If you need a festive treat that is quick, cute, and guaranteed to disappear fast, these 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats are such a fun option. They start with rich brown butter Rice Krispie treats, which gives them a warm, slightly nutty flavor that makes them feel a little extra special. Then they’re drizzled with red and blue melted chocolate and finished with patriotic sprinkles for the easiest holiday decoration. I love these as one of those no bake Fourth of July desserts that looks party-ready without taking much time, and they’re perfect if you need easy 4th of July desserts for cookouts, potlucks, or backyard celebrations.
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Ingredients for Easy 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Red and blue candy melts (approximately 2 oz. each)
- 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil oil (for melting the chocolate)
- 1/4 cup 4th of July sprinkles
How to Make Browned Butter 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
1. Brown the butter: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will start to foam and froth; as the foam dies down, you’ll see brown specks forming at the bottom and smell a nutty aroma. That’s when it’s ready.
2. Melt the marshmallows: Add the marshmallows to the browned butter, stirring until completely smooth. Mix in vanilla and salt.
3. Add the cereal: Remove from the heat (or keep on low heat) and pour in the Rice Krispies and stir until evenly coated.
4. Press into pan: Transfer the mixture into an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Use a lightly greased piece of parchment paper to gently press the mixture down into an even layer.
5. Cut: Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
6. Make the drizzle: Melt the candy melts according to the package instructions, but with a bit of vegetable oil added in to make them easier to drizzle. Drizzle red and blue melted chocolate over the tops of your rice krispie treat squares.
7. Add sprinkles: While the melted chocolate is still wet, add 4th of July sprinkles. Let everything set and cool.
Pro Tips
- Work quickly with the candy melts. The sprinkles need to be added while the red and blue drizzle is still wet, so have your sprinkles open and ready before you start decorating. If melting both colors at once feels stressful, drizzle one color, add some sprinkles, then move on to the next color.
- Add a little neutral oil if needed. Candy melts can sometimes be thick after melting, which makes them harder to drizzle smoothly. Stir in a small amount of vegetable oil or another neutral oil, about ½ teaspoon at a time, until the candy melts are thin enough to drizzle but not runny.
- Use squeeze bottles for a neater drizzle. If you have small squeeze bottles with narrow tips, they make it much easier to control the red and blue candy melts. This is especially helpful if you want thin, pretty lines instead of thicker spoon-drizzled streaks.
- Press the treats gently into the pan. When adding the Rice Krispie mixture to the pan, press it in lightly with a buttered spatula or parchment paper. Packing it down too firmly can make the treats hard instead of soft and chewy.
- Brown the butter carefully. Brown butter adds a cozy, nutty flavor, but it can go from golden to burned quickly. Stir often and remove it from the heat as soon as you see golden brown bits and smell that toasted aroma.
- Let the treats cool before decorating. If the Rice Krispie treats are still warm, the candy melt drizzle may slide around or melt into the surface. Let them set first so the drizzle sits nicely on top.
FAQs
Can I make 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats ahead of time?
Yes! These 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats are a great make-ahead dessert. For the best texture, I recommend making them 1 day ahead and storing them tightly covered at room temperature. They will still be good for a few days, but Rice Krispie treats are always softest and chewiest when they are fresh.
How do I store Rice Krispie treats?
Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature. You can place parchment paper between layers if you need to stack them. You can also refrigerate them if you live in a really hot and humid environment and are worried about the decoration melting. However, let them come to room temperature before serving if possible.
Can I use regular melted chocolate instead of candy melts?
Yes, you can use melted white chocolate tinted with red and blue oil-based food coloring, or you can use colored candy melts for an easier option. Candy melts are usually the simplest choice because they already come in bright colors and set nicely on top of the treats. I find that water-based food colorings tend to make the white chocolate harden up (it’s called seizing) and make it harder to work with.
Do I have to brown the butter?
No, you can use regular melted butter if you want to keep things extra simple. However, brown butter adds a richer flavor that makes these treats taste a little more special without adding much extra work.
How do I get the sprinkles to stick?
Add the sprinkles while the red and blue drizzle is still wet. Once the candy melts set, the sprinkles will not stick as well. It helps to have the sprinkles ready before you start drizzling.
These 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats are such a simple way to make a classic dessert feel festive and fun. The brown butter gives them a richer flavor, while the red and blue candy melt drizzle and patriotic sprinkles make them perfect for summer celebrations. I love that they look super cute for parties without requiring much effort, baking, or complicated decorating. Whether you’re making them for a cookout, picnic, potluck, or backyard Fourth of July party, these treats are an easy dessert everyone can grab and enjoy.
4th of July Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 bag mini marshmallows 10 ounces
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Red and blue candy melts approximately 2 oz. each
- 1-2 tsp vegetable oil oil for melting the chocolate
- 1/4 cup 4th of July sprinkles
Instructions
- Brown the butter: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will start to foam and froth; as the foam dies down, you’ll see brown specks forming at the bottom and smell a nutty aroma. That’s when it’s ready.
- Melt the marshmallows: Add the marshmallows to the browned butter, stirring until completely smooth.
- Mix in vanilla and salt.
- Add the cereal: Remove from the heat (or keep on low heat) and pour in the Rice Krispies and stir until evenly coated.
- Press into pan: Transfer the mixture into an 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Use a lightly greased piece of parchment paper to gently press the mixture down into an even layer.
- Cut: Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
- Make the drizzle: Melt the candy melts according to the package instructions, but with a bit of vegetable oil added in to make them easier to drizzle. Drizzle red and blue melted chocolate over the tops of your rice krispie treat squares.
- Add sprinkles: While the melted chocolate is still wet, add 4th of July sprinkles. Let everything set and cool.
