Add a festive touch to your summer parties with these fun Patriotic Cereal Treats!
Made with the classic combo of cereal and marshmallows, they're shaped like stars and topped with red, white, and blue flair—perfect for celebrating the 4th of July or any patriotic gathering.
Check out all the other recipes and 4th of July Foods that are easy to make and perfect all summer long.
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Let's talk 4th of July Food Traditions today since that's coming up really quick.
These cereal treats make an adorable centerpiece when displayed in a galvanized bucket on your dessert table. Just tie red and blue ribbon around the lollipop sticks for a festive, ready-to-serve treat!
Looking for more Patriotic Treats? Try my Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats made from store-bought Rice Krispie Treats, Red Velvet 4th of July Cake, Patriotic Cupcakes or my Oreo Cookie Treats.
Table of Contents
- Tips for Making Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Directions
- How to Cut the Cereal Treats into Shapes
- How to Store, Freeze, and Thaw
- Like this recipe? Try these other Patriotic Desserts
- Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Tips for Making Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
Use fresh marshmallows: Older marshmallows don’t melt as smoothly and can make your treats dry.
Don’t overheat the marshmallows: Melt them gently over medium-low heat; overheating makes the treats hard instead of soft and chewy.
Butter the pan and tools: Grease your pan, spatula, and even your hands to prevent sticking.
Work quickly: Once the cereal is added, stir and press into the pan right away before the mixture sets.
Don’t pack too tightly: Gently press the mixture into the pan—packing it too firmly will make dense, hard treats.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
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Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Substitutions and Variations
Cereal: Use Cheerios, Cornflakes, or Fruity Pebbles instead of Rice Krispies for a different texture or flavor.
Marshmallows: Mini marshmallows melt faster, but you can use large marshmallows or even marshmallow fluff (about 7 oz).
Different Shapes: Use heart or flag-shaped cookie cutters for other patriotic holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day).
Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle with white chocolate and top with star sprinkles for extra flair.
Add-Ins: Mix in red and blue M&Ms, or patriotic-colored sprinkles, directly into the cereal mixture.
Step-by-Step Directions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Generously butter the baking pan to prevent sticking, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Step 2: Melt butter and marshmallows in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, add blue gel food coloring, and stir until fully blended.
Step 3: Press the cereal mixture evenly into the greased pan, using non-stick sprayed hands to prevent sticking. Add sprinkles, gently press again, and let set before cutting into shapes.
How to Cut the Cereal Treats into Shapes
Step 4: Cut out stars with a cookie cutter (yields about 4, depending on size). Use various sizes for fun—and enjoy the scraps as a cook’s treat!
Step 5: Insert lollipop sticks into the center of each star. Tie blue ribbon on the sticks and display in mason jars for a festive party touch.
More InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore Information
How to Store, Freeze, and Thaw
Refrigerate: Store cereal treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. No need to refrigerate unless your kitchen is very warm.
Freezer: Place cut shapes between layers of parchment paper and store in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 1 month.
Thawing Tips: Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes. No reheating needed—enjoy once softened.
Like this recipe? Try these other Patriotic Desserts
Patriotic Cupcakes are always good for 4th of July celebrations! Or my Star Shaped Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls.
Cheesecake Pudding Parfaits look great for any celebration, but if you use strawberries and blueberries, you have the colors of the flag!
Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
This beautifully designed digital cookbook features 10 fun and festive dessert recipes perfect for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any red, white, and blue celebration.
📖 Recipe Card
Patriotic Cereal Treats
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon of butter
- 20 large marshmallows
- 3 cups rice cereal
- 2 small drops blue gel food coloring
- Red and blue sprinkles
Method
- Coat a square pan generously with butter.
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter and then add marshmallows. Allow to melt completely then remove from heat.
- Add in blue gel food coloring and mix until marshmallow mixture is completely colored.
- Pat the cereal treat mixture evenly into your coated pan.
- Top with sprinkles and pat down some more (so that the sprinkles stay in place).
- Allow the cereal treats to set.
- Using a star cookie cutter, cut out cereal treats into the shape of stars (save the scraps and enjoy them!).
- Insert a lollipop stick at the bottom and enjoy.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2018 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
These are just so fun and festive and perfect for the upcoming holiday. Thanks for sharing. #HomeMattersParty
angie says
this is a recipe I will save and use at many different times thanks for sharing.