Homemade Trail Mix is an easy snack mix with a balance of crunchy nuts, seeds, dried fruit, coconut, banana chips, and dark chocolate. It's sweet, salty, and satisfying enough to keep on hand for busy days, lunchboxes, road trips, or quick afternoon snacks.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Homemade Trail Mix
🕒 Ready In: ~5 minutes
👪 Serves: 10 servings
🍽 Calories: ~330 per serving estimated
🥣 Main Ingredients: Almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, banana chips, dried cranberries, coconut chips, dark chocolate chips
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free; dairy-free option; vegetarian
👌 Difficulty: Easy - mix, portion, store
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Making trail mix at home lets you control the ingredients and keep the mix more balanced than many store-bought options. This version has plenty of crunch, a little natural sweetness, and just enough chocolate to make it feel like a treat without turning it into candy.
It's also easy to portion into jars or snack bags for grab-and-go snacks during the week. If you love easy healthy snacks, try our Chocolate Protein Balls, Peanut Butter Oat Cups, or Protein Chia Pudding next.
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Why You'll Love this Homemade Trail Mix:
Easy Grab-and-Go Snack: Mix everything together once and portion it for quick snacks during the week.
Sweet and Crunchy: Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, banana chips, coconut, and dark chocolate give every handful a good mix of texture and flavor.
Great for Lunchboxes and Road Trips: It stores well and does not need to be refrigerated.
Simple to Customize: Swap in your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or chocolate to make it your own.
Key Ingredients:
- almonds. Add crunch, healthy fats, and make the trail mix more filling.
- cashews. Give the mix a softer crunch and a slightly buttery flavor.
- banana chips. Add natural sweetness and a crisp texture that makes the mix feel more snackable.
- pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Add extra crunch, texture, and nutrients in every handful.
- dried cranberries. Give the trail mix a chewy, sweet-tart bite that balances the nuts and seeds.
- dark chocolate chips. Add just enough chocolate to make the mix feel like a treat without making it overly sweet.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- Use different nuts: Pecans, pistachios, peanuts, or macadamia nuts can be used instead of almonds, cashews, or walnuts.
- Swap the dried fruit: Raisins, dried cherries, chopped dates, or dried blueberries can be used instead of dried cranberries.
- Make it dairy-free: Use dairy-free dark chocolate chips or skip the chocolate.
- Add more crunch: Pretzels, toasted coconut, or roasted chickpeas can be added for extra texture.
- Make it more kid-friendly: Use mini chocolate chips, yogurt chips, or a little cereal to make the mix sweeter and more fun.
How to Make Homemade Trail Mix:
- Step 1: Add the almonds, cashews, banana chips, dark chocolate chips, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and coconut chips to a large mixing bowl.
- Step 2: Stir until everything is evenly combined. Portion into jars, snack bags, or an airtight container. Store at room temperature until ready to serve.
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Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Use fresh nuts and seeds: Since this recipe is simple, fresh ingredients make a big difference in the flavor and crunch.
- Choose unsweetened dried fruit if preferred: Dried cranberries and banana chips can vary in sweetness, so use unsweetened or lightly sweetened options if you want a less sweet mix.
- Watch for added gluten or dairy: Most trail mix ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but check labels on chocolate chips, banana chips, and dried fruit if needed.
- Portion it ahead of time: Divide the trail mix into small containers or snack bags so it is easy to grab for lunches, road trips, or busy afternoons.
- Store in a cool, dry place: This helps keep the nuts, seeds, and banana chips crunchy.
How to Store:
Room Temperature: Store Homemade Trail Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Keep It Cool and Dry: Store it in a pantry or cabinet away from heat and sunlight so the nuts stay fresh and the chocolate does not melt.
Make Ahead Tip: Portion the trail mix into small jars, snack bags, or containers for easy grab-and-go snacks during the week.
Homemade Trail Mix FAQs:
It can be a healthy snack when it has a good balance of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and a little chocolate. This version is filling and satisfying, but it is still calorie-dense, so portioning it ahead of time can be helpful.
Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. This helps keep the nuts, seeds, and banana chips crunchy.
You can add pretzels, cereal, dried cherries, raisins, chopped dates, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, or roasted chickpeas. Keep a mix of crunchy, chewy, sweet, and salty ingredients for the best texture.
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Homemade Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup banana chips
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup coconut chips
Instructions
- Add the almonds, cashews, banana chips, dark chocolate chips, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and coconut chips to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Portion into jars, snack bags, or an airtight container.
- Store at room temperature until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use fresh nuts and seeds: Since this recipe is simple, fresh ingredients make a big difference in the flavor and crunch.
- Choose unsweetened dried fruit if preferred: Dried cranberries and banana chips can vary in sweetness, so use unsweetened or lightly sweetened options if you want a less sweet mix.
- Watch for added gluten or dairy: Most trail mix ingredients are naturally gluten-free, but check labels on chocolate chips, banana chips, and dried fruit if needed.
- Portion it ahead of time: Divide the trail mix into small containers or snack bags so it is easy to grab for lunches, road trips, or busy afternoons.
- Store in a cool, dry place: This helps keep the nuts, seeds, and banana chips crunchy.
Trina says
This is a drive-in snack favorite! Very good.