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These 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats are cut into stars and drizzled with red, white, and blue candy. An easy, no-bake hit for any patriotic celebration!
There’s just something about homemade Rice Krispie treats that hits the spot in a way store-bought ones never do, right?
And when it comes to Independence Day, nothing says “celebration” louder than 4th of July Rice Krispie bars shaped like stars and decked out in red, white, and blue!
Take it from me and make an extra batch of these crunchy, chewy red white and blue snacks.
I promise you won’t have any leftovers on the dessert table!
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If you’re dedicated to skipping the oven for your Fourth of July sweet treats, make sure to bookmark my equally fun and patriotic 4th of July fruit kabobs and red white and blue fruit salad.
It’s hard to resist fresh, juicy fruits after all the grilled meats at the BBQ!
Why You’ll Love This 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
- These patriotic Rice Krispy treats come together without turning on the oven, so you can just focus on grilling and entertaining at your Independence Day party!
- Sticky, crunchy, chewy, and packed with classic vanilla flavor, these red white and blue Rice Krispie treats are a festive 4th of July dessert you can whip up at the last minute and know everyone will happily grab seconds of!
- While they’re perfect for your Independence Day menu, these 4th of July Rice Krispie also work for any patriotic celebration that calls for something sweet in red, white, and blue. In fact, these can also become your Labor Day or Memorial Day Rice Krispie treats!
Ingredients
Unsalted butter – I don’t recommend using alternatives like margarine, as they’ll just make the Independence Day Rice Krispie treats greasy. Butter is also your best choice to prevent the treats from separating!
Marshmallows – Make sure to use fresh ones! If they’re stale, you’ll have a hard time melting them, or you’ll end up with tougher Patriotic Rice Krispy treats.
Rice Krispie Cereal – You can use any puffed rice cereal brand for these 4th of July Rice Krispie bars, but I personally like the lightness of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.
Red candy melts and blue candy melts – Of course, these Fourth of July Rice Krispie treats are drizzled in patriotic colors. To make things quick and easy, we just used red and blue candy melts.
White chocolate – You can also use white candy melts, but white chocolate adds a richness that complements the vanilla flavor of these 4th of July Rice Krispies treats.
Red, white, and blue sprinkles – These go on while the mixture for the patriotic treats is still warm. You don’t want your sprinkles to fall off when they’re picked up!
Oh, and feel free to use your favorite red, white, and blue edible decorations.
Non-stick cooking spray – Your secret weapon when making 4th of July Rice Crispy treats at home! If you’ve made Rice Krispie treats before, you know how ridiculously sticky they can be.
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For 4th of July Rice Krispie Bars
Salted butter
Want to make Fourth of July Rice Krispie treats that’ll make everyone ask you, “Wow, these are great, what’s in these?”
Use salted butter instead of unsalted to balance the treats’ sweetness!
Rice Krispies substitutes
We used Rice Krispies so those red, white, and blue sprinkles and drizzles really pop on these 4th of July Rice Krispie treats, but honestly, you can have fun with the recipe.
Swap in different cereals and make these treats your own!
If you’re serving these as 4th of July snacks for kids, Fruity Pebbles will definitely add some whimsy and turn up the sweetness at your 4th of July celebration.
Or, for a unique take on the chewy, crunchy cereal snacks, try making these stars with Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The cinnamon pairs so well with the marshmallows and white chocolate!
Toppings
These red white and blue Rice Krispie treats are definitely one of the most fun 4th of July food ideas you can serve this summer. That said, go ahead and top your July 4th Rice Krispie treats with yummy extras like white chocolate chips, patriotic M&M’s, or even some crushed freeze-dried strawberries!
Tips For Making This Recipe
Use Any Brand
You can make these star-shaped Rice Krispie treats with any brand of cereal you like. You can even use a whole wheat or gluten-free variety to suit your preference!
Serving Suggestions
Serve these 4th of July Rice Krispie treats with other red, white, and blue foods! Try 4th of July hot dogs as your main dish and red, white, and blue sangria to wash it all down.
Make Little Flags
You can cut the slab into rectangles and decorate the 4th of July Rice Krispie bars like a flag. Spread blue candy melts in the top left corner, add star-shaped sprinkles, and drizzle red and white stripes across the bar!
Fourth of July Rice Krispies Treats Recipe FAQs
How long do the 4th of July Rice Krispie bars take to harden?
The slab for these patriotic Rice Krispie treats needs at least 30 minutes to harden, so be patient before cutting with a cookie cutter!
Can I make these 4th of July Rice Krispie treats ahead of time?
Absolutely! These 4th of July Rice Krispie treats are great for making ahead. Just let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container to prevent condensation. If it’s especially hot at the gathering, you can refrigerate the 4th of July Rice Krispie bars before serving to keep them from melting too quickly.
Can I use marshmallow fluff instead of marshmallows?
Nope. These July 4 Rice Krispies treats have to be made with marshmallows, or they won’t set. You can use regular, jumbo, or mini, but there’s no substitute for marshmallows.
Why are my red white and blue rice Krispy treats too hard?
If your patriotic Rice Krispie treats end up tough, you may have overcooked the marshmallows over high heat. You also don’t want to overpack the cereal mixture when pressing it into the pan, or the treats will turn out too dense and hard!
How to store Fourth of July Rice Krispy treats?
Store your 4th of July Rice Krispies treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days; beyond that, they’ll start to harden and become less enjoyable. I’d skip the freezer and fridge since the moisture can make them soggy. And if you need to stack them in a container, don’t forget to place a sheet of parchment paper between each layer to prevent the July 4 Rice Krispie treats from sticking together.
More Delicious July 4th Dessert Recipes
- Red White and Blue Cupcakes
- American Flag Cake
- Red White and Blue Strawberries
- Red White and Blue Popsicles
- American Flag Fruit Pizza
I found this recipe for 4th of July Brownies that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 5 oz marshmallows
- 3 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 1 handful red candy melts
- 1 handful blue candy melts
- 1 handful white chocolate, roughly chopped
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.
- Add the marshmallows and stir with a silicone spatula until completely melted.
- Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the rice cereal. Fold the Rice Krispies into the marshmallow mixture, stirring from the bottom up until every piece is well coated.
- Lightly grease your baking dish and spatula. Pour the cereal mixture into the prepared baking dish and press it down firmly and evenly with the spatula. Aim for about 3/4-inch thickness so the stars hold their shape when cut.
- While the mixture is still slightly warm, scatter the sprinkles evenly across the top. Gently press them into place with your fingertips to help them stick to the surface.
- Let the cereal slab cool and set at room temperature for 30 minutes before cutting. Once done, press a star-shaped cookie cutter straight down through the slab. You can lightly grease the cookie cutter with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt the candy melts separately according to the package instructions. For the white chocolate, microwave the pieces in a microwave-safe bowl for 20 seconds at a time, stirring between intervals, until completely melted.
- Transfer the candy melts and white chocolate to individual sandwich bags. Snip a very small corner, then drizzle them over each Rice Krispies star in back-and-forth lines. If using all three colors, let each color set before adding the next so they don't blend together.
- Let the drizzles set at room temperature for 20 minutes or refrigerate for 5 minutes, and they're ready to serve or store!
Notes
- You can make these star-shaped Rice Krispie treats with any brand of cereal you like. You can even use a whole wheat or gluten-free variety to suit your preference!
- Serve these 4th of July Rice Krispie treats with other red, white, and blue foods! Try 4th of July hot dogs as your main dish and red, white, and blue sangria to wash it all down.
- You can cut the slab into rectangles and decorate the 4th of July Rice Krispie bars like a flag. Spread blue candy melts in the top left corner, add star-shaped sprinkles, and drizzle red and white stripes across the bar!
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
