Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe

Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe

If you love a crunchy, sweet and salty snack mix that you can toss together in minutes, this Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe is going to be your new go‑to for road trips, lunch boxes, and late‑night movie snacks.

A Sweet & Salty Snack You’ll Make on Repeat

This Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe is my version of a classic trail mix with m&ms—cheerful, colorful, and just a little bit addictive. You get that perfect mix of salty nuts, chewy dried fruit, and bright crunchy chocolate candy trail mix pieces that make you want to grab “just one more handful.”

I started making this years ago when my kids were still in middle school. Every Saturday, we were shuttling between soccer, marching band, and someone’s birthday party. Buying those tiny pre‑made bags of sweet and salty snack mix got expensive fast—and honestly, half the time they were either too sugary or tasted a little stale.

So I began working on a homemade trail mix recipe that checked all my boxes: budget‑friendly, easy to customize, and something both kids and adults actually wanted to eat. Over time, I played with different nut ratios, swapped dried fruits, and tried all kinds of M&M flavors. Now I’ve got a version that’s reliable, flexible, and feels just special enough to put out as a party snack mix recipe too.

Is this the healthiest snack on earth? No. But it’s balanced. You get protein and good fats from the nuts and seeds, fiber from the dried fruit, and just enough chocolate peanut trail mix goodness to keep everyone happy. For me, that’s real‑life healthy: something you’ll actually eat that keeps you full and satisfied.

This is also a no bake snack mix, which means no turning on the oven, no melting chocolate, and no fuss. Just measure, mix, and you’re done in about 10 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe

• Quick & no‑bake: Ready in about 10 minutes—seriously. Perfect when you need a snack now.
• Kid‑approved: This colorful candy snack mix disappears faster than chips in my house; great for lunch boxes and after‑school snacks.
• Super customizable: Use your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits—this easy trail mix recipe is more of a formula than a rulebook.
• Sweet & salty balance: Crunchy nuts, chewy fruit, and chocolate candy hit every craving in one handful.
• Great for meal prep: Make a big batch once, store it well, and you’ve got snacks ready for the week.
• Perfect for parties: Serve it in bowls at game day, birthday parties, or holiday gatherings as a low‑effort party snack mix recipe.
• Travel friendly: Ideal for road trips, flights, hiking, or long meetings when you need a portable energy boost.
• Budget‑friendly: Cheaper than buying small name‑brand trail mix bags, especially when you buy nuts in bulk.

Let me explain how to build the best mix, and then I’ll walk you through the exact amounts I use.

Ingredients

This Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe is designed to be flexible, but I’ll give you my “base recipe” first. It makes a balanced, crunchy sweet trail mix that works for almost everyone.

Pantry Ingredients for the Base Mix

• 1 ½ cups roasted salted peanuts
  (Dry‑roasted or lightly salted work great; peanuts help give that classic chocolate peanut trail mix taste.)

• 1 ½ cups roasted almonds
  (Use whole or roughly chopped; you can use unsalted and add a pinch of salt later if you prefer.)

• 1 cup cashews
  (Roasted, lightly salted cashews add buttery richness. If you’re watching sodium, go unsalted here.)

• ½ cup sunflower seeds
  (Shelled/“hulled” seeds; roasted is best for extra flavor. These add nice crunch and extra protein.)

• 1 cup raisins
  (Classic choice, but you can mix in golden raisins for extra sweetness.)

• 1 cup dried cranberries
  (Tart, chewy, and a pretty pop of color in the sweet and salty snack mix.)

• 1 cup mini pretzels or pretzel sticks, lightly crushed
  (This is where a lot of that salty crunch comes from; choose a brand you actually like on its own.)

• 1 ½ cups M&M’s (plain)
  (The star! You can use regular M&M’s, generic chocolate candy, or a mix of seasonal colors.)

• ½ cup peanut M&M’s or another flavor
  (I love peanut or peanut butter M&M’s for extra texture and a little surprise in each bite.)

• ¼ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened or sweetened (optional)
  (Adds a bit of tropical chew—skip it if your crew isn’t into coconut.)

Substitutions & Flexible Add‑Ins

You don’t have to follow my list exactly. Think of this homemade trail mix recipe as a base you can tweak:

• Nuts: Swap almonds or cashews with walnuts, pecans, pistachios, or hazelnuts. If you’re making an m&ms nut mix for kids, I usually stick to milder nuts like almonds and cashews.
• Dried fruit: Use chopped dried apricots, cherries, dates, pineapple, or mango. Just keep pieces fairly small so they distribute evenly.
• Seeds: Try pumpkin seeds (pepitas) in place of or in addition to sunflower seeds if you want more crunch and nutrients.
• Chocolate: Use a mix of plain, peanut, peanut butter, or even caramel M&M’s. You can also throw in dark chocolate chips for a slightly less sweet twist.
• Crunch factor: If you don’t like pretzels, swap them with corn nuts, cereal (like Cheerios or Rice Chex), or small crackers.

You know what? The real “rule” is simple: keep a mix of nuts + seeds + fruit + something sweet + something crunchy/salty, and you’ll end up with a great trail mix with m&ms every time.

Directions

This part couldn’t be easier. The most “work” here is opening the packages.

1. Prep a big mixing bowl.
   Grab the largest mixing bowl you own—this recipe makes a generous batch, and you want plenty of room to stir without sending M&M’s flying across the kitchen.

2. Add the nuts and seeds.
   Pour in the peanuts, almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds. Gently toss with clean hands or a large spoon so the nuts are evenly combined. This helps keep the heavier items from settling at the bottom later.

3. Mix in the dried fruit.
   Add the raisins and dried cranberries. If any clumps are stuck together, break them up with your fingers. This keeps your sweet and salty snack mix from having “hot spots” of all fruit in one corner.

4. Stir in the pretzels.
   Toss in the mini pretzels. If they’re very large, give them a quick crush with your hands first; you want bite‑sized pieces that don’t dominate a scoop.

5. Add the M&M’s and any other candy.
   Pour in the regular M&M’s and peanut (or flavored) M&M’s. Give everything a gentle stir so the candy is scattered throughout. This is where the colorful candy snack mix really starts to look pretty.

6. Taste and adjust.
   Scoop a small handful, taste, and think about what you want more of. Too salty? Add a little more dried fruit. Too sweet? Add more nuts or pretzels. Not enough chocolate? Well, we both know the answer to that.

7. Finish with optional coconut.
   If using shredded coconut, sprinkle it over the top and do one last toss. Coconut can clump, so spread it out well.

8. Transfer to containers.
   Once mixed, portion the trail mix into airtight containers, mason jars, or small snack bags. If you’re packing this as a kids snack mix recipe for lunches, I love using reusable snack bags with fun patterns.

That’s it. No baking, no cooling, no waiting around—this is truly a no bake snack mix that’s ready as soon as you stir the last spoonful.

Servings & Timing

Yield:

• Makes about 9–10 cups of trail mix
• Serves 12–16 people, depending on portion size (about ½ cup per serving)

Timing:

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes (no‑bake!)
• Total Time: About 10 minutes

For parties, I plan on at least ½ cup per person, especially if this Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe is one of several snacks on the table. For hikes or soccer tournaments, I like packing about ⅓ to ½ cup per person in little bags.

Easy Variations & Fun Twists

Honestly, this is where things get fun. Once you’ve made the base, you can start playing.

• High‑Protein Power Mix: Use extra nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, almonds, peanuts) and cut the M&M’s in half for a more “fueling” trail mix with m&ms that’s still a treat.
• Nut‑Free School Mix: Skip all nuts and use sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pretzels, cereal, and M&M’s for a lunchbox‑friendly kids snack mix recipe (check your school’s rules, of course).
• Holiday Party Mix: Stick with red and green M&M’s for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or team colors for game day—you’ve instantly got a themed party snack mix recipe.
• Tropical Twist: Use cashews, coconut, dried pineapple, and mango with peanut M&M’s for a beachy, sweet and salty snack mix.
• Super Crunchy Sweet Trail Mix: Add corn nuts, crispy chickpeas, or crunchy rice cereal for extra texture.
• Dark Chocolate & Cherry Mix: Combine almonds, walnuts, dried cherries, dark chocolate M&M’s (or dark chocolate chips), and pretzels for a slightly more “grown‑up” chocolate candy trail mix.

Storage, Freezing & Make-Ahead Tips

You can make this Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe ahead of time with no loss of quality if you store it correctly.

Room Temperature Storage:

• Store the mix in airtight containers or jars.
• Keep it in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight.
• It will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks at room temperature, assuming the nuts were fresh.

Refrigerator Storage:

• If your kitchen runs warm or it’s midsummer and your chocolate keeps getting soft, store the mix in the fridge.
• Use a well‑sealed container to keep out moisture.
• It will stay fresh for 3–4 weeks in the refrigerator.

Freezer Storage:

• Yes, you can freeze this! Place the trail mix in freezer‑safe bags or containers.
• Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Thaw at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes before serving so the chocolate isn’t rock‑hard.

Make‑Ahead Tips:

• For busy weeks, portion the trail mix into small snack bags or reusable containers right after mixing. You’ll thank yourself when you’re running out the door.
• For parties, you can make it 3–4 days ahead and keep it sealed. Stir it once before serving to redistribute any small bits that settled.

There’s no real reheating needed here, but if it’s been in the fridge or freezer, just let it warm up a bit so the flavors and textures feel right again.

Notes from My Kitchen

After making this easy trail mix recipe more times than I can count, I’ve picked up a few small tricks:

• Use fresh nuts. Old nuts are the fastest way to ruin a homemade trail mix recipe. If they smell even slightly “off” or oily, skip them.
• Balance the salty and sweet. If you’re using salted nuts and salty pretzels, stick with regular M&M’s instead of salted caramel chocolates, or it can tip too salty.
• Watch the fruit size. If your dried fruit pieces are large (like big apricots or mango), chop them into raisin‑sized bits so they don’t clump or feel too chewy in one bite.
• Kids love color. When I make this for my grandkids, I sometimes mix a few types of M&M’s—like minis with regular ones—for a more playful, colorful candy snack mix.
• Seasonal touches. In fall, I’ll add a pinch of cinnamon and a handful of candy‑coated peanuts; in summer, I go lighter on the chocolate and heavier on dried fruit.
• Mind the heat. If you’re taking this on a long hike or beach day, know that chocolate will melt. I stash bags in a cooler if possible or keep them in the shade.

Here’s the thing: this isn’t a fussy recipe. If you’re a little under or over on an ingredient, it’ll still turn out delicious. Taste as you go, and don’t be afraid to adjust.

FAQs

Can I make this Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe nut‑free?
Yes. Swap the nuts for extra seeds (sunflower, pumpkin) plus pretzels and cereal; just be sure your M&M’s and other add‑ins are from nut‑free facilities if allergies are severe.

Is this trail mix with m&ms healthy?
It’s a balanced snack—nuts and seeds offer protein and healthy fats, dried fruit gives fiber, and chocolate adds sweetness; just be mindful of portion size.

How much trail mix should I serve per person at a party?
Plan on about ½ cup per person if there are other snacks, or closer to ¾ cup if this is one of the main party snack mix options.

Can I use chocolate chips instead of M&M’s?
You can, but chocolate chips melt more easily and don’t have that candy shell crunch; if you use them, keep the mix cool and handle gently.

Will the pretzels get soggy?
Over time, pretzels can soften a bit from contact with dried fruit, but stored in a dry, airtight container they’ll stay crunchy for at least a week or two.

Can I make this in a smaller batch?
Absolutely—just cut all the ingredients in half, or make a big batch and freeze half for later.

What’s the best way to pack this for kids’ lunches?
Portion ¼–⅓ cup into small reusable containers or snack bags; I like using containers with snap lids so the mix doesn’t spill in backpacks.

Can I add protein powder or extra “health” ingredients?
You can sprinkle in a tablespoon or two of hemp hearts, chia seeds, or ground flax; I don’t recommend loose protein powder because it tends to sink and coat the candy in a strange way.

Final Thoughts

This Trailing Mix with M&Ms Recipe has been a quiet little hero in my kitchen for years—simple, colorful, and endlessly flexible. It’s the kind of crunchy sweet trail mix that works just as well in a kid’s lunch as it does in a fancy glass jar on your snack table.

Give it a try, then tweak it to fit your family: more nuts, fewer sweets, or the exact opposite—I won’t tell. When you make it, I’d love to hear what combinations you come up with and which M&M flavors are your favorites. And if you enjoy easy, no‑bake snacks like this, stick around and explore some of my other quick snack recipes next.

Trailing Mix with M&Ms

This Trailing Mix with M&Ms is a crunchy, sweet-and-salty no-bake snack mix loaded with nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, and colorful M&Ms. Perfect for road trips, parties, kids’ lunches, or easy make-ahead snacking.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 14 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 1/2 cups roasted salted peanuts dry-roasted or lightly salted
• 1 1/2 cups roasted almonds whole or roughly chopped; salted or unsalted
• 1 cup cashews roasted, lightly salted or unsalted
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds shelled (hulled), roasted if possible
• 1 cup raisins regular or a mix with golden raisins
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup mini pretzels or pretzel sticks lightly crushed into bite-sized pieces
• 1 1/2 cups plain M&Ms regular or seasonal colors
• 1/2 cup peanut M&Ms or another favorite M&M flavor
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut unsweetened or sweetened, optional

Instructions

 

• Grab the largest mixing bowl you have to comfortably hold about 9–10 cups of trail mix and allow room for stirring.
• Add the roasted salted peanuts, roasted almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds to the bowl. Gently toss with clean hands or a large spoon until evenly combined.
  1 1/2 cups roasted salted peanuts, 1 1/2 cups roasted almonds, 1 cup cashews, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• Add the raisins and dried cranberries. Break apart any clumps with your fingers so the fruit is evenly distributed.
  1 cup raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries
• Add the mini pretzels or pretzel sticks. If the pieces are large, lightly crush them first so they’re bite-sized. Gently toss to combine.
  1 cup mini pretzels or pretzel sticks
• Pour in the plain M&Ms and peanut (or other flavored) M&Ms. Stir gently so the colorful candy is scattered evenly throughout the mix.
  1 1/2 cups plain M&Ms, 1/2 cup peanut M&Ms
• Scoop a small handful and taste. If it’s too salty, add more dried fruit. If it’s too sweet, add more nuts or pretzels. If you want more chocolate, add extra M&Ms to taste.
• If using shredded coconut, sprinkle it over the top and give the mix one last gentle toss, breaking up any coconut clumps.
  1/4 cup shredded coconut
• Transfer the trail mix to airtight containers, jars, or small snack bags for easy grab-and-go portions. Store at room temperature, in the fridge, or freezer as desired.

Notes

Yield: about 9–10 cups of trail mix, serving roughly 12–16 people at about 1/2 cup per serving, or up to 14 servings at a generous 2/3–3/4 cup each.

Variations:
- High-Protein Power Mix: Increase nuts and seeds, reduce M&Ms by about half.
- Nut-Free School Mix: Skip nuts and use sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pretzels, cereal, and M&Ms (ensure all are from nut-free facilities if needed).
- Holiday or Themed Mix: Use seasonal or team-colored M&Ms for parties and game day.
- Tropical Twist: Use more cashews, coconut, dried pineapple, and mango with peanut M&Ms.
- Dark Chocolate & Cherry Mix: Use almonds, walnuts, dried cherries, dark chocolate M&Ms or chips, and pretzels.

Storage:
- Room temperature: Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.
- Refrigerator: Store in a well-sealed container for 3–4 weeks.
- Freezer: Freeze in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months; thaw 15–20 minutes before serving so the chocolate isn’t too hard.

Tips:
- Use fresh nuts; discard any that smell stale or rancid.
- Balance salty and sweet by adjusting the ratio of salted nuts/pretzels to chocolate and fruit.
- Chop large dried fruit pieces to about raisin size so they mix evenly.
- If packing for hot weather or long hikes, keep the mix shaded or in a cooler to prevent the chocolate from melting.

Keyword kids snack, M&M’s, no-bake, Party Snack Mix, road trip snack, Sweet and Salty Snack, Trail Mix

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