Archer Farms Trail Mix

Love snacking? This recipe is for you- a simple blend of classic trail mix ingredients makes up this Archer Farms copycat. No familiar? It is a blend called Monster Mix sold at Target.

overhead close up of white bowl with monster trail mix


 

It honestly isn’t that expensive, but 9 times out of 10, I usually have the pantry staples laying around.

Trail Mix Recipe

What is trail mix? Generally speaking, it’s a blend of dried fruit and nuts made popular by campers and hikers. The mix of sugar and protein propels energy, it is easy to carry and tasty to eat, so it is good for the trail.

Trail mix recipes have evolved and added more variety, the most popular being M&Ms. Story has it it that the Girl and Boy Scouts made the addition of chocolate popular.

child's hand digging into a bowl of trail mix

Well done, kids! Many of the recipes now include M&Ms and other types of chocolate and peanut butter chips.

For me, a good trail mix recipe will satisfy my hunger, but also my sweet tooth. Hey, if I am eating it then chances are I am also doing a good amount of physical activity and will burn off that chocolate pretty fast.

Monster Mix

My version of Monster Trail Mix is a take on the store bought mix from Target which combines common pantry ingredients:

  • Raisins
  • Peanuts
  • M&Ms
  • Chocolate chips
  • Peanut butter chips
overhead of ingredients for trail mix

The perfect blend of texture, sweet and salty. Amounts can also vary, so don’t worry about exact measurements. Just eyeball it!

Variations

There are many trail mix types and you can make up your own by simply adding or omitting ingredients.

  • Other types of dried fruit: cranberries, mangos, prunes or banana chips.
  • Switch up the nuts: cashews, almonds, pine nuts or pistachios.
  • Swap out candy: candy with a coating works the best if you are in hot weather, so M&Ms and Reese’s Pieces are ideal to not melt.
  • Granola- any type you’d like.
  • Seeds– Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)or sunflower seeds are very popular.
trail mix pouring out of a glass jar

Trail Mix Cookies

And then make them into delicious trail mix cookies! These easy cookies are soft and sweet with a hint of saltiness.

overhead of trail mix cookies on a wire cooling rack

Make Ahead & Storage

You can make Monster Trail Mix in large batches and just keep in an airtight container in the pantry for when you need it. It will stay good for months as long as it is stored properly.

You can also make it into single size servings for your child’s classroom, as party favors or to send with your kids to camp. This is a snack the whole family will love!

copycat monster mix for pinterest

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close up of trail mix for pinterest
archer farms trail mix in a bowl

Monster Trail Mix

4.55 from 11 votes
Monster Trail Mix is an easy trail mix of nuts, M&Ms, raisins and chips. The perfect snack for camping, hiking or an afternoon by the pool. Make a large batch and snack for days!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix together the peanuts, raisins, M&Ms, peanut butter and chocolate chips in a bowl.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 357 kcal, Carbohydrates: 42 g, Protein: 9 g, Fat: 19 g, Saturated Fat: 8 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 6 mg, Sodium: 119 mg, Potassium: 312 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 21 g, Vitamin A: 60 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 56 mg, Iron: 2 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 357
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade trail mix, monster mix
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Jessica Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

Read More About Jessica

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. I love monster mixes. This looks absolutely delicious.

    I giggled over the Scouts thing. My mom was actually the secretary for the Scouts here in Canada.

  2. 5 stars
    That’s the easiest trail mix, ever! And who wouldn’t love a trail mix when M & Ms are involved? When’s the next hike? 😉