This trail mix recipe is super simple to make and perfect for on-the-go snacks! It’s ready in 5 minutes and easily customizable with all your favorite mix-ins!
Table of Contents
The Perfect Snack
Homemade trail mix is one of the easiest snack recipes for kids to make. My kids have so much fun choosing their favorite ingredients and mixing them together. They also love to help make ants on a log, energy balls and these easy fruity pebbles treats.
We made it for our last big road trip and plan to make more for after-school snacks. It also makes a great snack for camping, going on a hike, movie night, and everything in between! Just like Chex mix puppy chow, kids and adults all love it.
Reasons to Love Trail Mix
The best thing about this trail mix recipe is how customizable it is to your taste! You can make it healthy, sweet, salty, or savory. So many ways to make it your own!
- Inexpensive. Makes a big batch with 8 servings! Way more cost-effective than pre-made.
- Quick. Only 5 quick minutes to combine all of the ingredients together. So easy.
- Perfect for kids. Such an easy recipe for kids to make with you. My kids LOVE trail mix!
- Customizable. Add your favorite mix-ins and create your own personal recipe.
- On-the-go. The perfect grab-and-go snack for lunch boxes, after school, road trips, and more.
Ingredients
I like to add something crunchy, sweet, and salty to mine, but we usually just add whatever is in our cupboards. These are definitely our favorite ingredients to add though.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Nuts: I like to use a mix of cashews, peanuts, and almonds. Feel free to use your favorite nuts of choice like walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts.
- Raisins: Dried raisins add a sweet bite and complement the salt from the nuts so nicely. If you don’t have raisins, dried cranberries are a great substitute.
- M&M’s: Isn’t the small bite of chocolate candy always the best part of any snack mix? I happen to believe so! You could always sub with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or white chocolate chips if you’d like.
Other Mix-In Ideas
Trail mix is SO versatile, so feel free to add more ingredients for extra flavor and texture. Add in even more with some other fun ingredients we’ve tried. Make it sweet and salty or savory and crunchy. There are so many variations! The possibilities are endless!
- Pretzels: A salty and crunchy add-in! You can use either pretzel sticks, pretzel-shaped mini ones, or large pretzels.
- Mini marshmallows: Always a soft and flavorful texture everyone loves.
- Crackers: Goldfish or Teddy Grahams add that fun kid-approved version.
- Cereal: Cheerios, Chex, Golden Grahams, or other types of cereals work perfectly and are easy to pour into the bowl.
- Seeds: Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or pumpkin seeds are a healthy and delicious variation.
- Coconut: Coconut flakes or coconut chips give a Hawaiian vibe!
- Granola: Choose your favorite granola mix and add in for more crunch!
- Popcorn: Pop your buttery-flavored popcorn or white popcorn for a fun twist on homemade trail mix.
- Dried fruit: Apple chips, banana chips, mango, apricots, pineapple, or cherries are all great ways to add in a healthy and sweet fruit.
- Nuts: Candied nuts or pecans are always a traditional add-in.
- Chocolate: Chocolate, yogurt-covered raisins, or any other candy chocolates are great ideas too!
How to Make Homemade Trail Mix
The best part about this homemade trail mix you can make it as healthy as you want! If my kids are helping make it, they love to add in pretzels, Cheerios, and mini marshmallows. I usually don’t add the chocolate every time, but it’s fun to add it on special occasions. When I do, my kids think I’m the best mom ever!
- Gather ingredients. Measure out all ingredients. Modify the ingredients according to your favorites. Add more or less if needed.
- Combine. Place in a large bowl. Toss until mixed together.
- Storing. Store in zip-top bags for easy snacks. This is a great on-the-go snack or treat for school, camping, breakfast, or hiking.
Mini Snack Bags
This recipe is PERFECT for making snack bags! Simply measure out 1/2 cup portions and place them in snack-size zip lock bags (photo above). It should make around 12-14 servings.
More Ways to Use This Snack Mix
Although it makes a great snack, it can also be used in other delicious recipes as well! Try any of the below if you have some extra snack mix to use up before it expires.
- Use it to make trail mix cookies. We love these cookies and how easy they are to mix and bake together. Get a little sweet with your savory trail mix.
- Mix with stovetop popcorn on movie night. This is a perfect blend of sweet and salty!
- Add to a yogurt parfait or yogurt bowl. This is a crunchy and delicious add-in.
- Use it to make trail mix muddy buddies. A great way to add sweetness to your homemade trail mix!
- When making homemade granola bars.
Recipe FAQs
Trail mix is a snack mix that typically includes granola, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. The ingredients can vary, but most varieties include a little of these classic ingredients.
It most definitely can be! Stick to better-for-you ingredients like roasted nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for extra vitamins and minerals. Dark chocolate is another fun mix-in that is full of antioxidants!
The beauty of making your own homemade trail mix is that you get to add your favorite ingredients. So stick with gluten-free mix-ins when making this recipe, and you’ll have the perfect snack mix that’s great for those with gluten sensitivities or allergies.
Eventually, it will, but not for a while! If kept stored in an airtight container, it will stay fresh for about 1 to 2 months. That’s plenty of time for your family to eat it up before it loses its freshness. After that, it’s probably best to pitch and make a new batch.
5 star review
“I LOVED this recipe! It was GREAT for my kids!”
– Makenzie
How to Store Trail Mix
The best thing about this recipe is that it is stored for a long time. I like to store this trail mix in a mason jar with a lid (like you see below). It will stay freshest the longest in a glass container. We also love storing it in snack bags for grab-and-go snacks.
If stored properly, it will stay fresh for 1 to 2 months. You can also place it in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 to 6 months.
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Trail Mix Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashew halves , or nut of choice
- 1 cup peanuts , or nut of choice
- ½ cup almonds
- 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- ½ cup M&M's
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir the cashews, peanuts, almonds, raisins and M&M's until combined.
- Store trail mix in a mason jar or zip-top bag.
Notes
- pretzels
- mini marshmallows
- Cheerios
- Gold Fish or Teddy Grahams
- Chex or Golden Grahams
- sunflower seeds
- granola
- popcorn
- dried fruit
- candied nuts or pecans
- chocolate or yogurt covered raisins
- apple chips
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Kid-Friendly, Snacks
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Our New Hampshire Daisy/Brownie Girl Scout troop will be working on their Hiking & Trail Adventure badges, in prep for a trip to a farm, so we’ll be making trail mix at our next meeting. Thank you for the suggestions.
Question, did you use salted or unsalted nuts for this recipe?
It really depends on what I have on hand. You can use either depending on how salty you like your trail mix.
For all the add ins.. what are the measurements.. Thanks!
Really it just depends on your preference. I usually aim for about 1/2 cup – 1 cup depending on how much trail mix I want to make.
My kids absolutely loved the addition of marshmallows to this! Thanks!
My husband loves trail mix and I was tired of trekking to Costco for it. This recipe is great!! Thank you!
A good recipe!
Perfect idea for kids. I just need to replace the nuts because of the school.
You can leave them out or replace with chex, teddy grahams or sunflower seeds!
My kids LOVED this recipe! They loved it so much they wanted to share the enjoyment with there teacher!
Love it! So glad it was a hit :)
I LOVED this recipe! It was GREAT for my kids!
Yay, so happy to hear that Makenzie :)
I am a Grandma of two girls ages 9 and 7 in Waco, TX. I live faraway in South Dakota. This afternoon we will FaceTime and use your recipe to make trail mix from Gigi’s kitchen to their kitchen. Thanks!
This comment just made my day, Patricia! I hope you had a wonderful FaceTime call with your granddaughters :)
My girls would love this for school lunch snack or take this for a hike. Thank you for sharing!
Of course! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
My kid would go crazy for this treat! Looks fantastic!
I love a good trail mix!
Perfect snack! I will definitely be making this!
A yummy combo!
Every teacher needs a little pick me up the first week of school!