Christmas Eve is a truly enchanting time, especially for children. The anticipation of Santa’s arrival fills the air with excitement and wonder. One delightful tradition to enhance this magic is making reindeer food. This simple yet heartwarming activity not only adds to the festive spirit but also creates lasting memories for families.
Years ago, the wonder of Christmas Eve was palpable as children eagerly awaited a glimpse of Santa’s sleigh. A friend introduced a special tradition: magical reindeer food. This wasn’t for people to eat, but a sparkly treat to leave outside for Santa’s reindeer after setting out milk and cookies for Santa himself.
Attached to the bag of this enchanting mixture was a sweet poem, guiding children on how to use it:
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
The beauty of this tradition lies in its simplicity. You likely already have the ingredients needed to whip up a batch of reindeer food for the believers in your life. Kids will adore helping to mix it and even gifting it to their friends, spreading the Christmas magic.
To ensure the reindeer food is safe for birds and little ones, it’s best to use colored sprinkles or glittery sugar instead of craft glitter.
While the exact origin of this lovely idea is uncertain, readily available online templates can help you create adorable tags to accompany your reindeer food gifts. You can easily print these tags to add an extra special touch.
Download printable gift tags with instructions here:
Click here: Printable Reindeer Food Tag Sheet
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Magical Reindeer Food Recipe
This magical Reindeer Food Recipe is a fantastic and easy activity to enjoy with children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews. It’s perfect for kids to give as homemade Christmas gifts to their friends or to use at home on Christmas Eve.
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Ingredients for Reindeer Food:
- Raw uncooked oats: These form the base of our reindeer food, representing food that real reindeer might enjoy.
- Sugar cookie sprinkles: These add the “magic” and sparkle, helping Santa’s reindeer find their way to your home. Choose festive colors like red, green, silver, and gold.
- Plastic sandwich or snack baggies: Perfect for portioning out the reindeer food for individual gifts or for your own use.
- Ribbon in festive holiday colors: To tie up the baggies and add a decorative touch.
- Paper for printable tags (optional): To personalize your reindeer food gifts with a special message and instructions.
How to Make Reindeer Food: Step-by-Step Instructions
- Portion the Oats: Pour approximately 3-4 tablespoons of raw oats into each plastic baggie. This is a good amount for sprinkling in your yard.
- Add Sprinkles for Sparkle: Add about a tablespoon or two of sugar cookie sprinkles to each bag. Get creative with your sprinkle choices! Iridescent, red, and green sprinkles work wonderfully, but feel free to use whatever festive sprinkles you have available. Avoid using non-edible glitter for safety reasons.
- Mix and Seal: Close the baggie securely with a piece of festive ribbon. If using zipper-top bags, you can punch a small hole in the corner and thread the ribbon through for a cute closure. Shake each bag gently to mix the oats and sprinkles, distributing the sparkle throughout.
- Add a Magical Tag (Optional): Print or handwrite the reindeer food poem (provided below) onto paper or card stock to create tags. Attach a tag to each bag using the ribbon. These tags make the reindeer food even more special when given as gifts.
- Sprinkle on Christmas Eve: After putting out milk and cookies for Santa, gather the family and head outside on Christmas Eve. Sprinkle the magical reindeer food on your lawn or snow-covered ground. The moonlight will catch the sprinkles, making them sparkle brightly, creating a beacon for Santa’s reindeer to guide them to your home!
Reindeer Food 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
Tips for the Best Reindeer Food Recipe:
- Bird-Safe Sparkle: Always use edible glitter or sugar sprinkles instead of craft glitter. This is important for the safety of birds and any small animals that might encounter the reindeer food in your yard.
- Get Kids Involved: Making reindeer food is a perfect Christmas activity for kids. Let them measure ingredients, pour, mix, and decorate the bags. It’s a fun and engaging way to build anticipation for Christmas.
- Homemade Christmas Gifts: Reindeer food baggies make adorable and inexpensive homemade gifts for classmates, friends, neighbors, or party favors for Christmas gatherings.
- Storage: Store your reindeer food in a cool, dry place until Christmas Eve.
- Variations: While oats and sprinkles are classic, you can add other bird-safe ingredients like dried cranberries or sunflower seeds in very small amounts to your reindeer food mix for a bit of variety, ensuring sprinkles remain the primary sparkly component.
Creating magical reindeer food is a wonderful way to add an extra sprinkle of enchantment to your Christmas Eve celebrations. This easy reindeer food recipe is not only simple to make but also a beautiful way to involve children in the magic of Christmas. Gather your ingredients, get crafty, and get ready to guide Santa’s reindeer to your home this Christmas Eve!
