Looking for the perfect patriotic dessert that won't have you sweating over a hot oven? These 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats are absolutely calling your name! They're festive, gooey, and so simple that even my 8-year-old Emily can help make them.
I've been making Rice Krispie treats forever, but this red, white, and blue version has become our family's must-have Independence Day tradition.
The pops of color from the M&Ms and sprinkles create such a festive look that everyone gets excited before they even take a bite!
If you're looking for more patriotic treats, you might also want to check out my 4th of July Oreo Balls – they're another no-bake option that's perfect for summer celebrations when you don't want to turn on the oven.
Why You Will Love These Rice Krispie Treats for July 4th
- Ready in just 40 minutes (and most of that is cooling time!)
- No baking required – perfect for hot summer days
- Colorful and festive without any complicated decorating
- Kid-friendly recipe that little ones can help make
- Crowd-pleasing dessert that's easily transportable to parties
- Stays soft and chewy for days (if they last that long!)
Ingredients for 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 20 oz mini marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 9 oz rice krispies cereal
- ¾ cup red, white, and blue M&Ms, divided
- 1 TBS red, white, and blue sprinkles
- ¼ cup red candy melts (optional)
- ¼ cup white candy melts (optional)
- ¼ cup blue candy melts (optional)
How to Make Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats
Preparation Steps
- Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper, then either grease with butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Measure out all your ingredients so they're ready to go since this recipe moves fast (trust me on this one!).
- Melt butter in a large pot on medium-low heat. Once fully melted, add 1½ bags of mini marshmallows into the pot and set the remaining marshmallows aside for later.
- Mix the butter and marshmallows together with a rubber spatula, stirring continuously until the marshmallows have completely melted. Keep the heat on low to prevent burning (I've made that mistake more times than I care to admit!).
Creating the Perfect Treats
- Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt, stirring until completely incorporated.
- Add roughly half of the rice krispies to the marshmallow mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom thoroughly to incorporate all the gooey goodness.
- Once that's all mixed together, add in the remaining marshmallows and rice cereal. This is my secret for extra chewy treats – those little pockets of marshmallow that don't fully melt!
- Fold in ½ cup of M&Ms, then transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Use greased hands, parchment paper, or a greased spatula to gently press the treats into the pan. (I prefer using slightly damp hands – works like a charm!)
Decorating Your Patriotic Treats
- Sprinkle the other ¼ cup of M&Ms on top of the treats. Add sprinkles as well and gently press them down so they stick.
- Allow treats to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Cut into squares.
- If desired, melt the candy melts in separate bowls in the microwave at 30-second increments, stirring between each, until completely melted. Drizzle on top of the treats, then allow them to cool again until the candy melts have hardened.
- Serve and enjoy once cooled!
Storage Tips for 4th of July Treats
Store these patriotic treats in an airtight container in a cool, dry area for up to two weeks.
In my house, they never last more than a day or two because everyone keeps sneaking "just one more piece"!
If the candy melts aren't setting as quickly as you'd like, you can put them in the refrigerator to chill – but don't leave them in there for more than 30 minutes as they'll get too hard.
This quick-chill trick is especially helpful if you live somewhere warm or humid like we do in the summer.
Tips for Making the Best July 4th Rice Krispie Treats
- Always add the M&Ms at the very end of mixing or the candy coating will melt and bleed color into your treats. I learned this the hard way when I ended up with purple-ish rice krispies once!
- For extra chewy treats, don't press down too firmly when spreading the mixture in the pan. A gentle touch keeps them from becoming dense hockey pucks.
- Working with marshmallows can get sticky! Keep a small bowl of water nearby to dampen your hands or utensils as needed.
- Let the mixture cool slightly before adding M&Ms so they don't immediately melt.
- Fresh marshmallows make a huge difference – stale ones won't melt as smoothly and can make your treats hard.
Ingredient Notes for Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
- M&Ms – You can use either regular red, white, and blue M&Ms or M&M minis. I don't recommend any of the flavored ones (caramel, peanut butter, peanut, etc.) because they're typically bigger and won't mix into the rice krispie treats well.
- Mini marshmallows – If you don't have mini marshmallows and can't get them, 20 ounces of regular marshmallows can be substituted. I've found the mini marshmallows work better for melting, but you can use the regular ones in a pinch.
- Sprinkles – Since these are just for decoration, you can use any sprinkles you'd like – colored ones, shaped ones, even those cute little star sprinkles would be perfect here!
- Candy melts – These are optional but add such a fun pop of patriotic color! You can skip them entirely or just use one or two colors if that's what you have on hand.
Creative Variations of July 4th Rice Krispie Treats
Want to mix things up a bit? Here are some fun ways to customize these treats:
- Shape them into stars using cookie cutters instead of cutting into squares
- Add a thin layer of white chocolate between two thinner layers of treats for a "sandwich" effect
- Mix in some blue and red sprinkles throughout the mixture for more color inside
- Use food coloring to tint portions of the marshmallow mixture red and blue, then layer them with a white section for a striped effect
- Thread treats onto skewers with strawberries and blueberries for rice krispie treat fruit kebabs
FAQs About 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
The secret is using extra marshmallows! This recipe calls for setting aside some mini marshmallows to add with the second half of cereal, creating pockets of gooey goodness that keep the treats soft and chewy.
Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks. Don't refrigerate them for more than 30 minutes as this can make them hard. Using the proper butter-to-marshmallow ratio in this recipe also helps maintain softness.
Yes! As noted in the recipe, mini marshmallows work better for melting, though regular marshmallows can be substituted in a pinch (20 ounces). Mini marshmallows distribute more evenly and melt more quickly.
Rice Krispie treats fall apart when there's not enough "glue" (marshmallow mixture) to hold them together. This recipe uses a generous 20 oz of marshmallows to ensure proper binding. Also, be sure to press the mixture firmly into the pan without compacting it too hard.
Recipes You May Like
- 4th of July Chocolate Covered Strawberries – Another easy no-bake treat perfect for summer celebrations!
- 4th of July Cupcakes – If you're willing to turn on the oven, these festive cupcakes are totally worth it.
- 4th of July Fudge – Another simple no-bake dessert with beautiful patriotic layers.
Conclusion
These 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats have become a staple at our Independence Day celebrations, and I'm betting they'll become a tradition for your family too!
They're the perfect combination of nostalgic comfort food and festive holiday spirit. What I love most about them is how they bring everyone together – kids love helping make them, and adults can't resist grabbing one (or three) from the platter.
The beauty of these treats is in their simplicity. You don't need fancy equipment or baking skills to create something that looks impressive and tastes amazing.
In just 40 minutes, you'll have a dessert that's ready to be the star of your patriotic spread.
I hope you'll give these a try this 4th of July! Don't forget to tag me if you share photos of your creations on social media – I absolutely love seeing how these recipes come to life in your kitchens.
Happy baking (or rather, no-baking)!
4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 9"x13" Baking Dish
- Parchment Paper
- Large Pot
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
Rice Krispie Base
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 20 oz mini marshmallows divided (set aside some for adding later)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 9 oz rice krispies cereal
Patriotic Decorations
- ¾ cup red, white, and blue M&Ms divided (½ cup for mixing in, ¼ cup for topping)
- 1 TBS red, white, and blue sprinkles
- ¼ cup red candy melts optional
- ¼ cup white candy melts optional
- ¼ cup blue candy melts optional
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and then either grease with butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Measure out your ingredients so they are ready to go since this recipe moves fast.
- Melt butter in a large pot on medium-low heat. Once the butter is fully melted, add 1 ½ bags of mini marshmallows into the pot and set the other marshmallows aside for later.
- Mix the butter and marshmallows together with a rubber spatula, stirring continuously until the marshmallows have completely melted, making sure to keep the heat on low.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt, stirring until completely coated.
- Add roughly half of the rice krispies to the marshmallow mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom thoroughly to incorporate all the marshmallow mixture.
- Once that's all mixed together, add in the remaining marshmallows and rice cereal.
- Fold in ½ cup of M&Ms then transfer the treat mixture to the prepared baking dish. Use greased hands, parchment paper, or a greased spatula to gently press the treats into the pan.
- Sprinkle the other ¼ cup of M&Ms on top of the treats. Add sprinkles as well and gently press them down into the treats.
- Allow treats to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Cut into squares.
- If desired, melt the candy melts in separate bowls in the microwave at 30 second increments, stirring between each increment, until completely melted. Drizzle on top of the treats then allow them to cool again until the candy melts have hardened.
- Serve and enjoy once cooled!
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