Homemade Trail Mix without Nuts

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It can be hard to find a snack that is both tasty and nut free for school. This nut free trail mix swaps the peanuts for an equally crunchy and nutritious alternative that is safe enough for all kiddos and tasty enough that it won’t come back home.

My daughter goes to a nut free preschool, so I’m packing at least two snacks a day, five days a week, and all of it has to be safe for her class. It’s a lot, and honestly I’ve just gotten to where I keep a few things in rotation that I can throw together without really thinking about it. This trail mix is one of them.

Most of the store-bought mixes are practically desserts, all candy and sugar coated clusters. When I make my own I know what’s going in it, and I’ve made it enough times to get the ratio right to where it feels like a treat, but it’s not junk, and I can make it quickly.

If you’re looking for more ideas that check the same boxes, I have a whole collection of snack recipes that are just as quick to pull together.

Why We Love This Nut Free Trail Mix

• There’s no cooking. Unlike a traditional snack mix, there’s no baking or seasoning involved. Everything goes in one bowl and gets stirred, and it’s done. My apple cinnamon Chex mix works the same way, and it’s another one I throw together at the start of the week without a second thought.
• The sweet and salty balance is figured out. I’ve made this enough times to know how many M&Ms keep it feeling like a treat but not turn into a dessert. You can adjust it too.
• This trail mix holds up. It doesn’t need special handling and won’t go stale by lunchtime. It survives a backpack, a hot car, and a preschooler who forgets it’s in there until 2 pm.
• One batch covers a lot of ground. I make a big container at the start of the week and portion it out in snack bags for a week of grab and go snacks.
• I never worry about sending it. At a nut free school you learn to read a snack twice before it goes in the bag. This one I trust, and that peace of mind is honestly why I keep coming back to it.

Ingredients You’ll Need

If you’re dealing with a severe allergy, I flag which ingredients need a label check below.

• Crunchy chickpeas– These are absolutely amazing! They are chickpeas that have been dried into a crispy crunchy snack! You can usually find them in the snack aisle or with nuts and popcorn at the local grocery store. They serve as an excellent alternative to nuts due to their ideal size and satisfying crunch. Chickpeas also provide a good source of protein and fiber. I get the sea salt variety, but feel free to play around with any flavor that looks good to you!
• Pumpkin seeds– I use roasted and salted, shelled pumpkin seeds–also known as “pepitas”. They are a great way to add healthy fats, crunch, and salt to the mix. If you can’t find pumpkin seeds, feel free to swap in dry roasted and salted sunflower seeds, without shells.
• Mini Pretzels– for extra salt, crunch, and to add a varying texture and size. I add pretzels to every snack mix I make.
• Raisins– For a nice chewy texture, added sweetness, and extra vitamins. Also, I love it when the raisins get covered in the salt from the pumpkin seeds and chickpeas. So tasty!
• M&M candies (see important note below)– In my opinion, you can’t have a trail mix without M&Ms! They are another touch of sweetness to balance out all the salty ingredients, and they’re super fun to look for in each handful of trail mix. M&M’s are a super fun addition for the kids.

Important Note: If you are severely allergic to tree nuts and peanuts, make sure to read the ingredient labels. Plain M&Ms do not contain nuts, BUT may be exposed to peanuts or tree nuts in processing. If you have a severe nut allergy, here is a resource for Peanut Free Facility M&Ms you can use, or swap for allergen free chocolate chips!

How to Make Homemade Trail Mix without Nuts

Combine all the ingredients in a medium (2-quart or larger) mixing bowl and mix until everything is distributed evenly.  

Grab a handful of the trail mix and look to see if you have enough of each ingredient to your liking. Feel free to add more seeds, chickpeas, M&Ms, raisins, or pretzels if desired. 

Transfer the mix to an airtight storage container.

If you’re planning on traveling and need an easy snack, the trail mix can be divided into individual portions. Give the mixture a stir to make sure none of the M&Ms have sunk to the bottom of the trail mix.

Substitutions and Variations

The best thing about making your own snack mix is the ability to customize it with your favorite ingredients. Here are a few swaps I’ve used:

• If you can’t find crunchy chickpeas, feel free to swap them out with Chex cereal or cheddar bunnies
• To make this trail mix without raisins, you can use banana chips, dried cranberries, apple chips, or any of your favorite dried fruits instead
• Add mini marshmallows for an extra sweet treat
• Swap the M&Ms for allergen free chocolate chips or yogurt covered raisins. This is important if you’re dealing with a severe nut allergy and can’t find the peanut free facility M&Ms linked above.
• Shredded coconut flakes would be a great addition to your mix

Storage Instructions

Store your trail mix in an airtight container (like a mason jar) at room temperature for up to a week. 

You can also divide the trail mix into individual storage containers for travel. A typical serving is about 1/4 cup.

This mix does not need to be refrigerated, so it’s perfect for a road trip, a long hike with the family, or bringing to the kids’ sports activities. My s’mores snack mix travels just as well and is always a hit at outdoor events if you need something a little more indulgent.

Nut Free Trail Mix FAQs

More Snack Recipes

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