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    Home » Appetizers and Snacks

    Keto Trail Mix

    Published: Oct 28, 2019 by Wendy Polisi Modified: Jul 17, 2025 · 870 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

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    Keto Trail Mix is the perfect on-the-go breakfast or mid-morning nibble! With a delicious smoky sweetness and a touch of chocolate, you are going to love this energizing treat down to its last grain-free bite. This fast and easy snack is one you will make time and again.

    Overhead photo of Keto Trail Mix in a glass jar with a red and white string around it.

    Keto Trail Mix is Snacking Bliss!

    Raise your hand if you are a snacker.

    I know - many people say that you shouldn't snack on a keto diet. (Lucky for me, I have never been one to follow the rules. Otherwise, this delicious low carb trail mix would never have come into being.)

    I find that most days I am eating two full meals and at least one snack. I get up ridiculously early - usually before 5 am - and typically have breakfast by 7:30 am. (Often a chaffle. Or a salad, because I am weird like that.) Dinner isn't until 6:00 pm, so I often find myself needing a little something to tide me over.

    Sometimes it is a Chocolate Fat Bomb, but lately, I've been loving this DIY Trail Mix. This is a fun recipe to play around with, so if smoky sweetness isn't your thing, I've got some other variations below.

    Keep this in an airtight jar in the pantry for up to three weeks.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I eat trail mix on keto?

    Most commercially available trail mix contains dried fruit, which unfortunately is exceptionally high in sugar. I have not found a trail mix in stores or online that I would consider keto-friendly. (But if you know of one, do share the brand with the rest of us!)

    What is the best way to sweeten low carb trail mix?

    I am a big fan of Swerve confectioner's sweetener as the gritty texture of other sweeteners tends to bother me. If you have a preferred sweetener, feel free to use it. I do not recommend allulose here, because of how it behaves when you bake the trail mix. (It is a fabulous choice for Keto Ice Cream though!)

    How to Make Keto Trail Mix

    1 Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans, macadamia nuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl.

    2 Next, bring butter, brown sugar substitute, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to a boil over medium-high heat.

    3 Cook until the butter is melted.

    4 Pour the mixture over the nuts and stir well to combine.

    5 Finally, spread the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely and then add in the chocolate chips.

    Variations

    • Add in ½ cup sugar-free cranberries. (Make sure they are genuinely sugar-free - many versions labeled as such are sweetened with juice and are high in carbs. Also, make sure you account for the additional carbohydrates if you are tracking your macros.)
    • Garlic powder is nice here. Start with 1 teaspoon and adjust to your taste.
    • For a sweeter option, skip the liquid smoke, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Increase brown sugar substitute to 3 tablespoons and add in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon vinegar.
    • Swap out the nuts for Brazil nuts, walnuts, or hazelnuts.

    Other Keto Snacks to Try

    • When you need a quick bite to fuel your day, you are going to love these Chocolate Keto Fat Bombs.
    • This Macadamia Nut Butter is sheer perfection when slathered on a chaffle or low carb bread. Or you can do what I do and eat it straight from a spoon!
    • Keto Pecans are perfect when you are on the go. Not only do they make a great snack, but they are also fabulous on salads.
    Side photo of two glass jars of keto trail mix on an off white background.

    Easy Keto Trail Mix Recipe

    Being prepared goes a long way towards success on a low carb diet. Prepare this Keto Trail Mix Recipe on Sunday, for an energizing bite all week long. The only problem will be convincing yourself not to eat a whole bowl!

    A close-up, top-down view of a glass jar filled with mixed nuts, seeds, and chocolate chips, tied with a red and white string around the rim.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Keto Trail Mix

    Snacking just got tastier thanks to this Keto Trail Mix! Feel free to sub out your favorite nuts - just be mindful of the carbohydrate count if you are tracking closely.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time32 minutes mins
    Total Time42 minutes mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Snack, vegetarian
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 197.72kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup raw pecans
    • ¾ cup raw macadamia nuts halved
    • ½ cup raw almonds halved
    • ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar substitute like Surkin Gold
    • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • Salt and Pepper to taste
    • 6 ounces stevia sweetened chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
    • Place pecans, macadamia nuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl
    • Bring butter, brown sugar substitute, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to a boil over medium-high heat.
    • Pour over the nut mixture and stir to combine.
    • Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet and spread to a single layer.
    • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
    • Transfer to a bowl, and stir in chocolate chips.

    Notes

    Nutritional information does not include carbohydrates from sugar alcohols.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197.72kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.87g | Protein: 3.85g | Fat: 19.31g | Saturated Fat: 4.38g | Cholesterol: 5.02mg | Sodium: 18.38mg | Potassium: 123.57mg | Fiber: 2.26g | Sugar: 0.92g | Vitamin A: 157.74IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 28.41mg | Iron: 0.96mg

    More Low Carb Snacks to Try

    • The best part of making cookies is eating the dough. Am I right? If you agree, you are going to go wild for these Chocolate Cookie Dough Fat Bombs.
    • When you are craving something crunchy, these Keto Tortilla Chips are perfection.
    « Keto Mushroom Soup Recipe - Instant Pot or Stovetop
    Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole »

    About Wendy Polisi

    Wendy Polisi is the creator of Kicking Carbs, where she shares low-carb recipes that are full of flavor and made for real life. As a cookbook author and food blogger, she’s passionate about helping families enjoy satisfying meals without the sugar crash. Wendy lives in Florida with her three kids and loves experimenting in the kitchen—especially when it involves cheese.

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Carol L says

      October 24, 2020 at 6:07 pm

      5 stars
      It was very good! Something I will make again and again!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi says

        October 25, 2020 at 12:53 pm

        So glad that you enjoyed it!

        Reply
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    Welcome!

    I'm Wendy and I'm here to show you just how delicious a low carb, gluten free and keto diet can be! You are just as likely to find me obsessing over all things cheesy as you are getting excited by a full produce drawer. I'm a mom to three, obsessive planner and roller coasters are my happy place.

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