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A good trail mix is one of those things that sounds simple until you actually make a great one. The right balance of nuts for richness, seeds for crunch, and dried fruit for sweetness makes something genuinely satisfying that holds up in the heat, travels well, and keeps energy levels steady throughout a long summer day out.
Everything in this guide is available from Maven Wholefoods, and every ingredient is linked so you can build your mix exactly the way you want it. We have broken it down into three categories — nuts, seeds, and dried fruit — with a set of ready-to-use mix recipes at the end for when you want a shortcut.
The Nuts: Your Base Layer
Nuts form the backbone of any trail mix. They bring healthy fats, protein, and lasting energy, and their flavour and texture vary enormously from one variety to the next. Choose two or three for balance rather than loading up on just one.
Clean, mild, and satisfying with a firm bite. Blanched almonds are lower in sodium than roasted varieties and work in every mix. Their neutral flavour lets the fruit and seeds shine.
Buttery and creamy with a gentle sweetness that pairs beautifully with tropical dried fruits. Cashews bring a softer texture that balances crunchier seeds and harder nuts in the mix.
Earthy, slightly bitter, and loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts add a more complex, grown-up flavour that works especially well alongside darker dried fruits like figs and sultanas.
The Seeds: Nutrition & Crunch
Seeds are where trail mix gets its nutritional depth. They are small, lightweight, and pack a remarkable concentration of protein, healthy fats, and minerals. A small handful goes a long way, both in flavour and in keeping you full.
One of the most satisfying seeds to snack on. Pumpkin seeds have a firm bite and a nutty, subtly sweet flavour. They are exceptionally high in magnesium and zinc, two minerals that support energy and immune function during active summer days.
Light, mild, and versatile. Sunflower seeds add a gentle crunch without overpowering other flavours in the mix. They are a great source of vitamin E and work well with almost any combination of nuts and fruit.
Tiny but nutritionally dense. Chia seeds scatter throughout a mix and stick lightly to dried fruit, adding fibre, omega-3s, and calcium. Use them as an addition rather than a main ingredient — a tablespoon per batch is plenty.
A ready-blended mix of pumpkin, sunflower, flax, and sesame seeds. The omega seed mix is the easiest way to add a broad spectrum of nutrients in one scoop, and its nutty flavour fits naturally into any trail mix combination.
The Dried Fruit: Sweetness & Colour
Dried fruit is what transforms a handful of nuts and seeds into something you actually want to eat repeatedly. The sweetness balances the richness of the nuts, the chewiness contrasts the crunch, and the variety of colours and flavours keeps every handful interesting.
Nature's most satisfying natural sweetener in whole form. Dates are chewy, caramel-rich, and deeply satisfying. They provide a quick hit of natural sugar alongside fibre, which softens the energy spike compared to refined sweets. Pair with cashews or walnuts for a classic combination.
The classic trail mix ingredient for good reason. Organic raisins are sweet, compact, and rich in iron. They blend seamlessly into any mix and provide small pockets of intense sweetness that balance the savouriness of the nuts and seeds.
Tart, bright, and visually striking in the mix. Cranberries cut through the richness of nuts with a pleasantly sharp contrast. They pair especially well with pecans, almonds, and pumpkin seeds for a classic American-style trail mix profile.
Subtly sweet and slightly tangy with a distinctive chew. Goji berries are one of the most nutrient-dense additions you can make to a trail mix, rich in antioxidants and vitamin A. Their vivid red colour also makes the finished mix look as good as it tastes.
Dried white mulberries are a lesser-known gem in the trail mix world — lightly sweet, with a delicate texture somewhere between a raisin and a fig. They bring something genuinely different to a mix and are rich in iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
Soft, jammy, and deeply sweet with a honey-like depth. Dried figs are best chopped into smaller pieces before adding to a mix so each handful gets a bit of their flavour. They pair beautifully with walnuts and dark, earthy seeds.
Four Ready-to-Make Mix Recipes
Use these as your starting point and adjust to taste. Each recipe makes roughly one large jar, enough for a day out with two to four people. The ratios below are by volume — use a standard cup or mug as your measure.
- 1 cup whole blanched almonds
- ½ cup cashew nuts
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup cranberries
- ½ cup organic raisins
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup cashew nuts
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup dried mulberries
- ½ cup dates, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup goji berries
- 2 tbsp omega seed mix
- ¾ cup walnut halves
- ¾ cup pecans
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup goji berries
- ½ cup cranberries
- ¼ cup dried figs, chopped
- 1 cup almonds
- ½ cup omega seed mix
- ½ cup dates, halved
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ cup dried mulberries
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
Tips for Making and Packing Your Mix
- Aim for roughly 50% nuts, 20% seeds, and 30% dried fruit by volume. This ratio keeps the mix satisfying rather than too sweet or too dry.
- Chop larger dried fruits like dates and figs before adding so every handful has a balanced mix of textures rather than large pieces in some handfuls and none in others.
- Store in a glass jar or a resealable bag. In summer heat, nuts can turn more quickly than usual, especially walnuts and pecans which are higher in unsaturated fats. Make your mix the day before and keep it cool until you pack it.
- Add chia seeds and omega seed mix last and stir well — they settle to the bottom quickly and need to be evenly distributed.
- For a lightly sweet, cohesive mix, toss everything with a teaspoon of melted coconut oil before packing. The oil helps the seeds cling to the nuts rather than sifting to the bottom.
- Individual portions in small reusable bags or pots are more practical for picnics than one large jar, particularly with children. Pre-portion the evening before to make the day easier.
Trail mix is one of the most cost-effective wholefood snacks there is, particularly when you buy the components in bulk. A 1kg bag of almonds or cashews will make many batches, and having the components stocked in the pantry means a fresh batch takes five minutes to put together.
Buying pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cranberries, and raisins separately means you are also always stocked for baking, breakfast toppings, and porridge additions — the pantry works harder when everything in it has multiple uses.
All products are available at Maven Wholefoods in sizes from 125g up to 5kg, with free shipping on orders over £30.
Shop the Trail Mix Pantry
Everything you need, available individually or in bulk. Free shipping on orders over £30.
