July 4 Dessert
We all know how excited our kids get for the 4th of July. Whether you are heading up to the cabin, spending the day with family, or celebrating at your home–the day is simply not the same without a festive July 4 dessert. Here’s a fun and easy recipe to spark your anxious kids into productive action, keeping them occupied before the big day. Once the day arrives, trust me, the kids won’t be able to stop talking about how they prepared the hit of the party completely on their own–Celebrate the 4th of July with Red, White, and Blue Rice Krispie Treat Sparklers!
Serves 15-25, depending on the size of your cutter
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons of low sodium butter
- 1 10oz. bag of mini-marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
- 6 cups of puffed rice (“Rice Krispies”) cereal
- Strawberries (one per sparkler)
- Star shaped cookie cutter
- Food Skewers or lollipop sticks
- Festive Ribbon (optional)
The How-To:
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat
- When Butter is completely melted, add the marshmallows and continuously stir until melted.
- Stir in the vanilla.
- Remove from heat and add in the cereal, stirring until completely coated and mixed in.
- Pour coated cereal onto wax paper and spread out to the thickness of your cookie cutter. While spreading, be sure to keep the mixture compact.
- Once completely flat and thin enough for your cookie cutter to go through, allow the cereal mixture to cool and firm.
- Once cooled, press star shaped cookie cutter into the hardened mixture, remove the cut out treat from the cutter and set aside. Repeat.
- Starting with the strawberries, skewer the washed and trimmed fruit onto the wooden food skewers or lollipop sticks, follow with desired number of blueberries
- Carefully add one Rice Krispie Star treat on top of each skewer.
- Tie a festive ribbon to the stick/skewer below the strawberry–this will help to support the heavy strawberry.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes: Present these special July 4 dessert sparklers in a vase or basket for easy transportation and to provide for a unique display! You could also use the cookie cutter to make other star shaped fruit pieces too. Watermelon is one of my favorites!