Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Squares

Everyone’s favourite treat, these Rice Krispie Squares are loaded with red, white, and blue candy-coated chocolates as well as festive sprinkles. Easy to prepare and fun to eat, these can be prepared with regular or vegan marshmallows if you have any dietary restrictions.

I think Rice Krispie Treats are the epitome of childhood happiness. Am I right? I can remember eating Rice Krispie Treats, or Rice Krispie Squares, as my mom would call them, ever since I was a little boy. A sense of nostalgia and the idea of something cute brought to life these Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Squares, and I couldn’t be happier with how well they turned out!

Did you eat Rice Krispie treats as a child, Dear Reader? Were they store-bought or homemade? I have nothing against the store-bought kind. In fact, I purchased them many times for McKenna when she was younger. They make a great after-school snack, with just enough sugar to keep the energy level high for homework time!

I haven’t made many Rice Krispie Treats in the past few years because I was never aware of there being a vegan marshmallow on the market. You see, John.e is a vegetarian and I really didn’t need to have a full pan of those treats in our home, because it was only me who could eat them. When McKenna came to live with us, she was also a vegetarian too! When I found Dandies Marshmallows though, all of that changed!

DANDIES VEGAN MARSHMALLOWS

Now, if you just so happen to click on the link for Dandies in the last paragraph, you will note that the brand has both large and mini marshmallows. Depending on the time of year, they also have flavours like pumpkin and peppermint – and now maple too!

This post is not sponsored by Dandies, and I don’t want you to think that I’m preaching veganism at you, because I am far from vegan. However, whenever I find a product that I love, I always share it with you. You most certainly don’t have to be vegan to enjoy Dandies marshmallows. They also have no artificial colours or flavours, which is always a bonus.

If you have any friends or family with food allergies, you might want to consider using Dandies as well. Unlike real marshmallows, there’s no corn syrup, they are kosher, and have no GMOs. Dandies are manufactured in a gluten-free environment and are free from many common allergens such as wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, shellfish, fish, mustard, corn, and sesame. Seriously, what do you have to lose!?

NO-BAKE RECIPES

I used to think that the term no-bake meant that a recipe was more of an assembly-type recipe. Something like a salad, for example. It sounds simple enough, right? Toss the lettuce and any other veggies you want into a bowl. Top it with cheese, croutons, avocado, hard-boiled egg, etc. Add some dressing and you’re all done! But, no-bake actually just means no baking. There still might be some stove-top cooking needed – or even a microwave, for that matter.

To prepare these Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Squares, you will need to use your stovetop. So, even though they’re no-bake and kid-friendly, you will still need some way to melt the marshmallows. The stovetop is still considered no-bake to me!

Some other no-bake-type recipes you might enjoy are these Rudolph’s Red Nose Cookies. Hairy Moose Droppings are delicious and always quite the conversation starter! Just like these Caramel Peanut Slices were a favourite of my mom’s so were these Marshmallow Coconut Balls and so were these Christmas Crunch Cookies. You can find many more no-bake cookie recipes here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen by using the search field at the top of this page. (Most of my no-bake recipes are holiday-themed, but as far as I’m concerned, you can eat Christmas food any time of the year!)

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Rice Krispies Cereal – Just about everyone is familiar with this. Who could ever forget the craze of the snap, crackle, and pop figures from our childhood?
• Mini Marshmallows – I’m using vegan marshmallows in this recipe. Here’s where you can find them. If they are unavailable in your area, you can use regular mini marshmallows.
• Vanilla Extract – Probably the most common extract and the most common flavouring used in cakes and cookies. 
• Butter – Make sure your butter is at room temperature!
• Non-stick Cooking Spray
• Red White and Blue M&Ms
• Sprinkles

HOW TO MAKE RED WHITE AND BLUE RICE KRISPIE SQUARES

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Add the butter, vanilla extract, and marshmallows to a large saucepan. Over low heat, and stirring very often, melt the marshmallows until well incorporated into the melted butter. Remove from heat. Add the cereal and half of the sprinkles to the marshmallow mixture. Stir until well combined with a spatula.

Turn the mixture out onto the prepared baking dish.  Press the mixture flat, trying to get the surface as evenly as possible.  (If you find your hands are sticking to the mixture, lightly spray one palm with the non-stick cooking spray and rub your palms together.)

Once the mixture has been flattened, sprinkle over the M&Ms and the remaining sprinkles and press on them just lightly so that they stick to the surface. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.  Remove from the freezer and slice into squares.  These can be stored in a food-safe container in the fridge for up to five days.

STORING, PACKAGING, & FREEZING

When it comes to most snacks and treats, they taste best at room temperature, but they don’t hold up well to being left out on your countertop for long periods of time. They will stay fresh in a cookie jar or food-safe container with a lid for 3-5 days if left to sit on your kitchen countertop. You can store them in a food-safe container in your fridge. When you want one, two, or half a dozen, take them out of the container and place them in a single layer on a plate. Let them sit at room temperature for 5 minutes and they’re ready!

If you plan to freeze your Red White and Blue Rice Krispie Squares, you certainly can! Once cut, pack them into food-safe containers. The container must be freezer friendly! You’ll want to ensure a very tight-fitting lid too. I use these quite often when freezing baked goods. I like to place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the container before pushing the lid on. This helps to create a better seal. The goal is to keep all of that freshness locked in!  

You can freeze these for up to three months. With all of that said, you really don’t need to freeze snacks and treats, because for the most part, they are ready in very little time and you should easily be able to prepare them the day you plan to eat them or serve them to guests.