Hey there, snack enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers! Today I’m sharing a full guide about How to Build the Ultimate Trail Mix at home, plus 8 awesome trail mix recipes to try. It’s that time of year when the crisp fall air and bright orange and red leaves make for perfect hiking conditions. What better way to fuel up on those hikes than trail mix?! Trail mix is so versatile that you can create a mix that just about any hiker, at any age, will love.
If you’re anything like me, you know that the perfect trail mix can make or break an exciting hiking or camping trip. But why settle for the store-bought stuff when you can craft your very own, tailor-made concoction that’s as unique as you are? Whether you’re gearing up for a wilderness expedition, looking for a healthy office snack, or simply want to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings, I’ve got you covered. I’ve put together eight yummy trail mix recipes that will keep you energized on all your adventures.
So, grab your mixing bowls, start dreaming of your favorite ingredients, and let’s embark on a mission to build the ultimate trail mix that’s bound to make your taste buds dance with delight. Let’s get snacking!
Why Make Trail Mix at Home?
With all the crazy and delicious trail mix flavor combos on the market today (lookin’ at you, Target), you may be asking yourself why in the world you’d ever make your own. The answer: for the same reasons you cook and meal prep at home! The biggest one for me is that you get to control exactly what goes in the mix – don’t like almonds? (Hi, it’s me!) Don’t pick around them, just leave them out! I find that a lot of the sweet Target trail mixes have wayyy too many added sweets/candy and not enough nuts or dried fruit to keep things balanced. At home, I balance things just the way I like.
The other big reason to make your own trail mix at home is cost – because let’s face it, trail mix ain’t cheap. But when you can buy the ingredients in bulk and make a whole lot more than one of those little bags from the store, it’s can definitely be cheaper. If you have a family of hungry kiddos at home, that can make a huge difference in your snack budget!
Is Trail Mix Healthy?
Yes and no. Trail mix can be healthy thanks to the protein, fiber, antioxidants, and heart-healthy fats found in nuts. That said, it’s usually dense in calories thanks to those same healthy fats and needs to be enjoyed in moderation. This is one of the reasons I love making trail mix for days that I’m actually hitting the trails and I need all those calories to keep me fueled for a long hike. Depending on what you add to the mix, there can also be a lot of added sugar and sodium. When shopping for dried fruits, try to find the ones that are unsweetened or have no added sweeteners.
How to Store Trail Mix
I recommend storing trail mix in a mason jar with a lid or reusable silicone bag like Stasher, but really any air tight container will do. Most trail mixes will last as long as the individual ingredients. For example, if you’re making the Classic Trail Mix recipe below and the raisins you bought expire in a year but the peanuts expire in 6 months, the whole mix will probably be good for about 6 months.
This math changes a bit when you start adding “extra flair” ingredients like cereal or popcorn. Obviously those items aren’t going to stay fresh and crunchy/crisp as long as roasted nuts, especially if they’re in contact with something like raisins that contain some moisture. In that case, the mix may only stay fresh for about a couple of weeks. For reference, the PB&J and S’mores mixes did very well in airtight containers on my counter for 3+ weeks. When in doubt, make smaller batches more often and keep the ingredients separated in the meantime.
Shop My Favorite Trail Mix Storage Containers
Basic Trail Mix Ingredients
Chances are that the trail mixes you love all combine a few basic types of ingredients to achieve those sweet + salty flavors and crunchy + chewy textures you love. Here are the basics:
1. Nuts and Seeds
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Macadamia nuts
- Soy nuts*
- Pumpkin seeds / pepitas
- Sunflower seeds
- Pistachios
*I know soy nuts aren’t really nuts, but with the word “nut” in the name, I had to throw them in this category. These are dried and crunchy soy beans that come with a variety of flavors and seasonings. I opted for the plain ole salted ones for maximum versatility.
2. Dried Fruit
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Dried cherries
- Dried or freeze dried blueberries
- Dried or freeze dried strawberries
- Dried or freeze dried pineapple
- Banana chips
- Toasted coconut
- Mango chunks
- Papaya chunks
3. Sweets
- Chocolate chips or chunks
- Candy coated chocolate
- Chocolate covered raisins or nuts
- Peanut butter chips
- Yogurt covered raisins or nuts
- Marshmallow bits
4. Extra Flair
- Toasted corn
- Sesame sticks
- Wasabi Peas
- Cereal
- Popcorn
- Freeze dried yogurt
- Pretzels
- Extra Seasoning or Spice
Allergy Friendly Alternatives
Trail mix tends to have a lot of allergens, especially nuts and dairy. The recipes you find below are no different and all have nuts in them. But what did you expect when you visited a site called Peanut Butter and Fitness?! That said, there are a lot of good nut free options on the market these days. Things like soy nuts, dry roasted edamame, chickpea snacks, roasted fava beans, and crunchy roasted lentils. It may be challenging to find the right match for the flavor profiles below, but a quick search on Google or Amazon will help you brainstorm!
Trail Mix Recipes
S’mores Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup lightly salted dry roasted peanuts, (135 grams)
- 1 cup Golden Graham cereal, (40 grams)
- 3/4 cup Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Premium Baking Chips, (139 grams)
- 3/4 cup Kraft Jet-Puffed Bits Vanilla Marshmallows, (40 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Tex Mex Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup Albina City Nuts Spicy Toasted Corn, (96 grams)
- 1 cup Good & Gather Honey Roasted Sesame Sticks, (112 grams)
- 1 cup Feridies Virginia Honey Roasted Peanuts , (130 grams)
- 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds, roasted and salted, (104 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
PB&J Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup lightly salted dry roasted peanuts, (135 grams)
- 1 cup Reese's Peanut Butter Baking Chips, (170 grams)
- 1 cup Very Berry Cheerios, (36 grams)
- 3/4 cup freeze dried strawberries, broken into pieces, (17 grams)
- 1 1 oz bag Happy Baby Mixed Berry Yogis Freeze-Dried Yogurt Baby Snack, (28 grams)
- 1/2 cup lightly salted roasted cashews, (65 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Classic Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup lightly salted dry roasted peanuts, (135 grams)
- 1 cup raisins, (130 grams)
- 1 cup M&Ms or your favorite candy coated chocolate, (170 grams)
- 3/4 cup lightly salted roasted almonds, (84 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Blueberry Muffin Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup honey roasted peanuts, (130 grams)
- 3/4 cup yogurt covered raisins, (155 grams)
- 3/4 cup dried blueberries, (129 grams)
- 1/2 cup lightly salted roasted cashews, (70 grams)
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, (89 grams)
- 1/3 cup almond slivers, (40 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Antioxidant Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup lightly salted roasted cashews, (125 grams)
- 3/4 cup Ocean Spray 50% Reduced Sugar Dried Cranberries, (94 grams)
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips, (131 grams)
- 1/2 cup dried blueberries, (86 grams)
- 1/2 cup almond slivers, (60 grams)
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, roasted and salted, (53 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Tropical Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened banana chips, (160 grams)
- 1 cup sea salt dry roasted macadamia nuts, (128 grams)
- 3/4 cup dried papaya chunks, (130 grams)
- 1/2 cup dried mango chunks, (75 grams)
- 1/2 cup roasted and salted soynuts, (60 grams)
- 1/2 cup toasted coconut, (35 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
Tips & Tricks
Nutrition Information
Black Forest Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup lightly salted dry roasted peanuts, (135 grams)
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips, (131 grams)
- 3/4 cup dried sweetened cherries, (110 grams)
- 1/2 cup yogurt covered raisins, (103 grams)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined.
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