Patriotic Rice Krispies Treats (Printable Version)

Colorful layered Rice Krispies with red, white, and blue hues, perfect for festive summer gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Main

01 - 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
02 - 1 bag (10 oz) mini marshmallows
03 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
04 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Coloring

05 - Red gel food coloring
06 - Blue gel food coloring

→ Decoration

07 - Red, white, and blue sprinkles (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the surface.
02 - Divide marshmallows and butter into three equal portions, approximately 3⅓ cups marshmallows and 1 tablespoon butter for each colored layer.
03 - Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add 3⅓ cups marshmallows and stir until fully melted. Add red gel food coloring to achieve desired shade. Fold in 2 cups Rice Krispies until evenly coated. Press mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
04 - Wipe saucepan clean. Melt 1 tablespoon butter over low heat. Add 3⅓ cups marshmallows and stir until melted. Stir in vanilla extract. Fold in 2 cups Rice Krispies until coated. Gently press layer over the red layer.
05 - Wipe saucepan clean. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter over low heat. Add remaining marshmallows and stir until melted. Add blue gel food coloring to achieve desired shade. Fold in remaining 2 cups Rice Krispies until coated. Gently press layer over the white layer.
06 - If desired, sprinkle red, white, and blue sprinkles over the top while the mixture is still slightly warm.
07 - Allow treats to cool and set for at least 1 hour at room temperature. Lift from pan using parchment paper as handles. Slice into 16 equal squares using a sharp knife and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're nostalgic enough to feel special but simple enough that even your kids can help without creating chaos.
  • The layering trick makes them look like you spent hours in the kitchen when you really spent twenty minutes.
  • Gel food coloring keeps them vibrant and photo-worthy without making the mixture soggy like liquid coloring would.
02 -
  • Gel food coloring is absolutely essential—liquid coloring will make your marshmallow mixture weep and your beautiful stripes will blur into muddy pink and purple.
  • Wiping your saucepan between layers genuinely matters because even a few red marshmallow bits will tint your white and blue layers if you're not careful.
03 -
  • Keep your saucepan warm between layers instead of wiping it clean if you're working quickly—just use a paper towel to remove any stray bits of the previous color.
  • If your gel food coloring isn't giving you the shade you want, remember that it intensifies slightly as it sets, so go slightly lighter than you think you need.
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