Trail Mix Recipe: How to Make Homemade Trail Mix

Trail mix is a dry, shelf-stable mixture of various ingredients like peanuts, raisins, almonds, and dried cranberries. You can easily customize this healthy snack with toasted or raw nuts and seasonings like salt, cinnamon, or cayenne for a hint of spice. Try adding freeze-dried vegetables or chopped jerky for an even more nutritious mix.

Trail mix likely originated from a mixture called pemmican, an Indigenous American food made to eat on long days of hunting and gathering. Historically, Indigenous Americans typically made pemmican by mashing jerky and dried fruits into a paste bound by an animal fat such as tallow. Eventually, nuts replaced the animal fat, and it became a loose mixture of different ingredients instead of a uniform paste.

The options for combinations are endless; mix in one or more of these ingredients to customize your homemade trail mix.

1. 1. Almonds: For a peanut-free trail mix, use toasted almonds instead of peanuts. Learn how to toast almonds to bring out their flavor.
2. 2. Apricots: Sweet and earthy apricots add a golden touch to basic trail mix; cut them in half or in quarters to distribute them evenly.
3. 3. Banana chips: Dried bananas or plantains are a crunchy addition to a basic trail mix that provide essential nutrients like potassium and manganese. If you want to go the DIY route, learn how to make banana chips at home.
4. 4. Blueberries: Dried blueberries are rich in antioxidants and an excellent substitute for raisins.
5. 5. Cashews: Creamier than almonds and peanuts, cashews are rich in omega fatty acids and have a mild nutty taste.
6. 6. Chocolate: Dark chocolate chips or chocolate-covered raisins add a sweet and creamy note to a standard trail mix.
7. 7. Coconut: Stir in toasted coconut flakes for a sweet and nutty flavor. Learn how to make toasted coconut at home.
8. 8. Goji berries: For a less-sweet snack mix, try adding goji berries, which are rich in antioxidants and have a zingy, tart flavor.
9. 9. Granola: A hearty mix of toasted oats and seasonings adds crunch and complex carbohydrates to your trail mix. Learn how to make granola.
10. 10. Hazelnuts: Add toasted hazelnuts and dark chocolate chips for a flavor reminiscent of everyone’s favorite chocolate hazelnut spread.
11. 11. Macadamia nuts: Add creamy macadamia nuts to your trail mix for a buttery, cholesterol-free combo. Chopped dried pineapple, dried mango, and white chocolate chips complete the tropical theme.
12. 12. Peanut butter chips: Mini peanut butter cups or peanut butter chips add a creamy texture to a sweeter version of trail mix.
13. 13. Pretzels: Salty-sweet pretzels are a common addition to snack mixes and add a satisfying crunch.
14. 14. Pistachios: Look for shelled pistachios, so they’re easy to eat along with the other ingredients. Learn more about pistachio nuts.
15. 15. Seeds: For a nut-free version of trail mix, try mixing in crunchy seeds like pepitas or sunflower seeds.
16. 16. Spices: Toast your favorite raw nuts with ground spices or citrus zest for an extra pop of flavor.
17. 17. Walnuts: Walnuts are a great vegan source of omega-3 fatty acids. Buy walnut pieces or halves for ease, or learn how to shell walnuts yourself.

Here’s how to make a healthy snack mix tailored to your needs.

1. 1. Look for fresh ingredients. Nuts typically have a long shelf life, but that doesn’t mean they’re fresh. Time and temperature can affect the natural oils in seeds and nuts, so check the “best by” dates on your nuts or give them a taste before mixing them.
2. 2. Chop the larger ingredients. If you’re using dried fruits like apricots or apples, or larger nuts like brazil nuts, dice them into smaller pieces. Chopping will help ensure an even distribution within your trail mix. Ideally, you’ll get a balanced blend of your desired fruits and mixed nuts in each bite.
3. 3. Customize your batch. If you’re looking for a specific blend of health benefits, research each ingredient and find the balance of healthy fats, antioxidants, and flavors that work best for your trail mix. Follow your palate to create a mix featuring your favorite flavors.
4. 4. Store in a dark place. Nuts can go rancid if left in sunny or warm areas, which gives them an unpleasant taste. Portion your trail mix into airtight containers like Mason jars and keep them in a dark cabinet to extend their shelf life.

Store trail mix in an airtight container at room temperature, preferably in a dark place. Sunlight and heat fluctuation can cause the natural oils in the nuts and seeds to go rancid over time. Roasting nuts and seeds enhances their flavor and makes them crunchier, but it also shortens their shelf life. Salted nuts also have a shorter shelf life, but salt enhances the natural flavor of each ingredient, so choose according to your preference. Raw, unsalted nuts have the most extended shelf life but taste the simplest. Always check the expiration date on individual products before mixing them to ensure freshness.