Sweet and Salty Trail Mix
A no-bake, mix-and-snack sweet and salty trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, pretzels, and cereal. Perfect for road trips, hiking, lunchboxes, or busy days.
Ingredients
- 1 cup roasted salted almonds whole or roughly chopped; use lightly salted if watching sodium
- 1 cup roasted salted cashews can substitute peanuts for a classic trail mix flavor
- 3/4 cup roasted peanuts salted or lightly salted
- 1/2 cup shelled pistachios roasted, lightly salted; optional
- 3/4 cup sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds (pepitas) roasted, unsalted
- 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots or dried cherries chopped to raisin-sized pieces
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chocolate chunks 60–70% dark chocolate or semi-sweet for a sweeter mix
- 1/2 cup mini pretzels or pretzel twists lightly broken into smaller pieces
- 1/2 cup lightly sweetened cereal such as Cheerios or square whole-grain cereal; choose lower-sugar options
- 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt optional, for finishing
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut optional add-in; toasted or plain
- 1/4 cup yogurt-covered raisins optional add-in
- 1/4 cup butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips optional add-in
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional add-in, for a cozy flavor
Instructions
- Choose a large mixing or salad bowl with plenty of room so you can toss everything without spilling.
- Add the roasted salted almonds, roasted salted cashews, roasted peanuts, shelled pistachios, and sunflower or pumpkin seeds to the bowl. Gently stir with a spatula or clean hands until evenly mixed.1 cup roasted salted almonds, 1 cup roasted salted cashews, 3/4 cup roasted peanuts, 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, 3/4 cup sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- Sprinkle in the raisins or dried cranberries and the chopped dried apricots or dried cherries. If the dried fruit pieces are clumped together, rub them lightly between your fingers to separate before adding.1 cup raisins or dried cranberries, 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots or dried cherries
- Add the mini pretzels or pretzel twists and the lightly sweetened cereal. Break the pretzels slightly as you add them so the pieces are closer in size to the nuts. Stir with a gentle lifting motion from the bottom of the bowl to avoid crushing the cereal.1/2 cup mini pretzels or pretzel twists, 1/2 cup lightly sweetened cereal
- Pour in the dark chocolate chips or chunks and any optional add-ins such as shredded coconut, yogurt-covered raisins, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, or ground cinnamon. Stir just until everything is evenly distributed.3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or chocolate chunks, 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1/4 cup yogurt-covered raisins, 1/4 cup butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Scoop out a small handful and taste. If the mix is too salty, add more dried fruit or cereal. If it’s too sweet, stir in a few extra salted nuts or pretzels until the balance is to your liking.
- If desired, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the trail mix and give it one final gentle stir to create a pronounced sweet-and-salty contrast.1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- Transfer the trail mix to airtight containers such as mason jars, reusable snack bags, or a large jar with a lid. For grab-and-go portions, divide into 1/2-cup servings in small containers or bags.
Notes
Yield: about 6 cups of trail mix (roughly 12 servings of 1/2 cup each). Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, in the fridge for 3–4 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Keep away from heat and direct sunlight so the chocolate doesn’t melt. Adjust salt level by balancing salted nuts, unsalted seeds, and pretzels. For nut-free versions, use seeds, pretzels, cereal, and dried fruit only.
Nutrition
Calories: 200kcal
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