While trail mix is simply nuts mixed with some sweet element, knowing the right proportions is important. This is the recipe that I’ve been making since my daughter was young and I needed some healthy ‘emergency food’ on hand to prevent toddler meltdowns. It’s the same recipe that I still take hiking, biking, or whenever we go out exploring. And while the recipe as written is my absolute favorite, it’s a flexible recipe that you can have fun playing with!
Why you’ll love this homemade trail mix
No one in the whole world can turn down banana chips and chocolate. Healthy nuts that are perfectly toasted balance the sweetness. It’s super easy to make. Just toast some nuts and mix them with coconut, chocolate, banana chips, and raisins. Easy to switch up with a few suggestions that I have. This recipe is versatile to the max. You can follow it exactly or use what you have on hand. It’s always delicious. It lasts for months in your pantry, so you can grab a little snack whenever you need one. It packs well for lunches or busy days on the go. We often throw a bag in our backpack when we go for a hike or bike ride to the beach. It’s a healthy snack that everyone loves to eat!
What you’ll need for DIY trail mix
For the nuts in this recipe, I use a mix of toasted cashews, pecans, and walnuts. Then I add some dark chocolate chunks and raisins for sweetness and some coconut ribbons and banana chips for extra crunch. While I love this combination, you can definitely switch it up based on what you like and what you have on hand.
Nuts and seeds: pecans, walnuts, cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, or peanuts. Sweet: chocolate chunks, raisins, craisins, dried mango, dried pineapple, or dried cherries. Crunchy: toasted coconut ribbons, banana chips, or pretzels.
How to make your own trail mix
Making trail mix is super easy and it tastes so much better than storebought. Here’s how it’s done in just a few steps:
Always always toast your nuts. Or buy toasted nuts and skip this step. The flavor is so much better, and it’s 100% worth the few minutes that it takes. Chocolate chunks win over chocolate chips every time. They are less likely to melt, and their slightly bigger shape keeps them from falling to the bottom of the barrel. These are the ones that I like best. Thick coconut ribbons work best for trail mix. Same as the chocolate, smaller coconut pieces will fall to the bottom. These coconut smiles are my favorite. For maximum freshness, store the trail mix in a resealable bag and eat it within a month.
That’s it! Making homemade trail mix is super easy and tastes a million times better than anything store-bought.
Did you make this?
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