Homemade Trail Mix

If you’re wondering how to make THE BEST trail mix, let me show you how. I’ve made variations of this recipe dozens of times and have found the ideal combination of salty and sweet to keep you coming back for more.

While trail mix is simply nuts mixed with some sweet element, knowing the right proportions is important. I’ve been making this recipe since my daughter was young, when I needed some tasty ‘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. While the recipe as written is my absolute favorite, it’s also flexible and fun to play with!

What you’ll need for DIY trail mix

I use a mix of toasted cashews, pecans, and walnuts for the nuts in this recipe. Then, I add dark chocolate chunks, raisins for sweetness, coconut ribbons, and banana chips for extra crunch.

While I love this combination, you can 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, M&Ms, raisins, cranberries, dried mango, pineapple, or cherries.
• Crunchy: toasted coconut ribbons, banana chips, or pretzels.

Expert tips

There are a few things you should keep in mind if you want to make the best trail mix:

1. Always toast your nuts. You can also buy toasted nuts and skip this step. The flavor is so much better, and it’s 100% worth the few minutes.

2. 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.

3. Thick coconut ribbons work best for trail mix. Like the chocolate, smaller coconut pieces will fall to the bottom. These coconut smiles are my favorite.

That’s it! Making homemade trail mix is easy and tastes a million times better than anything store-bought.

Storage

Containers: I like to store trail mixes in 4-cup glass jars as they fit nicely in my pantry, and it’s easy to pour out what I want for a snack. But reusable bags work well, too. If I’m packing this to go, I always put it in a bag.

Time: One of the things I love about making trail mix is that it lasts ages. Eventually, the oils in the nuts and coconut will go rancid, just like if you let them sit in your pantry for too long. It will last for at least two months in your pantry—even longer if it’s kept in a cool, dark place and the nuts and coconut you use are fresh.

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Homemade Trail Mix Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 8 minutes mins

Total: 13 minutes mins

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Homemade Trail Mix is super easy to make and great to have on hand when you need a quick snack. It packs well for school, hikes, or to keep in your purse as an emergency snack. It's a delicious trail mix recipe that you'll want to make again and again!

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup EACH: walnuts, pecans, and cashews
• ▢ 1 cup EACH: banana chips and toasted coconut ribbons (see notes)
• ▢ ½ cup EACH: raisins and chocolate chunks (see notes)

Instructions 

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the walnuts, pecans, and cashews on a baking sheet and toast them in your oven for 6-8 minutes, or until they are lightly browned and smell fragrant. Remove them from the oven and let them cool.
  1 cup EACH: walnuts, pecans, and cashews
• Once the baking sheet is cool, add all the other ingredients and mix them together. Store in a sealed bag.
  1 cup EACH: banana chips and toasted coconut ribbons, ½ cup EACH: raisins and chocolate chunks
• Transfer the trail mix to a resealable bag or glass jar and store it at room temperature for up to 2 months.

Notes

Coconut: If your coconut is not toasted, place it on a separate baking sheet and toast it in the oven for 4-5 minutes. Coconut toasts faster and burns easier than nuts, so keep a close eye on it.

Storage: I have found that homemade trail mix lasts for a very long time. I put 2 months in the recipe instructions, but it can last even longer. Eventually, the oils in the nuts and coconut will turn rancid, just like they would if you didn’t turn them into trail mix. 

Chocolate: I love using chocolate chunks, but chocolate chips or even M&Ms work great, too.

Raisins: If raisins aren’t your thing, leave them out or try another type of dried fruit, such as cranberries or apricots. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ½ cup, Calories: 323kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 20g (7%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 27g (42%), Saturated Fat: 10g (63%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 7mg, Potassium: 314mg (9%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 7g (8%), Vitamin A: 16IU, Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 29mg (3%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

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