Patriotic Rice Krispie Treat Pops

Prepare the Pan

1. Line a 9x13-inch baking dish or baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking spray to help prevent sticking later. Set the pan aside while preparing the marshmallow mixture.

Melt the Marshmallows

1. Place a large saucepan over medium-low heat and add the butter. Once melted, stir in the mini marshmallows and continue stirring gently until the mixture becomes completely smooth and glossy. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.

Mix the Cereal

1. Add the crispy rice cereal to the warm marshmallow mixture and fold everything together with a silicone spatula until evenly coated. The mixture may look slightly sticky at first, which is completely normal. Work gently to keep the cereal from crushing too much.

Press and Cool the Treats

1. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Use a lightly greased spatula or buttered hands to gently press the mixture into an even layer without packing it down too firmly. Let the treats cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes until set enough to slice cleanly.

Slice and Chill the Pops

1. Cut the Rice Krispie treats into 16 rectangles or squares using a sharp knife. Carefully insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of each treat, pushing it about halfway through for support. Arrange the pops on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 20 minutes until firm.

Melt the Candy Coating

1. Add the white candy melts and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the coating is smooth and fully melted. The coating should look glossy and pour easily from a spoon.

Dip and Decorate

1. Dip each chilled Rice Krispie treat into the melted candy coating, covering about 3/4 of each pop. Allow any excess coating to drip back into the bowl before placing the treats onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Immediately decorate with red, white, and blue sprinkles before the coating begins to set.

Add the Chocolate Drizzle

1. Melt the red and blue candy melts in separate microwave-safe bowls until smooth. Once the white coating has fully set, drizzle the colored candy melts over the tops of the treats using a spoon or piping bag. Let the drizzle harden completely before serving or storing.