Trailing Mix with M&Ms
A crunchy, colorful, no-bake trail mix loaded with nuts, whole-grain cereal, pretzels, dried fruit, and plenty of M&Ms. Sweet, salty, and perfect for snacks, parties, and road trips.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups lightly salted roasted peanuts or use half peanuts, half cashews for a softer bite
- 1 cup whole almonds roasted and unsalted; dry roasted or raw both work, roasted adds more flavor
- 1 cup mini pretzels or pretzel twists sticks work too; smaller shapes cling to the candy better
- 2 cups whole-grain cereal such as Cheerios or a similar “O” cereal
- 1/2 cup salted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1 cup classic M&Ms plain; regular size for maximum color
- 1/2 cup peanut M&Ms optional but delicious
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chocolate chunks semi-sweet or milk chocolate
- 3/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut unsweetened or sweetened; optional, toasted if desired
Instructions
- Grab the largest mixing bowl you own so you have plenty of room to toss the ingredients without spilling.
- Add the peanuts and almonds to the bowl and give them a quick toss. Starting with the heavier ingredients makes it easier to mix everything evenly later.
- Add the mini pretzels and whole-grain cereal. Gently fold them in so you don’t crush the cereal; you want big, crunchy pieces in every handful.
- Sprinkle in the sunflower seeds or pepitas. Stir from the bottom up so the smaller pieces don’t sink and hide at the bottom of the bowl.
- Add the raisins or dried cranberries. If the dried fruit is clumped together, separate any big pieces with clean fingers so it distributes evenly.
- Add the classic M&Ms and peanut M&Ms, if using. Gently fold until the colorful candies are evenly distributed throughout the mix.
- Add the chocolate chips or chunks and the shredded coconut, if using. Stir just until combined so the chocolate pieces don’t get scuffed or broken.
- Taste a small handful. Add more M&Ms or chocolate chips if you’d like it sweeter, or more cereal or pretzels if you want extra crunch or less sweetness.
- Transfer the trail mix to airtight containers or snack-size bags. For grab-and-go snacks, portion into 1/2–3/4 cup servings.
Notes
Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2–3 weeks, in the refrigerator for up to 1 month, or freeze for up to 3 months. Let chilled or frozen mix sit at room temperature briefly before serving. For a more wholesome version, use unsalted nuts, extra seeds, and slightly less chocolate; for a more indulgent party mix, use sweetened coconut and extra chocolate chips. If serving to people with nut allergies, make a separate nut-free batch with extra seeds, cereal, pretzels, and dried fruit, and label clearly.
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