Patriotic 4th of July Snacks

There's nothing like the 4th of July. A time for us to celebrate the freedoms that we as Americans take for granted every single day and a great way to honor the sacrifices of the founding fathers. After all, it can't be easy to start a revolution and win, and without them, our lives would be completely different! With that being said, if you want to have the best 4th of July party on the block, check out our Fourth of July snacks.

Our 4th of July snacks consist of the best of all worlds, from sweet to salty and even some adult only options that will keep you cool on this warm day.

• Jello stars. These can be kid-friendly or have some vodka added to them for an adult-only twist. You'll need one box of strawberry Jello, one box of berry blue Jello, 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, one 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, 5 ½ cups of boiling water, and ½ cup of cold water. You'll need to line four loaf or small pans with plastic wrap, and then in 2 separate bowls, dissolve one box of Jello in two cups of boiling water each. Stir until completely dissolved, or for 2 minutes, then allow to cool to room temperature, then split each color into two loaf pans each and cool overnight in the fridge. Remove the next morning and slice the Jello into blocks. Put the blocks in a large 9x13 pan lined with plastic wrap, and spread the blocks so they are evenly layered, and evenly mixed. In a separate bowl, sprinkles the 2 envelopes of gelatin into ½ cup cold water and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Then, add 1 ½ cups boiling water and stir to dissolve. Add the can of condensed milk and stir. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Pour the mixture over the red and blue Jello blocks in the pan, then chill overnight or until firm. Use a cookie cutter to cut into stars and serve.
• 4th of July cookies. These can be made using pre-made sugar cookie dough or your favorite homemade recipe, either way, we won't judge. Bake until cooked, then add red, white, and blue sprinkles on top before they cool. This gives an added touch of patriotic colors, while being a very easy snack to have on hand for your guests and family.
• Patriotic popcorn. If you've got a bunch of kids attending your event, you may want to put on a movie in the afternoon after a morning of swimming and barbecuing. If that's the case, red, white, and blue popcorn is a perfect afternoon snack for your little patriots. The popcorn has the white covered, and red and blue M&Ms make up the rest of your colors while adding a sweet touch to the salty popcorn.
• Patriotic brownies. Another one that can use store-bought brownie mix or a homemade recipe that's been passed down for generations. You'll need brownies, white frosting, blue frosting, and fresh strawberries, sliced. Once the brownies are baked, allow to cool, then spread blue frosting on top. Allow to harden slightly, add white frosting on top, then add a fresh strawberry slice on top. This treat will satisfy your sweet tooth.
• Patriotic rice krispies. You'll need 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal, divided into 2 cups a piece. 16 ounces of marshmallows, divided into three, 3 tablespoons of butter, divided, and finally red and blue food coloring. Put marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl with the butter for a couple of minutes, watching to when they begin to swell and almost touch the top of the microwave. At that point, remove from the microwave, stir, and add the food coloring (only to two bowls, the other remains plain). Add the cereal, and stire well. Press into a greased or wax paper lined 9x9 pan. Start with blue at the bottom, then no coloring, then red on top. Allow to cool, slice into chunks, and enjoy!

With all of these delicious 4th of July snacks, you are sure to find several that work for your upcoming celebration. Whether you have family coming over for a barbecue or you are hosting a large party with all your friends, these treats are sure to please.