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Backpacker Magazine – Online Exclusive

Reader-Submitted Gorp Recipes

The trail-staple GORP gets a face lift with these reader-submitted recipes

by: The Backpacker Editors

North Michigan Blend
Great for chocoholics!
Chef: Brett C. Claxton, Gaylord, Michigan

2 ounces dried mangoes
2 ounces dried blueberries
2 ounces dried tart Michigan cherries
2 ounces smoked almonds
2 ounces beer nuts
3 ounces white chocolate coins
3 ounces dark chocolate coins

Mix ingredients in a zipper-lock bag. Yield: 1 pound.

Cinna-Gorp
A great twist on classic gorp.
Chef: Bevan Quinn, Guilford, Vermont

1 14-ounce jar dry-roasted peanuts
1 or 2 14-ounce bags Crispy M&Ms
1 or 2 9-ounce bags Dole CinnaRaisins

Mix ingredients in a gallon-size zipper-lock bag. Yield: 4 pounds.

Hot Trail Mix from India
Great for adding to other meals as a spice!
Chef: Barbara Burke, Birmingham, Alabama

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
2 cups raisin bran cereal
1/4 cup sliced, dried jalapeno peppers
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup cashew halves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder

Preheat oven to 250°F. Warm the oil in a large skillet over low heat. Brown both cereals in the oil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, add remaining ingredients, and mix well. Yield: 6 cups.

Healthy Heartfelt Gorp
Satisfies salt cravings without loading you down with excess sodium.
Chef: Wayne Limberg, Arlington, Virginia

1 part almonds
1 part corn nuts
1 part dried bananas
1 part other dried fruit
1 part Wheat Chex cereal or Goldfish pretzels

Mix ingredients in a zipper-lock bag.
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READERS COMMENTS

I always find myself scrambling to make last-minute preparations before a trip, but I never neglect to fix up some homemade granola with oats, pecans, lots of honey, cinnamon and nutmeg, tossed and baked for a few minutes at 300.

I make lots of this. Some I use in my GORP, some I sprinkle on a peanut butter bagel or tortilla, and some I mix with powdered milk for a just-add-water breakfast.
Posted: Dec 13, 2011 Talbot

For our family, we find it is best to let each member do a custom mix. We buy all the sugar-cereals that we don't normally stock (Captin Crunch, Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, etc), add an assortment of dried fruits (cranberries, raisins, pineapple, stawberries,...) and a few nuts. Each kid gets a bag and they throw in what they like.

While a kid is munching on their custom trail mix, their feet never seem to get tired.
Posted: May 19, 2011 n2y2

i like to buy different styles from the store and mix them together, or add something like granola or peanut M&Ms. sorry, I'm cheap. economically, it makes sense to me not to buy all the individual ingredients and make a monster amount of gorp.
Posted: Mar 02, 2011 doug

This is the trail mix that has stood the test of time and all others should be compared to:

Frosted Flakes
Salted Peanuts
Raisins
M&M's

Nothing else is needed!
Posted: Feb 04, 2011 JOE RUPERT

Growing up we would always mix Fruit Loops, M&M's, Nuts, and raisins.
Posted: Jul 09, 2010 Rich

I just goto to the store and throw all kinds of nuts, dreid fruits, vegetables ,a bag of every kind of M&M's they make and it always works out well. Accept for the dried green beens I tried last time(got nasty and ended up being squirrel food)...lol
Posted: Feb 13, 2010 Scotty 2 hottie