GORP Trail Mix
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A staple hiking and lunchbox snack, GORP mix is loaded with salty-sweet flavor and is an energizing pick-me-up any time of day.
GORP, or “Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts,” is a classic, no-frills trail mix that hardly needs a recipe—it’s two ingredients, and they are both in the title! That being said, plain raisins and peanuts start to taste a little dull after a few handfuls. It’s a good concept but definitely could use some variety.
A quick glance at other GORP recipes, and you’ll find lots of attempts to glam this recipe up, adding mini marshmallows, peanut M&Ms, pretzels, Chex cereal, and even mini peanut butter cups. That’s all fine and dandy (seriously, when it comes to hiking snacks, everything is game!), but it’s not really staying true to the name.
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For our take on GORP, we wanted to add some diversity of flavor and texture without veering too far afield. We think with just a few additions, you get a better-tasting mix that will keep your interest for much longer than the original.
Packed in individual bags, GORP mix is a great grab-and-go hiking snack. Or, store it in the pantry so you can grab a handful whenever you need a bit of an energy boost.
Everyone has their own spin on homemade trail mix—here is ours!
Ingredients
- Roasted Peanuts: Salted or not—this is based on your personal preference.
- Spanish Roasted Peanuts: Known for their smaller size, reddish skin, and nuttier flavor, Spanish roasted peanuts introduce some visual and textural interest. If you can’t find them, substitute with an equal amount of peanuts, cashews, or other nuts.
- Cashews: Their large size, softer texture, and distinctive taste give a nice contrast to the peanuts in this mix.
- Raisins: We’re a fan of Thompson Organic raisins, but whichever plain raisins you can find will work.
- Golden Raisins: Golden raisins are softer and sweeter than regular raisins and offer a nice variety in color.
- Dried Cranberries: These add some tart sweetness to the mix, which we think really rounds out the flavor profile.
Tip: Look for these ingredients in your grocery store’s bulk bin section! This is usually more economical than buying packages.
How to Make GORP
This recipe hardly needs an explanation! Just add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir to mix it all together. We use a 1:1 ratio for all of our ingredients.
Then, transfer it to a storage container. You can use a large glass jar or portion them into individual snack bags as a grab-and-go option.
Make it your own!
Of course, you can customize this recipe in any direction you want. There’s no right or wrong way to make trail mix!
We love a little chocolate in our trail mix—M&Ms are a classic addition. The coating on the outside keeps the chocolate from melting too fast. Chocolate chips can also be added, though they will melt pretty quickly if it’s hot out.
To add some crunch, you could add mini pretzels, cereals like Honey Chex or Honey Nut Cheerios, or even dried coconut or banana chips.
GORP Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup roasted peanuts
- 1 cup Spanish peanuts
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir to mix.1 cup roasted peanuts, 1 cup Spanish peanuts, 1 cup cashews, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup golden raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries
- Transfer the mix to a storage container—a large glass jar works well, or portion them into individual snack bags as a grab-and-go option.