Toasted Pepita Trail Mix
Pumpkin seeds carry the fat and protein; the dried fruit is there for the sugar.
- calories
- 320
- weight
- 2 oz
- cal / oz
- 160
- protein
- 11 g
- serves
- 1, scales
- prep
- 10 min
- cook
- 0 min
- total time
- 10 min
- water
- none
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Snack
- No cook
- Backpacking
- Thru-hike
- Day hike
- Bikepacking
- Car camping
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
- Nut free
- Eat in the bag
- Pre-mix at home
- Shelf stable
- Dump and stir
Ingredients
| Hulled roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) | 1/3 cup | buy salted or salt them yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Dried cranberries | 2 tbsp | |
| Dried mango or apricot, diced | 2 tbsp | scissors work better than a knife |
| Roasted salted sunflower seeds | 2 tbsp | |
| Dark chocolate chips | 1 tbsp | leave out above 70 degrees |
| Salt | a pinch | skip if the seeds are already salted |
Method
- At home, toast the pepitas dry in a skillet over medium heat for three to four minutes. Shake the pan. They pop and go from green to olive, and they will burn the moment you look away.
- Cool them completely on a plate. Warm seeds sweat, and sweat turns the fruit sticky.
- Cut the dried fruit small so no single piece dominates a handful.
- Combine everything in a bag and shake. Add the chocolate last and only after the seeds are cold.
- In camp, eat straight from the bag. No water, no pot.
Pepitas do most of the work. Hulled roasted pumpkin seeds run near half fat by weight and still carry real protein, which is unusual — most trail sugar comes with nothing attached, and most protein comes with a pot to wash. This gets both from one ingredient, and it is nut-free, which matters if you are sharing a bag with a group.
The home toast is the only step that is not optional. Raw pepitas taste flat and grassy, and they soften in the bag. Toasting drives off moisture, which sharpens the flavor and keeps the seeds crisp for a couple of weeks. Cool them fully before mixing or the fruit clumps into one brick by the second night.
Packing
Portion into two-ounce bags at home so you eat a serving instead of the whole batch on one climb. Squeeze the air out; the fat in the seeds goes stale faster when the bag is puffed.
Variations
- Add a quarter teaspoon of chili powder and lime salt for a savory version that does not get boring on day five.
- Swap the chocolate for coconut chips in hot weather.
- Double the pepitas and drop the fruit if you want a lower-sugar afternoon snack.
https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/best-things-to-buy-at-whole-foods-for-frugal-foodies