This Sweet and Salty Trail Mix is loaded with crunchy nuts, pumpkin seeds, chewy dried fruit, and chocolate chips for the perfect combination of flavors and textures! Just toss everything together in a bowl and you’ve got a delicious homemade snack that’s ready in minutes.
We love keeping a batch of this homemade trail mix on hand for afternoon snacking, road trips, and especially during the holidays when everyone seems to be looking for something to munch on. It’s also easy to customize with your favorite ingredients, so you can make it a little different every time!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Trail Mix
- Ready in minutes: No baking or cooking required! Just combine the ingredients and you’re ready to snack.
- Sweet and salty: Crunchy, salty nuts pair perfectly with sweet dried fruit and chocolate chips.
- Easy to customize: Swap in your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or chocolate to make it your own.
- Great for entertaining: Set out a bowl for parties, game days, or holiday gatherings.
- Perfect for gifting: Package this trail mix in cute jars or containers for an easy homemade holiday gift.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need six simple ingredients to make this homemade trail mix! We love this combination of crunchy nuts, sweet dried fruit, and chocolate, but feel free to swap in your favorites.
- Cashews: Buttery, crunchy cashews add great flavor and texture. We like using roasted, salted cashews for that sweet and salty combination.
- Roasted Peanuts: Honey roasted peanuts are our favorite for an extra touch of sweetness, but regular roasted or salted peanuts work just as well.
- Pumpkin Seeds: Add a delicious crunch and a slightly nutty flavor. Look for shelled pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas.
- Dried Cranberries: Add a chewy texture and a slightly tart flavor that balances the sweeter ingredients.
- Golden Raisins: We love their mild sweetness and chewy texture, but regular raisins work just as well.
- Chocolate Chips: Because a little chocolate makes everything better! Semi-sweet chocolate chips are our favorite, but milk or dark chocolate work too.
How To Make Homemade Trail Mix
It doesn’t get much easier than this! Add the cashews, roasted peanuts, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, golden raisins, and chocolate chips to a large bowl. Toss everything together until well combined, and your homemade trail mix is ready to enjoy!
Transfer the mix to an airtight container for easy snacking throughout the week, or pour it into a serving bowl for parties and holiday gatherings.
Trail Mix Variations
One of the best things about making your own trail mix is that you can customize it with whatever you like! Try some of these delicious additions or swaps to make a different combination every time.
- Switch up the nuts: Try almonds, pecans, walnuts, or pistachios in place of the cashews or peanuts.
- Add something salty: Mini pretzels, pretzel sticks, or even bite-sized crackers add extra crunch and salty flavor.
- Make it extra chocolatey: Swap the chocolate chips for M&M’s, peanut butter chips, or white chocolate chips.
- Try different dried fruits: Dried cherries, blueberries, apricots, or banana chips are all delicious options.
- Add some coconut: Toasted coconut flakes add a slightly tropical flavor and another layer of crunch.
- Give it a holiday twist: Add red and green M&M’s for Christmas, or candy corn and Reese’s Pieces for a fun fall snack mix.
How To Store This Sweet and Salty Trail Mix
Store your homemade trail mix in an airtight container or resealable bag in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks, depending on the freshness of your ingredients. We love using glass containers so it’s easy to grab a handful whenever we’re craving something sweet and salty.
Storage Tip: Since this trail mix contains chocolate chips, keep it away from direct sunlight and warm areas of your kitchen to prevent the chocolate from melting. If your kitchen runs warm, you can store the mix in the refrigerator instead.
Perfect For Holiday Gifting and Snacking
This sweet and salty trail mix is one of our favorite snacks to have on hand during the holidays. Set out a big bowl for guests to munch on, add individual portions to snack bags for road trips, or package it up for easy homemade gifts.
For gifting, fill mason jars or decorative containers with trail mix and tie them with festive ribbon. Add a little gift tag, and you’ve got a simple, delicious homemade treat that’s perfect for teachers, neighbors, and friends!
Looking For More Easy Snack Recipes?
- BLT Bites
- Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks
- Asiago Cheese Crisps
- Ham and Cheese Pub Crackers
- Sausage Cheese Dip
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Sweet and Salty Trail Mix
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis easy Homemade Trail Mix is loaded with crunchy nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, golden raisins, and chocolate chips! A sweet and salty snack that’s perfect for parties, holidays, or everyday snacking.
Ingredients
- 2 cups roasted peanuts (can use regular roasted peanuts or honey roasted peanuts)
- 2 cups cashews (whole or halves and pieces)
- 1 cup craisins
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas)
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips (can also use regular sized chips)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and toss together to combine.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe Notes
We love using honey roasted peanuts for extra sweetness and flavor, but regular roasted or salted peanuts work just as well.
- Feel free to swap the nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips for your favorite ingredients.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks, depending on the freshness of your ingredients. Keep away from heat to prevent the chocolate chips from melting.
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
