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Make this delicious, easy Tropical Trail Mix recipe in just five minutes … it’s the perfect afternoon snack for hiking or any occasion!
It has been such a hot summer in Dallas … definitely the steamiest one I can recall since moving here.
I promised myself I was going to spend more time outside this summer, but it just didn’t happen. When I wasn’t traveling, you could usually find me curled up on my couch enjoying the A/C. What can I say … 100+ temps are just not for me!
Fall is almost here though, and temps are finally dipping a bit. As the weather cools, I’m looking forward to being more active and spending as much time outside as possible. I’ve been researching nearby hiking trails, and I can’t wait to get out there. Of course, a tasty snack makes any hike a little more fun, so that’s on my list, too.
If you’re looking for the perfect snack for your fall outdoor adventures, then you have to try this Tropical Trail Mix!
Tropical Trail Mix
Are you a trail mix fan?
While I’ve always liked the idea of trail mix, I’m just not a fan of the stereotypical peanut-raisin mix. It’s so boring, plus those dried out raisins are kind of gross!
I love hiking though, and trail mix is such a convenient trail snack. So I decided to create my own trail mix without raisins or peanuts … just the good stuff.
This Tropical Trail Mix does not disappoint! It’s packed with tasty, organic ingredients: cashews, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit (mango, pineapple, and banana), rich dark chocolate, and crunchy coconut chips. It takes minutes to make, and it couldn’t be tastier!
Before heading on my hike, I stopped by Kroger to pick up the ingredients for this trail mix and to stock up on my favorite Honest Tea.
Did you know that September is National Organic Month? I try to buy organic whenever I can, and love that Honest Tea is organic and fair trade. It’s also made with real tea leaves, just like you’d make it at home.
Right now, plastic Honest Tea bottles at Kroger are only 4 for $5 (until October 24, 2018), so I stocked up! I got my go-to favorite Honey Green Tea (it’s so refreshing), plus three other flavors: Peach Tea, Pomegranate Blue Flavored Herbal Tea, and Half Tea & Half Lemonade (my other fave … yum!).
If you’re looking for something to take on a hike besides water, Honest Tea is the perfect choice. It’s super refreshing, flavorful, and just a tad sweet or unsweetened (depending on what flavor you get) … perfect for quenching your thirst during or after a hike!
My husband and I did an urban hike this weekend, and we took along our tea and trail mix.
The Trinity Skyline Trail is one of my favorite places in Dallas. It’s located right by downtown Dallas and follows along the Trinity River. It’s paved in some spots and gravel in other, and it’s also mostly flat … perfect for easing back into fall activities!
We’ve had lots of rain lately. The river was flowing, and everything was so green. It was beautiful!
The views of downtown Dallas from this trail are awesome, and they shift as you walk.
There are a bunch of bridges that pass over the Trinity River valley. As you walk along the trail, you’ll pass under them.
Dallas has a two distinctive bridges designed by the famous architect Santiago Calatrava, and it’s so fun to get up close and personal with them.
Although it’s cooled off a bit since August, it was still pretty hot out. It probably would have been a good idea to get an earlier start … the trail doesn’t have a lot of shade!
We made it though, and our tea definitely helped keep us cool.
Before going home, we headed to the Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge.
This vintage bridge is only open to people, and you can bike or walk across it. The city has added lots of unique features to the bridge, plenty of seating, and even a playground.
We love hanging out here. It was the perfect spot to enjoy our snack before heading home!
How to Make Trail Mix
Are you getting hungry?
Let’s talk about how to make your own trail mix … it really couldn’t be easier.
Trail Mix Ingredients
Trail mix is a blend of nuts and/or seeds, dried fruit, and perhaps something sweet. The best part? It’s easy to build your own trail mix with your favorite ingredients.
Here are some trail mix ingredient ideas to inspire you:
- Nuts: Cashews, peanuts, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachio or pine nuts. Choose raw or dry roasted, unsalted nuts when possible.
- Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, or hemp seeds. Looks for seeds that are raw or that haven’t been roasted in oil.
- Dried Fruit: Bananas, pineapple, mango, cranberries, cherries, blueberries, raisins, apricots, apples, figs, or goji berries. Freeze dried fruit and candied ginger will also work. Cut large fruit pieces into smaller chunks with a kitchen scissors or knife.
- Something Sweet: Coconut flakes or chips, dark chocolate chunks, baking chips (chocolate, peanut butter, toffee, etc.), chocolate-covered coffee beans, or mini marshmallows.
- Other Ideas: Roasted chickpeas, pretzels, popcorn, mini crackers, granola chunks, cereal, spices (cinnamon, cajun, curry powder, chili powder, etc.), toasted quinoa, or wasabi peas.
I wanted tropical flavors for my trail mix. So I used a combination of cashews, pumpkin seeds, a mixture of dried fruit (pineapple, mango, and banana), coconut chips, and dark chocolate.
Want to experiment with your own blend? Use the same proportions that I used in my recipe, but swap in different ingredients.
Healthy Trail Mix
Trail mix is generally pretty high in fat and sometimes sugar. Eaten in moderation though, it can be a nutritious snack.
There are a few things you can do to keep your trail mix on the healthier side
- Look for raw (or dry roasted), unsalted nuts and seeds.
- Choose fruit that’s been dried without additional sugar added.
- Keep anything sweet (like coconut) to a minimum.
- Use dark chocolate. For my tropical snack mix, I used a chocolate made with 70% cacao. The higher the percentage of cacao, the less sugar your chocolate will have.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, mix everything together. So simple, right?
A mason jar is the perfect storage container for this trail mix. I like to keep a big jar on my kitchen counter for easy snacking.
Give this delicious Tropical Trail Mix a try … I know you’ll love it just as much as I do!
This homemade Tropical Trail Mix is packed with delicious ingredients and takes minutes to make!
- 2 cups cashews
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup banana chips
- 1/2 cup dried mango
- 1/2 cup dried pineapple
- 1/2 cup coconut chips
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate, broken into small pieces *
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Cut any large pieces of fruit unto smaller chunks.
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Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.
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Serve trail mix immediately or store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
*If you'll be hiking on a hot day, skip the chocolate. It will melt!
Now that you know how to make your own trail mix, head to Kroger to stock up on the ingredients, plus your favorite Honest Tea flavors.
And don’t delay, because the plastic Honest Tea bottles are 4 for $5 from now until October 24, 2018. Use this link to find your nearest Kroger store!
What is your favorite hiking snack?
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