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Homemade Trail Mix

This customizable trail mix takes just 10 minutes to throw together and stays fresh for weeks. Packed with roasted nuts, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and coconut flakes, it hits every texture and flavor note without any mystery ingredients or preservatives.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings (1/4 cup each)
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 185
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1 cup roasted almonds unsalted or lightly salted
  • 1 cup roasted cashews unsalted or lightly salted
  • 1/2 cup roasted peanuts unsalted or lightly salted
  • 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds pepitas
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup raisins or golden raisins
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt optional, for extra flavor

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Wooden spoon or spatula for mixing
  • Airtight storage container or resealable bags
  • Optional: baking sheet and oven if toasting raw nuts

Method
 

  1. Set out a large mixing bowl and gather all your ingredients on the counter. Having everything visible helps you adjust ratios on the fly if you realize you want more chocolate or fewer raisins.
  2. Pour the almonds, cashews, and peanuts into the bowl. Using a variety of nuts creates complexity in both flavor and nutrition.
  3. Add the pumpkin seeds to the nut mixture. Seeds add a pleasant pop and crunch while boosting the mineral content.
  4. Toss in the dried cranberries and raisins. The sticky fruit helps clump ingredients together in handfuls.
  5. Scatter the dark chocolate chips throughout the mixture. Chocolate is best added at the end so it doesn't sink to the bottom during mixing.
  6. Sprinkle the coconut flakes over the top. Coconut is light and tends to migrate during storage, so distributing it evenly now helps.
  7. If using, add the sea salt, then mix everything together with a wooden spoon or your hands. Hands actually work better for this because you can feel when everything is evenly distributed without crushing delicate ingredients.
  8. Grab a small handful and taste it critically. This is your chance to add more chocolate if you have a sweet tooth, extra salt if it tastes flat, or more nuts if it feels too candy-like.
  9. Transfer the trail mix to an airtight container or divide it into individual resealable bags for grab-and-go portions. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks or freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

Store trail mix in the refrigerator during hot summer months to prevent the chocolate from melting. Pre-portion into small bags to prevent mindless munching. For warm-weather hiking, swap chocolate for yogurt-covered raisins. Toast raw nuts yourself at 350°F for 8-10 minutes for maximum freshness. Refresh stale trail mix by warming at 300°F for 5 minutes.