Classic Trail Mix

Make the best Classic Trail Mix in just 5 minutes with Chex cereal, pretzels, mixed nuts, dried cranberries, and M&Ms. This easy homemade trail mix is the perfect sweet and salty snack for road trips, lunchboxes, parties, and eveyday grab-and-go snacking.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Servings:

Calories: 481kcal

Author: Karin and Ken

Ingredients

1 cup Honey Nut Chex Honey Nut Cheerios or your favorite Chex cereal
1 cup Small Pretzels or stick pretzels
1 cup Mixed Nuts your favorite blend
½ cup Dried Cranberries Sweetened or raisins
½ cup M&Ms peanut or caramel filled M&Ms work too

Instructions

Place all of your ingredients into a large bowl and toss them gently until evenly distributed.
Feel free to add more or less of each ingredient according to your taste.
Place the trail mix in a serving bowl, air tight container or resealable bag to take along with you.

Notes

Makes: 4 cups
Use the freshest ingredients possible: Fresh nuts stay crunchy, cereal stays crisp, and dried fruit stays pleasantly chewy instead of tough or stale.
Mix gently to protect delicate ingredients: Pretzels and cereal can break easily if stirred too aggressively. Use a large spatula or clean hands to toss everything together carefully.
Balance sweet and salty ingredients: The magic of classic trail mix is contrast. If your mix tastes too sweet, add extra pretzels or nuts. If it feels too salty, toss in more dried fruit or chocolate candies.
Add chocolate candies at the end: Add chocolate last to avoid melting or smudging, especially if your kitchen is warm.
Store in airtight containers or resealable snack bags: Cereal and pretzels lose crunch quickly if exposed to humidity. Sealing it right away helps preserve freshness and avoids a soft and soggy texture.
Make a double batch if you’re sharing: Homemade trail mix disappears fast so extra is never a bad idea or make ranch snack mix too for variety.

Nutrition