Thanksgiving Food: Blessings Trail Mix

One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is making Thanksgiving Blessings Trail Mix—a simple, meaningful, and kid-friendly snack that shares the story of gratitude through symbolic ingredients. Over the years, we’ve made this mix dozens of times, and it has become one of our go-to gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends.

This year, I’ve updated our recipe just a bit. I now use popcorn instead of nuts, and it has quickly become my favorite swap! Popcorn is a great filler, helps bulk up the mix beautifully, and makes the whole recipe more allergy-friendly. Plus, the fluffy texture looks fun and festive in the mix.

We usually scoop the trail mix into small treat bags (I love these bakery bags!), tie them with ribbon or staple them closed, and add the printable Blessings tag. It’s an easy, heartfelt gift that kids love helping with—and adults love receiving.

Pro tip:
If you make this every November like we do, buy your candy corn during Halloween! It gets surprisingly hard to find once November hits, so I always grab a couple of bags early and stash them for our Thanksgiving mix.

Here’s the updated ingredient list with the meanings we love to share:

• Bugles – Shaped like a cornucopia, reminding us of the abundance we’ve been given.
• Popcorn – A symbol of harvest and God’s provision (and a great nut-free filler!).
• Pretzels – Arms folded in prayer, a reminder of gratitude.
• Candy Corn – The sacrifices of the Pilgrims’ first winter.
• Dried Fruit – The bounty of the harvest.
• M&Ms – Memories of those who came before us.
• Chocolate Kisses – The love of friends and family that sweetens our lives.

This simple tradition is such a sweet way to pause each year and remember what we’re thankful for. I hope your family enjoys making (and sharing!) it as much as we do.

We’re sharing our Thanksgiving Blessings Trail Mix Sign, which you can download here. 

Happy Planning,