Just in time for fall hiking and snacking, this Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix is the perfect blend of crunchy in-shell pumpkin seeds, creamy nuts, chocolate chunks and dried tart fruit. If you’re pumpkin carving this weekend, put those seeds to good use in this mix!
I’m excited to be heading to Lake Tahoe for the weekend – a short jaunt away from Berkeley. My friends and I are planning some hiking, lots of relaxing, and good cooking. It will be the ideal getaway after a busy few weeks of midterms.
I packed up my backpack with snacks for the trails. On longer hikes, it’s important to bring a good mix of quickly digestible energy! This Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix, my giant water bottle, and bananas will be our good company, perfect for snacking.
I created this trail mix to welcome fall with open arms – I love the combination of creamy hazelnuts and walnuts with the crunchy, chewy in-shell pumpkin seeds. Adding in the chocolate chunks and dried fruit are mandatory, giving the mixture a nice natural floral and fruity sweetness to round it all out.
So go ahead and carve your pumpkins in preparation of Halloween and dry out those pumpkin seeds!
Mix them into this trail mix and you’ll be a happy camper all week, and perhaps even feel better avoiding the office Halloween candy bowl (…I know I’m not the only one with a soft spot for mini candy bars).
- 1 and ½ cups roasted salted in-shell pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup raw unsalted walnuts
- ½ cup dried unsweetened cherries
- 1 cup roasted unsalted hazelnuts
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks
- ½ cup dried unsweetened cranberries
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Store trail mix in airtight containers for up to 3 weeks.
One serving of trail mix is a ¼ cup.
I hope you get the chance to get out this weekend and explore before the cooler temps set in for good. If you’re looking for more trail mix inspiration, try my Sweet Summit Trail Mix, too! I see you, November, and I want you to hold off!
Happy weekend,
Marisa
rachel @ Athletic Avocado says
this is a great use for pumpkin seeds, especially since it contains chocolate chunks too 🙂
Marisa says
Right?! All about sneaking the chocolate in there 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Fabulous trail mix combo!
Marisa says
Thanks Rebecca!
Katie @ Mom to Mom Nutrition says
I love making my own trail mix but haven’t even thought about adding pumpkin seeds! Genius! I love that you did the cranberry + cherry combo. I always have those in my pantry.
Marisa says
You gotta try it! So delicious.
Lauren | Just a Pinch says
Sounds like a great (and very much deserved) weekend! I think this weekend was the last of our nice days 🙁 Winter is coming!
Sreb says
But….pumpkin seeds need to be dug out of their shell in order to be enjoyed…and the rest of the mix doesn’t. That’s not exactly a convenient snack for someone like me who’s hardly ever looking what she’s grabbing from the bag of trail mix and can’t really focus on gnawing on the seeds since I’m probably driving, attending a toddler or doing some other form of activity while snacking. What to do ?
Marisa says
Hi Sreb – You can actually eat the entire thing after roasting, both the seed and the shell! The hull contains the majority of its fiber, and I really enjoy the taste. If you prefer, you can substitute hulled pumpkin seeds as well in this mix and it will still be delicious.