Celebrate Independence Day in style with our irresistible No-Bake 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats! These simple and easy red, white, and blue marshmallow delights are crisp & chewy and take only minutes to prep.
These easy patriotic treats are the perfect addition to picnics, barbecues, Memorial Day celebrations, or cookouts. They're a surefire way to spark joy and create unforgettable memories this holiday. Just like our Patriotic Oreos!
This classic no-bake dessert, like our Halloween Rice Krispies Treats, never goes out of style, so whip up a big batch and share the fun this July 4th!
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Why This Recipe Is So Good
- QUICK & EASY - These yummy treats take less than 15 minutes. Just let them cool, and they’re ready to enjoy—the perfect festive make-ahead recipe.
- PERFECT TASTE & TEXTURE - Creamy, sticky, gooey, buttery marshmallows and crispy grains of rice cereal make this a delightfully simple 4th of July dessert.
- LOVED BY ALL. You know exactly what we are talking about if we mention Rice Krispies and gooey marshmallows in the same sentence. The recipe for Rice Krispies Treats has been around since 1938 and is perfect for just about any family-friendly celebration. Party guests and kids of all ages love them!
Ingredient Notes
Red, white, and blue Rice Krispie Treats require only a few simple ingredients:
- Butter - salted butter works great in this easy dessert. However, you can also use unsalted butter and a pinch of salt to the marshmallow mixture.
- Mini Marshmallows - you’ll need two bags (about 10 cups of marshmallows) to have enough for this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract is an optional ingredient, but it brings the recipe to life.
- Rice Krispies Cereal - you’ll need 7 cups of this classic cereal.
- White Chocolate Chips - to dip or spread onto your finished treats.
- Red, white, and Blue Sprinkles - sprinkles make your treats pop for the 4th of July! We also like to add candy stars if we can find them.
Add-ins & Variations
- Food Coloring - if you want your delicious treats to have festive color, divide the melted marshmallow mixture into thirds, add a few drops of red food coloring to one section and blue food coloring to another, and mix. Then add a third of the rice cereal to each one. Press them layer by layer into the pan and let them cool. Now you have an easy Fourth of July dessert!
- Candy - one of our favorite things to do is add red, white, and blue M&Ms to the Rice Krispies mixture as you spread it into the pan to cool.
- Shapes - to make star shapes, use a cookie cutter once your crispy treats have hardened. PRO TIP: spray it with non-tick cooking spray to avoid sticking to the cutter!
How to Make 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
This is the best Rice Krispie Treat recipe! It has the perfect marshmallow-to-cereal ratio and makes a large 9 x 13-inch pan.
STEP 1 - PREP. Line a 9” x 9” or 9” x 13” pan with parchment paper. Make sure you leave a 1-2 inch overhang to make removing the treats easy. Alternatively, you can generously spray your pan with non-stick cooking spray. Measure out the ingredients as this recipe comes together quickly.
STEP 2 - MELT BUTTER and then MARSHMALLOWS. In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add all the marshmallows, continually stirring, just until the marshmallows melt (Image 1). If using vanilla extract, add it to the mixture after the marshmallows are melted (Image 2).
STEP 3 - ADD RICE KRISPIES. Remove from the heat and add in the Rice Krispies cereal. Quickly but gently fold the mixture to coat evenly (Image 3).
STEP 4 - PLACE IN PAN. Spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Using a spatula coated with non-stick cooking spray or a piece of parchment paper, gently press and spread the mixture into an even layer to all corners of the pan (Image 4).
STEP 5 - LET HARDEN. Let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes to harden before slicing.
PRO TIP: For study bars, wait 2 hours before slicing.
STEP 6 - CUT INTO PIECES. Remove your Rice Krispie Treats from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into square or rectangular pieces.
PRO TIP: We recommend using a knife that you run under hot water for a few seconds to cut the treats easily.
STEP 7 - MELT CHOCOLATE. Now, place your white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl to melt them. If using, cook candy melts according to the package directions. If using white chocolate morsels, melt at 30-second intervals, stirring in between until the chocolate is mostly melted. Stir until all lumps dissolve.
STEP 8 - DECORATE. Dip the Rice Krispie Squares into the melted white chocolate and cover all or a portion of the treat. While still soft, top with patriotic sprinkles. Let harden for 10 minutes, and they’re ready to serve!
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use fresh, good-quality marshmallows. If your marshmallows are old, they may not melt well in this recipe, so make sure you have fresh marshmallows!
- Cook marshmallows over medium-low heat. If you cook the recipe over high heat, there is a good chance the sugar will crystalize, causing your perfect treat to harden.
- Gently fold the Rice Krispie Cereal into marshmallows. The cereal is delicate and, if mixed harshly, gets crushed. Also, no need to pack it too tightly when pressing it into the pan.
- Speed up the cooling process by placing the treats in the refrigerator. Putting the treats in the fridge for a few minutes will help them cool faster, so you can add the white chocolate sooner.
- MAKE AHEAD: Make the recipe a few days in advance, but don’t cut them into bars right away. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring it’s 100% airtight. Then, cut the treats into squares when you want to serve them.
Storing
There are a couple of options for storage.
- You can store your Fourth of July Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature. We like to place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper in between so they don't stick together.
- You can store your fun patriotic treat individually wrapped in plastic wrap to preserve freshness.
Recipe FAQs
Rice Krispie Treats will last 5-7 days if kept in an airtight container. However, for maximum freshness, eat within 3 days.
Rice Krispie Treats do not need to be stored in the fridge; keeping them at room temperature is better so they don't harden.
To prevent Rice Krispie Treats from getting hard during cooking, remove the marshmallows from the heat as soon as they're just melted. Like most candy, the longer you cook the sugar, the harder the marshmallows get! If you don’t want them to get hard while storing, make sure to store them in an airtight container or individually wrapped in cling wrap.
More Delicious 4th of July Desserts
Love this 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.
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Printable Recipe
4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- parchment paper
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan or 9 x 9 inch pan for thicker treats
- microwave safe bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows (about 10 cups)
- 7 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
- 6-8 ounces white chocolate morsels (or candy melts, more if you want to totally cover your treats.)
- ½ cup red, white, and blue sprinkles
Instructions
- PREP. Line a 9” x 9” or 9” x 13” pan with parchment paper. Leave a 1-2 inch overhang to make removing the treats easy. Alternatively, you can generously spray your pan with non-stick cooking spray. Measure out the ingredients as this recipe comes together quickly.
- MELT BUTTER and then MARSHMALLOWS. In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add all the marshmallows, continually stirring, just until the marshmallows melt. If using vanilla extract, add it to the mixture after the marshmallows are melted.
- ADD RICE KRISPIES. Remove from the heat and add in the Rice Krispies cereal. Quickly but gently fold the mixture to coat it evenly.
- PLACE IN PAN. Spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Using a spatula coated with non-stick cooking spray or a piece of parchment paper, gently press and spread the mixture into an even layer to all corners of the pan. Let the mixture sit for 30-60 minutes to harden before slicing.
- CUT INTO PIECES. Remove your Rice Krispie Treats from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into square or rectangular pieces.
Decorating
- MELT CHOCOLATE. Place your white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl to melt them. If using, cook candy melts according to the package directions. If using white chocolate morsels, melt at 30-second intervals, stirring in between until the chocolate is mostly melted. Stir until all lumps dissolve.
- DECORATE. Dip the Rice Krispie Squares into the melted white chocolate and cover all or a portion of the treat. While still soft, top with patriotic sprinkles. Let harden for 10 minutes, and they’re ready to serve!
Notes
-
- MAKE AHEAD: Make the recipe a few days in advance, but don’t cut them into bars right away. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring it’s 100% airtight. Then, cut the treats into squares on the day you’re serving.
- Use fresh, good-quality marshmallows. If your marshmallows are old, they may not melt well in this recipe, so make sure you have fresh marshmallows!
-
- Cook marshmallows over medium-low heat. If you cook the recipe over high heat, there is a good chance the sugar will crystalize, causing your perfect treat to harden.
-
- Gently fold the Rice Krispie Cereal into marshmallows. The cereal is delicate and, if mixed harshly, gets crushed.
-
- STORING: Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to a week
Jessica says
Okay not only are these adorable but they are totally delicious! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
Erin Henry says
You're welcome, Jessica! It's such a classic dessert perfect for the 4th of July!
jess says
this is the perfect recipe that all my friends smashed! these were gone so fast, so thank you so much for sharing this recipe
Erin Henry says
So glad this yummy dessert was a hit, Jess! Hopefully you book marked it for future use!
Allyson Zea says
These are SO CUTE for the 4th!!!