4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Celebrate Independence Day with a tray of colorful Rice Krispie treats. They’re perfect for prepping ahead and sharing with a crowd. One batch goes a long way at parties!
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Good food is an important part of every Independence Day celebration.
July 4th is fast approaching, so you’re probably already preparing your menu. Hot dogs? Grilled sausages? Potato salad? The party isn’t complete without these classic dishes.
But your planning shouldn’t end with savory meals. Don’t forget about the desserts! Even when you’re short on time, there’s a whole world of treats you can make.
Believe it or not, making patriotic sweets doesn’t take much time. Why not start with red, white, and blue desserts?
These 4th of July Rice Krispie treats are sweet, chewy, and simple, something you can easily whip up with the kids.
Enjoy mouthwatering desserts all year round. These chocolate dessert recipes are perfect for beginners.
How to Make the Best 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Equipment:
- Large pot
- Spatula
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Bowls for melting candy melts, at least 3
- Piping bags
- Cutting board
- Knife
Ingredients:
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- ¼ cup butter
- 4 cups mini marshmallows, about 10 ounces
- ½ cup red meltable candies
- ½ cup white meltable candies
- ½ cup blue meltable candies
- Sprinkles
Instructions:
Step 1: Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat. Then, add the mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth.
Step 2: Remove the pot from the heat and immediately stir in the Rice Krispies cereal. Mix until the cereal is fully coated.
Step 3: Transfer the mixture into a parchment-lined or lightly greased pan. Flatten it evenly across the pan.
Step 4: Place the pan in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least one hour.
Step 5: Once set, lift the entire treat out of the pan using the parchment paper. Place it on a cutting board and slice into squares or rectangles.
Step 6: Time to melt the candies! In separate bowls, melt the red, white, and blue candy melts according to the package instructions. Use deep bowls to make the process easier.
Step 7: Pipe the melted candy over each Rice Krispie square using a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the tip snipped off.
Step 8: Add your sprinkles while the candy coating is still wet. Let the treats set at room temperature, or refrigerate them to speed things up!
What to Serve with Festive Rice Krispie Treats for the 4th of July
- Backyard BBQ mains: Serve these sweet bars after a classic 4th of July spread. Think black bean veggie burgers, air fryer BBQ chicken, and hot dogs!
- Ice-cold drinks: Refreshing drinks can help balance the gooey marshmallow sweetness. Try a red, white, and blue slushie or a simple Instant Pot blackberry iced tea.
- Dessert spread: Make more treats to go along with your Rice Krispie squares! Try no-bake desserts like popcorn mix or frozen banana bites topped with red, white, and blue ingredients. You can also bake berry granola cups or mixed berry muffins. The simplest ways to add festive color using real fruit instead of food dye. 🫐🍓
Tips for Making Homemade 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
- Add extra flavor: Stir in ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract after melting the marshmallows for a subtle boost in flavor. Almond extract is also a great option for that irresistible nutty taste.
- Use fun cookie cutters: Use star-shaped cookie cutters instead of slicing into squares. Preparing them with the kids? Set up a decorating station: cut out the shapes ahead of time and let them decorate their own with drizzle and sprinkles.
- Store in layers with parchment: Are you stacking the treats for a party or storing them in containers? Don’t forget to place parchment or wax paper between the layers to keep the drizzle and sprinkles intact.
Explore more dessert recipes with the kids! These sweets are so delicious, even picky eaters will love them. 🎂
How to Store 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Store your decorated Rice Krispie treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Just keep them in a cool spot so the candy drizzle doesn’t melt.
Want to make them a day before your party? On warmer days, pop them in the fridge so the drizzle holds up better.
Nice-to-Have Tools for Festive Rice Krispie Treats
- Get a cookie cutter set (with stars and more!) to make your treats look even more festive. It’s a great way to get kids involved, too. Just press the cutters into the cooled mixture and decorate as usual!
- If you’re not a fan of piping bags, these decorating squeeze bottles can give you more control with less cleanup! They’re also reusable and great for decorating cookies or cupcakes year-round.
- Make desserts ahead of time and keep them fresh. This airtight container with a secure lid will help preserve that chewy texture and keep the drizzle from getting smudged.
FAQs about This Easy Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats
Why are my homemade Rice Krispie treats hard?
They probably cooked too long or were pressed too firmly into the pan. To keep them soft and chewy, melt the marshmallows over low heat and don’t overpack the mixture when spreading it out.
What can I use instead of Rice Krispie treats?
You can try Cheerios, Corn Flakes or similar puffed cereals. The texture might be slightly different, but they’ll still give you that chewy, marshmallowy treat.
Can you use margarine instead of butter in Rice Krispie treats?
Yes, you can use margarine, but the flavor and texture might be a little different. Butter gives a richer taste, while margarine tends to make the treats slightly softer.
Skip the oven this 4th of July. These Rice Krispie treats come together quickly on the stovetop and cool right in the fridge.
They’re also super customizable for any occasion. You can easily switch up the colors, sprinkles, or drizzle to match birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Halloween—you name it! 💃
Excited to explore more recipes? Make these dishes once, and you’ll want them for every celebration:
Print
4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Description
Celebrate Independence Day with a tray of colorful Rice Krispie treats. They’re perfect for prepping ahead and sharing with a crowd. One batch goes a long way at parties!
Ingredients
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1/4 cup butter
- 4 cups mini marshmallows (about 10 ounces)
- 1/2 cup red meltable candies
- 1/2 cup white meltable candies
- 1/2 cup blue meltable candies
- Sprinkles (as desired; any type of your choosing)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat. Then, add the mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth.
- Remove the pot from the heat and immediately stir in the Rice Krispies cereal. Mix until the cereal is fully coated.
- Transfer the mixture into a parchment-lined or lightly greased pan. Flatten it evenly across the pan.
- Place the pan in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least one hour.
- Once set, lift the entire treat out of the pan using the parchment paper. Place it on a cutting board and slice into squares or rectangles.
- Time to melt the candies! In separate bowls, melt the red, white, and blue candy melts according to the package instructions. Use deep bowls to make dipping easier.
- Pipe the melted candy over each Rice Krispie square using a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the tip snipped off.
- Add your sprinkles while the candy coating is still wet. Let the treats set at room temperature, or refrigerate them to speed things up.
