Decadent chunks of chocolate and dried cherries are highlighted in this Dark Chocolate Trail Mix with dried nuts and crunchy toffee bits. It’s indulgent without being heavy, and may just be your new favorite snack!
Most of you already know that Olivia and I are pretty serious about trail mix. We carefully test each of the different combinations we can think of, to find the perfect ratio of ingredients. That’s why we’re thrilled to finally add this recipe to the list along with our M&M Trail Mix and all the others.
Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
I would rate this recipe 7 out of 10. The tartness of the cherries was a little much for me, but the rest of the tastes were great! My favorite part was while figuring out the mix together. Then, tasting it for the first time! I had a lot of fun making this recipe.
You first get the crunch. And then the pop. Well, not really a pop. It’s not a crunch. But, I’m going to say crunch. The crunch of the chocolate chips, and then the tartness of the cherries. I do really like the chocolate and the nuts, of course. Texture-wise it’s a lot, but in a good way.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Nuts – We used roasted, salted pistachios and almonds.
Chocolate – Dark chocolate chips are our only choice for this trail mix, obviously.
Fruit – Dried cherries were our favorite unexpected ingredient. They added chewy texture and a tart flavor that was perfect.
Candy – We chose toffee bits to increase the sweetness of the mix just a bit.
How to Make Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
Combining the Ingredients: We prefer to use our kitchen scale when measuring the ingredients into a big bowl. This saves us the trouble of washing the measuring cups.
Mixing and Serving: We give the ingredients a toss, then transfer to a serving bowl or airtight storage container.
Dad’s Tip
I am convinced that the very best trail mixes are the ones that are balanced. I want bold contrasts with flavor and texture, but I still want each ingredient to share the spotlight. A great trail mix should rotate between the salty, sweet, chewy, and crunchy as you work through each bite. That rhythm is what separates an okay trail mix from a truly fantastic one.
Salt Check – If this mix tastes flat, I find that it usually helps to add a little more salt into the balance. A few extra nuts work nicely.
Match Sizes – We try to keep all the ingredients close to the same size so that they mix together evenly.
Taste First – We sample the ingredient ratios with a test bite before measuring them into the bowl. If anything is not exactly how we want it, then we adapt the mix to my taste.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make Ahead: A thousand times, yes! Trail mix is basically the original meal prep. It’s perfect for mixing ahead of time, so that it’s ready to snack when you are.
Storing: Be sure to store this in an airtight container, so that nothing dries out or loses its desired texture. I’ve never had leftovers last longer than a week, but it definitely keeps well up to that point.
More Trail Mix Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
If I’m using storebought toffee bits, then they’re so small they will eventually find their way to the bottom of the bowl or bag. I just give mine a shake before snacking, and that fixes the issue.
Yes, but if I’m using unsalted nuts, then I will either add a pinch of salt or adjust the ratio of other ingredients to balance the flavors.
When swapping ingredients, I just focus on the role that ingredient plays. Then, I swap in something with a similar texture and flavor profile.
Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
Ingredients
Method
- Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Mix thoroughly. Eat well!
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