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Trail mix is my go-to snack that takes mere minutes to make. The best thing about Trail Mix? It’s sweet, salty, and totally customizable. My kids even sometimes ask for it as an after-school snack. (Years of putting this 5-ingredient trail mix in their lunch box has finally paid off.)
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Everyone’s idea of trail mix is a little different; some prefer just nuts. While others prefer nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, and some like it with chunks of chocolate. Me, I’d rather have homemade trail mix with chocolate, nuts, and dried fruit. I want to be able to scoop up (at least!) a few chocolate chips with each handful of nuts.
Recipe At a Glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: No-Cook
Dietary Info: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian
Key Flavor: Nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate
Skill Level: Easy
What Makes this Trail Mix So Good?
- The fastest snack around: It literally takes just 5 minutes to make a big batch of trail mix.
- Few ingredients: My kids will change what kind of nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate they like every other week. This trail mix has just 5 ingredients and is no-fail, no matter what you put in it.
- Cost-effective: I’ve found that making my own trail mix is way cheaper than buying store-bought stuff.
- Long shelf life: It’ll last for up to 3 months! (Not that it’s ever lasted me that long.)
Ingredients to Make Trail Mix
- Raw almonds, cashews, and peanuts: This is my current favorite trio. I like to include three types of nuts, for variety and flavor!
- Dried cranberries: Sweet and tart, dried cranberries go well with any nut. I like unsweetened cranberries, but you can, of course, use sweetened if you want.
- Dark chocolate chips: I usually prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, keeping it more in snack rather than dessert territory.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Switch up the nuts. You can use any trio of nuts here. Try adding shelled pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, or walnuts.
- Use a mix of dried fruits. Instead, or in addition to the cranberries, I’ve thrown in raisins, dried pineapple, dried mango, and date pieces. If using dried fruit that comes in large chunks, cut it up first so it’s about the same size as the nuts.
- Choose your favorite chocolate. You can use dark, milk, or white chocolate chips or even butterscotch chips. I’ve also chopped up my favorite chocolate bar and used that instead!
- Add coconut. Toasted coconut flakes (not the thin shreds) are delicious in trail mix. Try adding up to a ½ cup of them.
How to Make Trail Mix
Is this an easy trail mix recipe for adults? Absolutely. But kids will love it too (mine do!).
Tips for Making the Best 5-Ingredient Trail Mix
- Store in a cool, dry place. It makes me sad when I pull trail mix out of the pantry during the summer, and the chocolate chips are all melted. If it’s warm in your kitchen, try storing the trail mix in the fridge.
- Make a double or triple batch. My recipe includes a reasonable amount of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate. But if you’re like me, you (and your family) will go through trail mix fast! I usually make a double or triple batch.
- Add in extra flavor. This is totally optional, but you can toast the nuts or buy toasted nuts. This will make the trail mix taste even better! If you toast them yourself, let the nuts cool completely before mixing in the chocolate chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trail mix can be stored in an airtight container or jar in a cool, dry place. You can also store it in the fridge.
I like to start with a mix of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips. I’ve also added in yogurt-covered raisins, toasted coconut flakes, and pieces of chocolate covered pretzels.
Trail mix has nuts and dried fruit, and often chocolate! Mixed nuts contain nuts with no other add-ins.
Now that you know how easy Trail Mix is to make, I think you’ll be like me: always with a big jar of it on hand. It’s the answer to many snack situations, be it after school, a road trip, or mid-errands when I just need something!
More Snack Recipes:
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Air Fryer Chickpeas
- Candied Pecans
- Crunchy Granola
- Baked Kale Chips
- Roasted Cashews with Coconut
- Air Fryer Popcorn
- Quick Muesli Mix
If you try this feel good Trail Mix recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup peanuts
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl or resealable airtight container and stir to combine. Store for up to 3 months.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
