
Since we’ll be making the recipe to go into special gift bags for the reindeer, this makes it even more safe than if you sprinkle it around the yard.
I have seen other reindeer food made with glitter sprinkles, but this is harmful to animals. This animal safe magic reindeer food is simple to make and won’t harm wild life.
Add some Santa footprints near food for reindeer!
For a fun Christmas morning surprise, let your child place this reindeer snack on the lawn on Christmas Eve. Then, when your child is asleep, make Santa Claus footprints (and reindeer ones too – woof woof 😉 ) next to the reindeer food in the snow.
Imagine your child’s delight to see those footprints near their house. “Santa was here” will be the excited shouts!
How to make magic reindeer food
This magic reindeer food recipe is super fun project for kids to help prepare and also fun to leave out for the reindeer. Your kids will really think that the food will guide the reindeer and Santa’s sleigh to their home on Christmas Eve.
To make this edible food, you will need the following reindeer food ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of oatmeal
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- red and green sugar crystals
- small red organza bag (you could also wrap it in cellophane and tie it with a ribbon)
- printable label (you can print mine out below)
Reindeer food bags instructions:
Making the magic reindeer dust is a cinch. The kids will love to help out. Start by mixing the oatmeal and sugar together in a bowl until well combined.
Stir the red and green sugar crystals. I added about a tablespoon of each color. Be sure to talk about the magic of the sugar crystals with your child as you make the reindeer food.
I mixed my reindeer dust in a star shaped bowl for fun. Ringing a few jingle bells while we made the mixture set the mood nicely!
Place the mixture into an organza baggie and add the printable label. Be sure to make extra reindeer for the neighborhood kids. It’s a cinch to make and it’s nice to spread the cheer!
Print out the magic reindeer food poem tags
You can get the reindeer food poem recipe printable tag poem here. I printed mine out on glossy photo paper. The poem will print out to the size of about 3 inches by 1 1/2 inch.
The reindeer food poem is whimsical and sure to delight the kids:
Sprinkle on the lawn at night.
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa’s Reindeer fly & roam,
This will guide them to your home.
The night before Christmas, take your child or grandchild outside and place the bag in a special spot for the reindeer. Such a fun memory this will be!
Are you having a family get together on Christmas Eve? These magic reindeer food pouches would be a great party favor to give the kids to take home to use to guide the reindeer in for the landing!
You could even print out the recipe and tuck it in your Christmas cards this year. Make sure you send them out by Christmas Card Day!
I prefer making this magic reindeer food with edible sugar crystals. If you don’t have the sugar crystals, you could also use sanding sugar.
Be careful of using glitter if you live in an area where there are abundant birds and mammals.
The glitter version could be left indoors near the fireplace for Santa to take to his reindeer, instead of outdoors.
Pin these reindeer food bags for later
Would you like a reminder of this recipe for magic reindeer food and the free printable label? Just pin this image to one of your Christmas boards on Pinterest.
What fun traditions do you celebrate with your kids? Please let us know in the comments below.
More child themed Christmas projects
Doing child themed Christmas DIY projects like these reindeer food bags is a lot of fun for me, especially when the kids can help out with making of the craft. Here are a few more projects that you might enjoy doing with your child.
- DIY Peppermint Candle – Cover a simple candle with peppermints for a sweet smelling scent.
- Snowman made from Clay pots – Don’t throw those old terra cotta pots away. Use them to make a snowman decoration for your table.
- Bottle Cap Snowmen ornaments – Recycle used bottle caps into charming ornaments for your Christmas tree
- Christmas Ornaments made from paintbrushes – It’s easy to turn this functional item into a decorative ornament.
For another activity the kids will love, make sure to download our free Christmas word search and Christmas word scramble.
Admin note: This post for magic reindeer food first appeared on the blog in December of 2014. I have updated the post to add a printable project card, more photos and a video for you to enjoy.
Magic Reindeer Food - DIY Project to Delight The Children
The kids will be delighted to make this reindeer for and place it outdoors for Santa's reindeer. Be sure to leave some footprints and hoof prints in the snow!
Materials
- 1/4 cup of oatmeal
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- red and green edible sugar crystals
- small red organza bag.
- Red Ribbon
- Glossy Photo paper
- Printable label (you can print out the label in the description area above)
Tools
- Bowl
- Scissors
- Printer
Instructions
- Mix the oatmeal and sugar in a small bowl.
- Stir in the red and green sugar crystals.
- Place in the small organza bag.
- Print out the label and attach a red ribbon.
- Tie to the bag of reindeer food.
- Place outdoors as a gift for Santa's reindeer.
- Make a couple of footprints for Santa and some for the reindeer after the kids go to sleep.
Notes
Print out the poem label below.
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