The Fourth of July is less than a month away. Family plans are being made for the big event. Am I the only one who turns to Pinterest when a family gathering is near? I spend so much time searching for the perfect dish to bring. The possibilities are truly endless when you see other people’s wonderful creations. This year I decided that I wanted to make something different. I found the perfect treat for your Fourth of July celebration.
Materials Needed
- 6 cups rice cereal
- 3 tbs butter
- 4 cups of mini marshmallows
- 1 bag of red candy melts
- 1 bag of blue candy melts
- 1 bag of white candy melts
- Patriotic straws
- Patriotic jimmies
- Star sprinkles
- Coconut oil
Instructions
I think the homemade rice cereal treats have a better taste, but if you are in a pinch you can use store-bought. The recipe on the back of the cereal box works wonderfully. After pouring the mixture into my parchment-prepared pan, I used another pan to press down and flatten my treats. This makes them more uniform. After the treats are set, cut them into rectangles by cutting them straight down and not sawing through them. It will give you a more square look and help them stand up better. Next, cut your paper straws in half and use the paper straws for the stick. I would advise standing them upright before dipping them to ensure they have a flat base.
Dipping the treats is where my struggle came in. I’ve never really worked with the candy melts and it’s very thick. This made getting a nice even coat on my first batch very difficult. So I searched the internet for a way to make it work.
The secret to a thinner mixture is coconut oil. After melting the candy, I added 1-2 tsp of melted coconut oil to the mixture. It made it so much easier to coat the treats and left them with a nice smooth finish. I only used about 1/3 of the bag of white for the drizzle. The white drizzle should be added after the red coating has had time to set.
The sprinkles need to be added to the treats before the candy coating has been set so they will stick.
The treats are so much fun and will be the perfect treat at your gathering. I hope that the tips and tricks I’ve found will help as you make your own. I am so excited and can’t wait to see all of your delicious treats! Please comment and share a picture of your success here with me. Don’t forget to follow me on social media and tag me there as well. If you need an easy make-ahead side dish, check out my recipe for classic potato salad here.
