There’s something extra magical about Christmas Eve. The excitement of leaving out a mince pie for Santa, a carrot for Rudolph and a little sprinkle of reindeer food to help guide Santa’s sleigh is a tradition that families love year after year.
Making your own reindeer food is a lovely Christmas activity to enjoy with little ones. It’s easy, inexpensive and a brilliant way to add a little festive magic to your Christmas Eve traditions.
Whether you’re making it for your own family, preparing Christmas Eve boxes or creating thoughtful handmade gifts, here’s how to make your own reindeer food at home.
What Is Reindeer Food?
Reindeer food is a festive Christmas Eve tradition where children leave out a small mixture of ingredients to help guide Santa’s reindeer on their journey around the world.
Traditionally, families make a simple mixture using oats, sometimes with a little sparkle for extra Christmas magic. Children can then sprinkle it outside before bedtime, ready for Rudolph and the rest of the team to find when they arrive.
It’s a sweet way to build excitement before Christmas morning and create memories that children will treasure.
What You’ll Need to Make Reindeer Food
The best thing about homemade reindeer food is how simple it is to make.
For a basic mixture, you’ll need:
- ½ cup of plain oats
- Sprinkles of your choice
- A small paper bag, reusable container or glass jar
- Festive ribbon, stickers or a Christmas gift tag
- Optional biodegradable glitter for decorating the packaging or adding sparkle to a supervised craft activity
You can personalise your mixture with Christmas-themed labels, ribbons and decorations to make it extra special.
A little tip: If you're making reindeer food with children, let them decorate their own bags or jars. It's a fun, creative activity that keeps little hands busy in the run-up to Christmas.
Step 1: Prepare your mixture
Measure your oats into a bowl. These form the base of your homemade reindeer food and give you a simple starting point for your festive creation.
Step 2: Add some festive extras
Make your mixture extra special by adding a few colourful ingredients. You could use bird-safe seeds, finely chopped dried fruit or other suitable edible ingredients to create a festive-looking blend.
Top tip: If you're planning to scatter your reindeer food outdoors, avoid sprinkles, sweets and other sugary decorations. Choose wildlife-friendly ingredients and scatter sparingly.
Step 3: Get creative with the packaging
Spoon your mixture into a small paper bag, jar or container. Kraft paper bags look particularly lovely with red ribbon, festive stickers and handwritten Christmas tags.
You could even add a personalised label with your child's name or the year to make it a keepsake.
Step 4: Add some Christmas sparkle
Want to make your reindeer food look extra magical? The packaging is the perfect place to get creative!
Use biodegradable glitter in your Christmas craft decorations, gift tags or packaging embellishments to create a beautiful festive shimmer. Silver, gold and iridescent finishes are perfect for a winter wonderland theme.
At Luminosity Glitter, we're passionate about bringing sparkle to your celebrations while offering alternatives to conventional plastic glitter. Our new Deco 60 Bioglitter is an exciting addition to our range, bringing a different decorative finish to your festive craft projects.
Important: Glitter is for decorative use only. Don't mix it into food intended for animals or scatter it outdoors.
Step 5: Add a festive gift tag
Finish your creation with a little Christmas message. Here's an idea you can copy onto your tag:
Sprinkle a little Christmas cheer,
Santa and his reindeer are nearly here!
Leave out a treat and close your eyes tight,
Then wake up to magic on Christmas night!
Tie your tag to the bag with ribbon, and your homemade reindeer food is ready to gift or enjoy as part of your Christmas Eve traditions.
More Christmas Craft Ideas
Once you've made your reindeer food, why not turn it into a whole afternoon of festive fun?
Here are a few ideas to try:
- Christmas Eve boxes: Add your reindeer food alongside pyjamas, a Christmas story and a little treat.
- Personalised reindeer food gifts: Make several small bags for friends, family members or classmates.
- Festive gift tags: Decorate your own tags with Christmas colours, glitter and handwritten messages.
- Christmas decorations: Use biodegradable glitter in suitable craft projects to add sparkle to homemade ornaments and festive decorations.
You could even create a little reindeer-food-making station at a Christmas party, with pre-measured oats, paper bags, ribbons and craft decorations ready for everyone to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reindeer Food
What is the best recipe for reindeer food?
A simple mixture of plain oats is an easy starting point for homemade reindeer food. You can get creative with the presentation using festive bags, ribbons and gift tags. If you're planning to leave food outdoors, choose ingredients suitable for local wildlife and follow local wildlife guidance.
Can you put sprinkles in reindeer food?
Sprinkles can look colourful and festive in a Christmas craft project, but sugary decorations aren't ideal for wildlife. If you're making reindeer food to scatter outdoors, it's best to leave out sprinkles, sweets and other sugary additions.
Can you put glitter in reindeer food?
We recommend keeping glitter out of the mixture itself, even when it is marketed as biodegradable. Biodegradability does not establish that a material is safe to eat or suitable for wildlife. Instead, use glitter to decorate the packaging, gift tags or other appropriate craft items.
What can I use instead of plastic glitter?
Biodegradable glitter may be an alternative to conventional plastic glitter for suitable decorative applications. At Luminosity Glitter, we offer Bioglitter options for a range of creative projects. Always check the specific grade's composition, certification and instructions before use, as not every product is suitable for every purpose.
When should you sprinkle reindeer food?
Many families make reindeer food part of their Christmas Eve routine. If you're using an oat-based mixture, consider placing it in a suitable spot rather than scattering it across a lawn or other outdoor area. Follow local wildlife guidance and avoid leaving food where it could cause problems for animals.
Can children make reindeer food?
Absolutely! Making and decorating reindeer-food bags is a lovely supervised Christmas activity. Children can personalise their bags with festive stickers, ribbons, gift tags and decorative glitter. Younger children should be supervised around small craft materials, with glitter kept away from mouths and eyes.
Bring a Little More Sparkle to Christmas with Luminosity Glitter
At Luminosity Glitter, we believe every celebration deserves a little sparkle. From festival makeup to creative craft projects, we're passionate about helping you find the perfect glitter for your next idea.
Join the Eco Glitter Revolution and make this Christmas sparkle!
Explore our glitter collection at Luminosity Glitter and discover your next favourite shade.
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