These Patriotic Rice Krispie bars are the perfect no-bake treat to make your Independence Day even sweeter! They're loaded with gooey marshmallows, buttery vanilla flavor, and bursts of red, white, and blue sprinkles.
They're easy to make and offer a nostalgic crunch with a colorful patriotic twist everyone will love!
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🗝️ Recipe's key points
- Who doesn’t love a tasty Rice Krispies treat? These ones are dressed up for your Patriotic gatherings and BBQs! With bright red, white, and blue sprinkles, they’re perfect for your holiday celebrations.
- You just need a few ingredients and 15 minutes to make these chewy, gooey bars. They are perfect for hot summer days when you want to avoid using the oven.
- Little hands can help mix, sprinkle, and press - plus you can swap in themed sprinkles for any occasion all year long!
These red, white, and blue Rice Krispies treats are the ultimate kid-approved dessert for Memorial Day, the 4th, and Labor Day! These Rice Krispie bars are adorable and full of holiday spirit. They’re also packed with delicious flavors and fun textures. A real crowd-pleaser!
🛒 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
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- Rice Krispies Cereal - The star ingredient. Use gluten-free Rice Krispies cereal, if needed.
- Mini marshmallows - To melt and to keep whole for added texture.
- Salted butter - Adds rich flavor and the salt helps to balance out the sweetness.
- Vanilla extract - For delicious depth of flavor.
- Patriotic and 4th of July sprinkles - Feel free to use any type of holiday-inspired sprinkles you prefer.
🗒 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the marshmallows, reserving 2 cups of them, and stir constantly until they are melted and smooth. Add the vanilla extract, and stir to combine. Remove the pot from the heat.
- Add the cereal and about 2 cups of mini marshmallows. Fold the cereal and mini marshmallows into the melted marshmallow and butter mixture. When almost combined, add in the sprinkles (about ⅓ cup of them). Reserve some of the sprinkles for the top as well. Mix until the sprinkles are evenly combined throughout the mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press down until flat. Top with sprinkles and let it set for at least an hour.
- Remove the set rice Krispie mixture from the baking dish and cut into squares. Serve and enjoy!
🥫 Storage
Store these 4th of July Rice Krispies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
I don't recommend storing these Red white and blue Rice Krispies in the fridge. They will harden and become hard to enjoy.
📚 Variations
- Adapt the decoration to suit a different holiday or party theme.
- Use melted white, red, and blue candy melts to drizzle over the set Patriotic Rice Krispie treats as an extra bit of holiday flare!
- Add food coloring gel or melted candy melts to the rice Krispie mixture if you want the rectangles to have color.
- Insert blue or red striped straws or wooden popsicle sticks into the rice Krispie squares for a fun hand-held treat. You could also then show them off in a decorate jar for your 4th of July table decoration.
- Other add-ins could include red and blue M&Ms, crushed freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries, or even swirls of red and blue food coloring.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- I like to spray the rubber spatula or spoon that I use to flatten the rice Krispie mixture with non-stick spray. This helps prevent the Rice Krispie from sticking to the spatula or spoon when I press it down in the baking dish. If you use your hands instead, coat them in some butter.
- Be sure to work fast if you choose to decorate these festive rice Krispie bars with melted chocolate and sprinkles or sanding sugar. The melted chocolate must still be wet for the sprinkles and any other edible decorations to stick.
- I lined a baking dish with parchment paper and then sprayed it with non-stick cooking spray. This helps to prevent the rice Krispie mixture from sticking to the paper, helps it to spread more easily, and also reduces cleanup. If you don't use parchment paper, make sure that you grease the baking dish with cooking spray or butter. Using parchment paper without the cooking spray can cause the mixture to slip and move around a lot.
- You can double the ingredients and use a larger sheet pan (like 11x17) or make two 9x13 pans if feeding a big crowd.
🤔 FAQs
Have a question about these festive no-bake bars? You're not alone! Here are some of the most common ones folks ask when making these Patriotic Rice Krispies Bars for the first (or tenth!) time.
Yes! These are great make-ahead treats. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. This will keep them fresh and chewy for up to 3 days before your holiday parties.
I recommend that you stick with mini marshmallows for this recipe. Marshmallow fluff won’t set as well and may create a stickier, messier result.
Rice Krispies can get hard if you have pressed the mixture too firmly into the baking pan. Instead, apply gentle pressure so the bars stay soft. You should also melt the marshmallows over low to medium heat.
Rice Krispies cereal itself may contain barley malt, which isn’t gluten-free. To make these gluten-free, use a certified gluten-free crispy rice cereal. Also, ensure that all other ingredients, such as marshmallows and sprinkles, are gluten-free.
Still wondering about something? Feel free to drop your questions in the comments or shoot me a message. I love helping my fellow dessert lovers make something special for the holidays!
📗 Related Recipes
Looking for another easy and delicious crowd-pleasing no bake treat for 4th of July parties? Here are a few treats that I know you'll love:
- No-Bake Strawberry Delight – This dreamy layered dessert has it all! It features a buttery graham cracker crust, juicy fresh strawberries, and a silky cheesecake filling. Topped with fluffy whipped cream and a sprinkle of freeze-dried strawberry magic, it’s a treat you won’t forget. A sweet slice of summer in every bite!
- The Best Ambrosia Salad – Ambrosia Salad is a classic dish that brings back fond memories. It's a creamy blend of pineapple, mandarin oranges, shredded coconut, and mini fruit-flavored marshmallows. It's a tropical twist that brings fun and flavor to any gathering.
- No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies – These chewy, fudgy no-bake cookies are full of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter. They’re all wrapped up in hearty oats. Enjoy a sweet treat without turning on the oven! Quick to make and impossible to resist—perfect for whenever your sweet tooth strikes!
🍽 What to serve with Rice Krispies Treats
Enjoy this red white and blue no-bake dessert for a summer cookout along with other sweet pairings, such as chocolate-dipped fruits, brownie cups or fudge, cookies, cupcakes, and candy bowls.
If you're looking to add some tasty snacks for the kids this 4th of July, I've got some great ideas! How about popcorn? It's always a hit. You could also try pizza bites or sausage balls. And don't forget a delicious party mix!
🔪 All Our Way recommends the following
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You’ll need the following items to make this Rice Krispie Bars recipe successfully.
- Large saucepan – needed to melt and mix the marshmallow and butter
- Baking dish (9X13-inch) – for forming the sweet treats
- Parchment paper – to line the baking dish
- Non-stick spray – for spraying the parchment paper
- Silicone Spatula or wood mixing spoon – for stirring the marshmallows as they melt.
- Dry measuring cups and spoons – for measuring the needed amount of cereal and vanilla.
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
If you're looking for a no-bake treat that's equal parts fun, festive, and foolproof, these Patriotic Rice Krispie Bars are it! They're the kind of dolce (dessert) that disappears fast at cookouts, parties, or just an afternoon by the bool. Best of all? You can switch up the sprinkles for any festa (party) — think Halloween, birthdays, game day — you name it! And since there's no peanut butter in this version, they're perfect for classrooms and gatherings where allergies are a concern.
So go ahead, grab your marshmallows and get mixing. Whether it's for Independence Day, Memorial Day, or just because, it's always a good time to whip up a batch. 🇺🇸🎆
Buon appetito, and happy celebrating!
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📖 Recipe
Patriotic Rice Krispies
Ingredients
- 9 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 2 10 oz bags mini marshmallows divided
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Patriotic sprinkles red, white, and blue
Instructions
- Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper and non stick spray. Set aside.
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add the marshmallows, reserving about 2 cups of them.
- Stir constantly until melted and smooth. Add the vanilla extract, and stir to combine. Remove from heat.
- Add the cereal and about 2 cups of mini marshmallows. Fold into the marshmallow and butter mixture.
- When almost combined, add in the sprinkles I usually add about ⅓ cup of them. You’ll want to reserve some for the top as well, so don’t use all that you have. Mix until the sprinkles are evenly combined throughout the mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and press down until it is flat. Top with sprinkles and let set for at least an hour.
- Remove from the baking dish and cut into squares. Enjoy!
Notes
How do I store 4th of July Rice Krispies?
Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
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