Whether you’re entertaining at home or heading out to a party, these patriotic no-bake recipes are sure to please both kids and adults alike.
This festive fruit platter showcases the colors of the American flag and makes for a healthy and refreshing addition to your July 4th celebrations.
American Flag Fruit Platter
(Makes 8 to 10 servings)
1 cup fresh organic blueberries or blackberries
2 cups fresh organic red cherries or grapes
1 cup dried banana chips
17 to 20 fresh organic strawberries
1 cup yogurt-covered raisins or pretzels
1 cup fresh organic raspberries
Wash and dry all the fresh fruit. Place blueberries in the top left corner of a 13 x 9-inch dish (using a bowl for the blueberries, if desired). Starting at the top of the baking dish, create a line with the cherries. Follow with a line of banana chips, then strawberries, followed by yogurt-covered raisins and finally, raspberries.
Rice Krispies Treats have it all – truly! They’re crisp and gooey, with the perfect amount of sweetness, and they couldn’t be any easier to make. Browning the butter only takes a few extra minutes and adds the most delicious, rich and nutty flavors to this nostalgic treat.
Give your treats a patriotic pop of red, white and blue with a candy drizzle. Colored Candy Melts can be found at stores like Michaels, JoAnn’s, Walmart and most mainstream grocery stores.
Browned Butter Rice Krispies Treats
(Makes 18 bars)
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 package (16 ounces) mini marshmallows
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
¼ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
7 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Red, white and blue Candy Melts
Line a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, or spray with nonstick baking spray. For thicker bars, a 9-inch-square baking pan works well (you will just have fewer bars).
Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown and gives a light nutty scent. Stir in marshmallows, vanilla extract (if using), and sea salt until the marshmallows are nearly melted. Remove from heat and continue stirring until completely melted.
Stir in cereal until evenly coated. Spread into the prepared pan, gently pressing into an even layer (a butter wrapper or a buttered spatula work well for pressing the mixture into an even layer).
Melt about ¼ cup of each Candy Melt in separate, small microwave-safe bowls according to package directions; drizzle over treats. Allow to set for one hour before cutting into bars. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Dipped pretzel rods are fantastically easy and fun to make! Dip, dunk, drizzle and sprinkle as you please. A perfect snack for watching fireworks!
Patriotic Dipped Pretzel Rods
(Makes 24 rods)
1 cup white Candy Melts
24 pretzel rods
½ cup blue Candy Melts
White candy sprinkles
¼ cup red Candy Melts
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; top with a cooling rack.
Microwave white Candy Melts in a small, microwave-safe bowl according to package directions. Dip pretzel rods about two-thirds of the way into the melted mixture, tilting the bowl to dip easily. Gently shake off the excess back into the bowl. Place dipped rods on the wire rack. Allow to sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes to set.
Microwave blue Candy Melts in a small, microwave-safe bowl according to package directions. Dip the tips of the pretzel rods 2 to 3 inches into the mixture, shaking the excess off back into the bowl. Sprinkle with white sprinkles; place back on the wire rack.
Place red Candy Melts in a small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Microwave on medium-high (70 percent power) for 30 seconds. Knead bag. If needed, microwave at additional 10-second intervals, kneading the bag until melted. Snip a tiny corner from the bag and drizzle over the white portion of the pretzel rods. Allow to set for 30 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Happy Independence Day!
Chris Garboski managed the HQ test kitchen at Nestle and produced more than a thousand recipes in her 25 years with the company. Her proudest accomplishment has been raising triplets.
