Get the party started with chewy, sticky 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats. They have ALL the red, white & blue you need in a fun summer snack!
Homemade Rice Krispie Treats are so much better than store-bought. When you add all the fun of red, white, and blue decorations everything gets better!
Your friends and family will ooohhh and aaahhh over more than just fireworks by the end of the night when you make these treats and this crazy easy 4th of July Poke Cake! What better way to celebrate the birthday of our country and our independence than with sweet treats that pay homage to our flag?
Why We Love 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
This is the best Rice Krispie Treat recipe you will find, and it is so fun to make it festive. You can get the kids involved in decorating by giving them each a square or star and bowls of toppings to pick from.
Ingredients
Rice Krispies: The base of all Rice Krispie treats is the classic cereal itself.
Marshmallows: I think mini marshmallows work the best in this recipe since they melt faster. You can use jet-puffed large marshmallows too if that’s what you have on hand. Don’t use the jumbo camping marshmallows.
Butter: You’re gonna want the buttery goodness mixed with the sweetness and it helps spread the marshmallow mixture easier. If you have salted butter, use the same amount in the recipe, and skip adding in the salt.
Toppings: red, white, and blue EVERYTHING! Sprinkles, M&M candies, candy melts, anything else candy-related you want that goes with the theme.
Decoration and Serving Ideas
- You can keep your Rice Krispie treats all in one pan, and make a large flag decoration on top. I would suggest cutting before decorating so you don’t ruin your design.
- You can cut the Rice Krispie treats with star cookie cutters to make them more festive!
- Cut the Rice Krispie Treats into rectangles and then dip in the candy melts instead of drizzling. Then add sprinkles before the candy melts set up. If you dip them, it’s fun to put the treats on lollipop sticks to make eating them easier. (My kids LOVE this!)
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats
PREP your baking pan with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray. Measure out all the ingredients, you have to move fast with this recipe.
MELT the unsalted butter, marshmallows, and salt in a large pot. Remove the pot from the stove burner.
MIX the vanilla extract and Rice Krispies cereal into the marshmallow mixture until coated. Then mix in some of the M&Ms.
FORM gently press the cereal mixture into the prepared pan and top with the sprinkles and the rest of the M&Ms.
REST the rice krispie treats so they can firm up. Prepare your decorations and melt the candy melts for decorating while this takes place.
DECORATE with red, white, and blue candy melts drizzled over the top and some more sprinkles. You don’t have to do this step, but it makes a really fun presentation. Then cut into squares and serve.
Tips & Tricks
- Add the M&M’s as late in the mixing process as you can and stir briefly. The color from the candy coating can transfer and make your treats look gray and oddly colored.
- Add some more mini marshmallows while mixing if you like a little extra yummy squish factor.
- If you need the rice krispie treats to set up more firmly, place them in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before cutting.
How do I store Rice Krispie Treats?
The finished rice krispie treats can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry location for up to two weeks.
Rice Krispie Treats Variations
You can decorate your rice krispie treats for any holiday or theme you want. You can use different cookie cutters to make shapes, add different colored toppings to go with the holiday or theme or add food coloring to the marshmallow mixture to change the color of your treats.
Here are some of my favorite ways to change up these treats for different holidays:
- Christmas – Red and Green M&M’s and sprinkles
- Valentine’s Day – Red Hots candies, red and pink M&M’s, conversation hearts
- Easter – Pastel M&M’s, malt ball eggs, place a Peep on top of each treat
- Halloween – Orange and black M&M’s, candy corn pieces
More delicious Patriotic Party recipes
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
- Strawberry Jello Pie
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip
- Bomb Pop Jello Shots
- Cherry Pie Bars
4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups mini marshmallows (one 16-ounce bag)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 9 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- ¾ cups red, white, and blue M&Ms
- 1 tablespoon sprinkles
- ¼ cup red candy melts optional
- ¼ cup white candy melts optional
- ¼ cup blue candy melts optional
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch × 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper and then coat with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- Premeasure all of your ingredients. You will need to work quickly with this recipe, so it really helps having everything ready to go.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter, salt, and marshmallows together until smooth.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla and cereal until fully coated.
- Gently and quickly fold in a 1/2 cup of the M&Ms. (If you stir to much, the colors will bleed and give the treats a grey color.) Transfer the cereal mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Use parchment paper or greased hands to gently press the mixture into the pan. You want an even thickness and for the cereal mixture to be pressed out to the edges fo the pan.
- Sprinkle the remaining M&Ms over the top as well as some sprinkles and gently press them into the treats.
- Allow the treats to set up for 30 minutes before removing from the pan and cutting into squares.
- Microwave the candy melts in separate bowls (one for each color) in 30-second intervals, stirring between each or until fully melted. Drizzle over the top of the rice krispie treats. This step can be done before or after the initial cooling. Make sure the candy drizzle has cooled and hardened before consuming.
Notes
- If you're using regular jet-puffed marshmallows instead of mini marshmallows, you'll need one 16-ounce bag.
- You can substitute 1/2 cup of salted butter in place of the unsalted butter and salt.
- You can cut your treats any size you like. I usually go for medium-sized squares and get 15 treats from one pan.
- These treats will keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
Leave a Reply