Orange snack mix with dried cranberries and nuts is the perfect amount of sweet with a touch of tang. A quick and easy go to snack recipe. You can bag this up and take it with you wherever you are headed!
The snack mix that pairs well with Dried Cranberries
I love nostalgic food. Snack mix made with that checkered cereal is one of my favorites. To this day, my Momma still makes the best!
One Christmas when my girls were little, I decided we would all make some new nostalgic food for the Holidays. So many treats were born.
Even now, they look forward to our “goodie making” time during Christmas.
We make a great CHRISTMAS CRUNCH but it got me wanting to toy with more ideas. Taking some of the flavors and textures that I love, this recipe was born.
It is a wonderful little snack to keep with you all of the time. It also will delight any lunchbox holder when they find it inside too!
How do you make Orange Chex Snack mix?
This is so easy, we use store bought ingredients combined with pantry staples to produce this delicious treat. Combining these flavors is a great way to use dried cranberries with all of their health benefits.
~ Ingredients ~
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 ounces of dried cranberries
- 4 cups Chex cereal, any kind. I used corn.
- ¼ cup brown sugar
8 ounces of cashews
~ Method ~
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine cereal and nuts, mixing well. Spread in a large roasting pan. In a broiler, melt butter with orange juice and brown sugar. Do not boil.
- Pour over cereal and nut mixture and stir to coat all well. Place in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Paying careful attention not to burn.
- Remove from oven and add cranberries, stir and allow to cool. Mix will harden a bit once cooled. Break apart and store in an airtight container or place in baggies for on the go snacking.
Tips and Tricks
Can I use another nut?
You can. Pecans and walnuts pair really good with these orange and cranberry flavors and would make a good substitution.
Will the cranberries be tough?
We add them after the cooking process is done, while the mixture is still warm. This will not cause them to harden as cooking will but will allow for them to plump up and soften more than they were before.
Is this a healthy snack?
Yes and no. Anything in excess is not healthy but this beats the alternatives to some snack options that are out there.
What is the best kind of pan to make Chex mix in?
I have a rather large sheet cake pan I like to use for this. It has sides that hold the butter mixture in. I also like to spread out on a flat sheet pan to cool. It’s handy but not necessary.
No matter how you cool this, it is still fantastic!
A great recipe for Dried Cranberries
I think it is the perfect little snack. Easy to whip up with easy, readily found ingredients and a cinch to cook and store.
You can also add things you like to this recipe. I bet dried pineapple chunks would put it right over the top!
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Stuff we used!
Orange Snack Mix with Dried Cranberries
Ingredients
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 ounces of dried cranberries
- 4 cups Chex cereal any kind. I used corn.
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 8 ounces of cashews
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Combine cereal and nuts, mixing well. Spread in a large roasting pan. In a broiler, melt butter with orange juice and brown sugar. Do not boil.
- Pour over cereal and nut mixture and stir to coat all well. Place in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Paying careful attention not to burn.
- Remove from oven and add cranberries, stir and allow to cool. Mix will harden a bit once cooled. Break apart and store in an airtight container or place in baggies for on the go snacking.
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