Canadian Trail Mix

Our first one... may have needed a bit of grace when it comes to actually classifying it as “trail mix”... it was more of a delicious snack mix, than anything.

But hey, that S'Mores Trail Mix was camping themed at least, so it stays!

Since then, the recipes have been a little closer healthy trail mix recipes. *Closer* being the key word here, though!

Our Caffeinated Trail Mix has become a year-round favourite, and we’ve had a lot of fun coming up with seasonal and holiday themed trail mix recipes.

Eventually - like next year - I’ll post our recipes for Valentine’s Day Trail Mix and St Patrick’s Day Trail Mix. Until then, we have Easter Trail Mix, Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix, Thanksgiving Trail Mix, Halloween Trail Mix, and Christmas Trail Mix!

Canada Day Trail Mix

With summer quickly approaching, I wanted to design a very Canadian Trail Mix... and actually get it posted before July 1!

Let me tell you, I had SUCH a hard time narrowing down what I wanted my Canadian themed trail mix to actually involve.

Designing Canadian recipes isn’t anything new to me. I wrote an entire cookbook on the subject, while I was stuck in the USA: More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land.

I think this may be a case of a bit of knowledge opening the door to TOO many options to choose from, though.

We’re known for mustard. Doing something with that - maybe a maple-mustard glazed nut - was on the table for a while.

I considered delving into my Ojibwe heritage for inspiration, but everything I was coming up with was either too labour intensive, or would have been difficult to get the ingredients for, while on the road. (I’d actually considered looking into making popped or puffed wild rice!)

When it came down to it, I decided I had to go with the obvious flavour profile: Maple.

I ended up designing a Skillet Maple Walnut Granola Recipe JUST for this. It uses ingredients that we grow here in Canada - flax seed, hemp hearts, walnuts, oats... and, of course, more maple syrup!

The resulting granola feels a bit bougie - like something you’d buy little baggies of for $$$$ in touristy stops. It’s super tasty, though - and unabashedly Canadian!

Ingredients

This recipe uses super basic ingredients - you shouldn’t have any trouble finding what you need in pretty much any grocery store.

We tend to buy everything - except the maple syrup and salt - at Bulk Barn.

Anyway - as always - I have a few ingredient notes for you:

Maple Walnut Granola

I created a Skillet Maple Walnut Granola recipe specifically for this trail mix, as I wanted it to be as Canadian as humanly possible!

To that end - in addition to the rolled oats - it contains:

Hemp Hearts: An important crop from the prairie provinces, including my home province of Manitoba

Flax Seeds: Canada is one of the biggest growers and exporter of flax.

Walnuts: One of the most popular commerically grown nuts in Canada

Maple Syrup: Because OBVIOUSLY.

It takes only a few minutes to make, and you can do it in a skillet right on your campfire - or stove.

That said, if you can find a tasty and good quality commercially-available maple granola... feel free to use it!

Maple Syrup

Obviously a Canadian Trail Mix is going to need at LEAST one source of maple syrup, and I decided that this one is going to have two - for good measure!

You’ll want to use actual Maple syrup, not pancake syrup or “table syrup”. I hate that I have to specify that they’re not the same, but my years in the USA scarred me, LOL.

Anyway, there are different grades of maple syrup - aim for the darkest you can get your hands on, as that will give you the most robust maple flavour.

Everything Else

Rounding out this recipe, you will need:

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Sweetened Dried Cranberries
Shelled Hazelnuts
Walnuts (Halves and/or pieces)
Salt

... I just don’t have anything to add, as far as these last few ingredients go. Pretty simple stuff!

How to Make Canadian Trail Mix

The full recipe is in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, here is the visual walk through:

In a large pan, whisk together maple syrup, water, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. (We tend to do this over a campfire, but you can do it over a stove!)

Allow the maple syrup mixture to simmer for 2 minutes, then add the hazelnuts and walnuts. Stir well to coat the nuts with the maple syrup mixture.

Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until any liquid in the pan dries up and everything is glazed. You want it pretty dry - if you don’t cook it long enough, the coating won’t set up, and you’ll have sticky nuts!

Transfer to an airtight container for storage, or portion out into smaller containers. We’ll usually measure ½ cup amounts into snack size Ziplock baggies.

Store at room temperature - out of direct sunlight - for up to 3 months.

Storage

Transfer to an airtight container - a large Mason jar or large Ziplock bag - for storage, or portion out into smaller containers. We’ll usually measure ½ cup amounts into small Ziplock snack bags.

Either way, store in a sealed container at room temperature - out of direct sunlight - for up to 3 months.

More Camping Snack Recipes

Looking for great ideas to cook on a campfire, bring on a road trip, enjoy while RVing? Here's a few of our favorite camping recipes to start with!

Apple Fritter Bread Pudding
Basic Ground Beef Jerky
Best Marshmallows for Camping
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Campfire Cheddar Queso
Easy Campfire Nachos - 2 Ways!
Campfire Walking Tacos
Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread
Fire Roasted Spiced Nuts
Halloween Trail Mix
Homemade Mushroom Jerky
Hot Chocolate Mix [Protein Powder Mix]
Jalapeno Cheddar Bannock
Jalapeno Chicken Jerky
Maple Cinnamon Apple Chips
Maple Snow Taffy
No Bake Cornflake Cookies
No Bake S'Mores Bars
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Pepperoni Jerky
Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix
Roast Chestnuts on an Open Fire
Rosemary & Blueberry Beef Jerky
Smoky Campfire Brie with Maple & Rosemary
S'Mores Board
S'Mores Trail Mix
Thanksgiving Trail Mix
Tofu Jerky, 2 Ways
Traditional Bannock

Be sure to check out our other Camping Recipes, including Camping Desserts, Camping Snacks, Make-Ahead Camping Mix Recipes, and a ton of delicious Camping Main Dish Recipes.

Also, we had SO much fun designing gourmet jerky recipes for our camping trips, we started a whole new blog for them! Check out Dried & Tasty for all kinds of fun recipes to make in your food dehydrator!