Orange Granola Trail Mix Inspired by Hallmark’s Chasing Waterfalls
Pack a little adventure into your day with this sweet and crunchy orange granola trail mix inspired by Hallmark Channel’s Chasing Waterfalls.
With hearty oats, crunchy cashews and almonds, salty pretzels, dried cranberries, honey, cinnamon, and fresh orange zest, this easy homemade trail mix is perfect for road trips, hikes, movie nights, or afternoon snacking.
Just like the beautiful outdoor adventures in Chasing Waterfalls, this recipe is made for taking along wherever the day leads you!
The Hallmark Inspiration: Chasing Waterfalls
This orange granola trail mix was inspired by Hallmark Channel’s Chasing Waterfalls. With its gorgeous outdoor setting and sense of adventure, it called for a snack made for exploring — whether you’re heading out for a hike, packing for a road trip, or settling in for a Hallmark movie night.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This orange granola trail mix is:
- Sweet, salty, and satisfyingly crunchy
- Filled with bright citrus flavor
- Easy to prepare on one baking sheet
- Perfect for road trips, hikes, lunchboxes, and movie nights
- A fun snack to serve while watching Chasing Waterfalls
Orange Granola Trail Mix
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes, plus cooling
Yield: Approximately 6–8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup pretzel sticks, broken in half
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Dash of salt
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup olive oil
- Zest of 1 orange
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, cashews, almonds, pretzel pieces, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the honey, olive oil, and orange zest. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the granola is lightly golden. Watch it carefully near the end of the baking time to prevent the nuts from burning.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Sprinkle the dried cranberries over the warm mixture and gently press them into the granola.
- Allow the trail mix to cool completely before breaking it into clusters.
- Serve immediately or transfer it to an airtight container for later.
Recipe Notes
Allow the granola to cool completely before breaking it apart. This helps it form crunchy clusters.
For a sweeter variation, add white chocolate chips after the trail mix has cooled. You can also substitute dried cherries, raisins, or chopped dried apricots for the cranberries.
Store the trail mix in an airtight container at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does orange granola trail mix stay fresh?
Store the trail mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Make sure it has cooled completely before storing so the granola stays crunchy.
Can I substitute different nuts or dried fruit?
Absolutely. You can swap the almonds or cashews for your favorite nuts and use raisins, dried cherries, or other dried fruit in place of the cranberries. Just keep the proportions similar for the best balance of flavors and textures.
Can I make this orange granola trail mix ahead of time?
Yes! This is a great make-ahead snack. Prepare it before a road trip, hike, picnic, or Hallmark movie night and store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to enjoy it.
Orange Granola Trail Mix Inspired by Hallmark’s Chasing Waterfalls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the oats, cashews, almonds, pretzels, cinnamon, and salt.
- Stir in the honey, olive oil, and orange zest until evenly coated.
- Spread onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and gently stir in the dried cranberries while the granola is still warm.
- Cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
