We all scream for these easy-to-make July 4th Rice Krispie Treats. The perfect treat to celebrate our nation’s independence with!
When it comes to summer holidays – the Patriotic ones are my absolute favorite. So I’m always looking for fun new ways to make all my recipes red, white, and blue.
These July 4th goodies are no exception. I was inspired while making my BEST Rice Krispie Treats Recipe one afternoon. I knew they would be super cute made into patriotic colors like this!
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If you are looking for a festive and delicious dessert to enjoy this 4th of July – look no further! These classic treats are easy to make, with just a few simple ingredients.
I know you will wow all your friends at your holiday celebration and these will be the first thing to disappear from the buffet table!
Here are some commonly asked questions
How to store Rice Krispie treats
These treats are best at room temperature. So I like to keep them in the pan that I press them into and then just pop the airtight lid on them.
If you use a metal baking pan – just a bit of foil or press-n-seal on the top works just fine. But I like this baking dish with the lid for ease. You can also wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap to keep as much air out as possible.
Can these be made with mini marshmallows?
Yes – you can make this recipe with any size of marshmallows – just be sure to check this marshmallow conversion table below to make sure you are keeping that ratio just perfect when making these bars.
Best Way to Cut Krispie Treats
When you make these krispie treats there are a few things to keep in mind when it is time to cut them. Here are some tips I have learned throughout the years.
- Make sure to line the pan with the parchment – it allows you to lift the entire slab of treats out so you can cut them cleanly without the pan being in the way. Once they are sliced- you can always lift the parchment back up and pop them right back in the pan for storage.
- Let them cool completely before cutting. If they are still warm they will fall apart once they are separated from each other.
- Use a nice sharp knife to cut them OR I like to use a dough scraper because it’s nice and sturdy and does a great job.
Marshmallow Conversion Chart
- 1 jumbo marshmallow = 4 standard-size marshmallows = 1/2 cup mini-marshmallows
- 1 cup mini-marshmallows = 8 standard-size marshmallows = 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
- 7 ounces of marshmallow creme = 1.5 cups marshmallow fluff
- 10 ounce bag of mini-marshmallows = 6 cups = 40 standard-size marshmallows
- 1 standard-size marshmallow = 14 mini-marshmallows
- 8 standard-size marshmallows = 1 cup
- 16 ounce bag of mini-marshmallows = 8.5 cups
- 16 ounce bag of standard-size marshmallows = 63 marshmallows
Ingredients for July 4th Rice Krispie Treats
- marshmallows – divided into 3 bowls
- puffed rice cereal – divided into 3 bowls
- unsalted butter – divided into thirds
- Red & blue food coloring
Don’t miss these other awesome NO-BAKE recipes to serve at your holiday celebration!
- Chocolate Mint Lush Dessert
- Tequila Sunrise Jello Shots
- Chocolate Milkshake Recipe
- Oreo Cheesecake Cookie Dough
- Lemon Lush Dessert
- Root Beer Float
- Dirt Cake
- Cookie Dough Dip
- Frozen Bananas
Can this recipe be cut in half?
You bet – if you only need a couple of the best rice Krispie treats – you can definitely cut this recipe in half. Super easy and then you aren’t committed to eating the whole pan.
Not at all judging – I would do it if I had them here right now. Not at all sorry. This really is the best rice Krispie treats recipe!
How to Make July 4th Rice Krispie Treats
- Grease a 9×13 dish – set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt 3oz of butter then add 10oz of marshmallows, stirring until smooth.
- Add in the red food coloring until the color is to your liking, then remove from heat.
- Stir in the puffed rice cereal to the marshmallow mixture and mix until the cereal is fully coated.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan and press down until flat.
- Repeat steps 1-3, but do not use the food coloring – leave the mixture the original color.
- Transfer that cereal mixture onto the top of the red cereal mixture in the pan and press down until flat.
- Repeat steps 1-3 again but using the blue food coloring.
- Transfer that blue cereal mixture on top of the other two layers and press down until flat.
- Allow the treats to firm up, then cut into squares (5×4).
how to make rice krispie treats in the microwave
Note – you will need to do these steps for each layer to make the colors.
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment – set aside.
- Combine the marshmallows and butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in the microwave for 1½ to 2 minutes. The marshmallows will puff up quite a bit.
- Stir until it becomes a nice, smooth consistency. If the marshmallows aren’t quite melted, you can cook for an additional 10-15 seconds.
- Once smooth, stir in the cereal and salt. Stir well to coat all of the cereal evenly.
- Spread it out into the prepared pan. Press into an even layer – you want to press semi-firmly but not so much that it makes them hard once they cool. Just enough to let them hold together but still be soft and chewy.
recipe tips & tricks
For the best possible results – follow these tips so you can make THE BEST KRISPIE TREATS EVER!
- ALWAYS USE FRESH MARSHMALLOWS! Trust me on this – don’t take that old bag of sticky marshmallows from the back of the pantry. Stale marshmallows mean stale Krispie treats. If you want them soft and chewy – always use the freshest marshmallows.
- USE REAL BUTTER – please don’t try to make this recipe with margarine. It just won’t turn out the same.
- Don’t pack the treats too tightly in the pan – this will make them too dense. You want them to be just tight enough so they don’t fall apart but not crushed.
- Don’t overcook the marshmallows – this will make them too firm once they cool.
- Keep the treats in an airtight container once cooled. Try to keep the container as close to the size of the treats as possible. A container that is too large will allow for too much air to be in the container with the treats and make them dry out faster.
- Dampen your hands with water before pressing the mixture into the pan – this will help to keep the marshmallow from sticking to your hands.
- Try making them gluten-free by swapping out the ingredients with gluten-free options.
If you love this easy patriotic treat recipe, you’re going to love these other red, white and blue recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
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July 4th Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 30 oz marshmallows divided into 3 bowls
- 18 cups puffed rice cereal divided into 3 bowls
- 9 oz unsalted butter divided into thirds
- Red & blue food coloring
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 dish – set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt 3oz of butter then add 10oz of marshmallows, stirring until smooth.
- Add in the red food coloring until the color is to your liking, then remove from heat.
- Stir in the puffed rice cereal to the marshmallow mixture and mix until the cereal is fully coated.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared pan and press down until flat.
- Repeat steps 1-3, but do not use the food coloring – leave the mixture the original color.
- Transfer that cereal mixture onto the top of the red cereal mixture in the pan and press down until flat.
- Repeat steps 1-3 again but using the blue food coloring.
- Transfer that blue cereal mixture on top of the other two layers and press down until flat.
- Allow the treats to firm up, then cut into squares (5×4).
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Susan Millman says
How boxes of Puffed Rice Cereal are needed to equal 18 cups?
Gina Kleinworth says
Well- that depend on the box you choose since there are a plethora of sizes available. But some simple math – for reference, a serving is approx 1.25 cups. Some boxes contain 15 servings – which would come out to 18.75 cups.