My Go-To Trail Mix

5-minute mix it yourself trail-mix with cashews, cranberries, dark chocolate, shredded coconut, and a shake of cinnamon. Perfect for on-the-go snacking!

At my hair appointment last weekend I sat in the salon chair and said, “Well, I’m not a hiker.”

“If you’ve got hiking boots, you’re a hiker,” my hair stylist said, motioning towards the hiking boots that protruded from under the long black salon gown that I wore buttoned around my neck like a cape.

I laughed and nodded in agreement.

I hadn’t had time to change before my hair appointment to change out of the hiking gear I wore to climb Raven Rocks with my girlfriends.

Earlier that morning, exhilarated by the crisp fall air and endorphins, we made a pact to do 12 hikes in 2020.

So maybe I am a hiker, huh?

I thought to myself as my stylist wrapped strands of my hair into highlighting foils.

And every good hiker knows to bring plenty of snack with you when you hit the trail.

Whether you’re a hiker or not, you’re going to love this easy snack mix that I call My Go-To Trail Mix.

It’s perfect to mix up for nutritious pre-portioned snacking on the go!

What was your first trail-mix obsession?

When I was a little kid, we used to buy big bags of the Kirkland Signature trail mix–you know, the one with salty nuts, shriveled raisins, and plenty of brightly colored M&Ms.

I cupped my hand and shook out the contents, cautiously coaxing out plenty of M&Ms in the palm of my hand, the salt granules remaining on my skin after I enjoyed the mouthful.

These days, I prefer my trail mix a little less salty and sweet, you know?

But still with lots of flavor.

The morning we went hiking, I mixed up four bags of this stuff to share with my girls.

We munched on it while gazing out at the Shenandoah skyline at the 1,791 feet overlook.

I started making my own trail mix when I worked in an office.

When I finally discovered that I could throw my own nuts, seeds, and dried fruit into a bag and have a healthy raw snack, my mind was blown.

You mean, trail mix doesn’t come from a trial mix farm?

NOPE.

At first, I got a bit trail mix obsessed, looking up new mix ideas at 9 PM during the work week, searching for new flavor combinations to get me through the following work day.

What I found is that trail mix isn’t exactly a hot blogging topic.

And this makes sense, I suppose, because trail mix is kind of impossible to mess up.

However, after trying all of the combos and all of the flavors of the years, I found myself gravitating towards the same blend.

And the same proportions.

Every time.

This mix is slightly dairy-free and vegan, slightly sweet, and packed with protein and healthy fats without all of the sodium, refined sugars, and oils that most store bought trail mixes have.

So, what’s in My Go-To Trail Mix?

I’m so glad that you asked.

Here’s what you need:

• raw cashews– I like to use sprouted cashews. They’re slightly softer and are easier to digest with a smooth mild flavor!
• dried cranberries— I love this one because they’re sweetened with apple juice with no added sugars
• vegan dark chocolate— My sure to use a vegan chocolate that is refined sugar-free as well. I used these Hu Kitchen Gems, but you can also chop up a dark chocolate bar instead!
• unsweetened coconut shreds— This kind is my favorite. Larger flakes are preferred here instead of shreds. Make sure your coconut is unsweetened!
• pinch of cinnamon— This is optional, but I love adding cinnamon to help to stabilize your blood sugar, which is so important when snacking! It also adds a subtle spiced flavor that ties the whole mix together.

All you do is add everything to a jar, bag, or bowl, and mix it up.

If adding cinnamon, I like to add my mix to a Stasher bags or Weck jar and physically shake the container to mix everything well!

That’s it.

This Go-To Trail Mix is perfect to mix up for easy portable snacking.

This is my go-to trial-mix, so feel free to use this recipe as a blueprint to make it yours.

Swap out the cashews for your favorite nut of choice and try raisins or dried blueberries in place of the dried cranberries.

If you’re looking for an even lower sugar option, omit the dark chocolate or use 100% dark chocolate for an intensely cacao flavor.

The recipe below serves one, but you can easily double, triple, and quadruple the recipe to make as much as you want to have on hand.

I like the pre-portion mine out into Stasher bags for convenience, but you can also store the mix in a large mason or Weck jar (as pictured).

If you’re not into cinnamon, omit or add a shake of pumpkin pie spice instead for a hint of fall flavor!

The mix keeps for several weeks, so feel free to mix it and forget it until your next hike, or, your next snack time.

Enjoy!

If you make this My Go-To Trail Mix, let me know!

Be sure to leave me a comment, rating, and review so I can use your feedback to create more yums.

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.

Check out my Pinterest page to pin more recipe like this one to make later.

For more healthy snacking, check out my Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding and Edible Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

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XO Lauren

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