Celebrate America with this tasty and festive 4th of July Snack Mix complete with white chocolate-coated cereal, pretzels, and candy! This easy snack mix will be the first thing to go at your summer parties!
Check out our Holidays recipe collection for other festive recipes.
4th of July Snack Mix
The 4th of July is a favorite time at our home. We usually do a big BBQ with this Burger recipe (or sometimes Teriyaki Burgers) and loads of side dishes and salads. Our “must-have” sides are Potato Salad, this Black Bean Corn Avocado salad, and of course this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.
And with a big summer spread like that, there’s always got to be a few desserts and snacks. This 4th of July Snack Mix is the perfect addition to the spread — it’s festive, sweet, and crunchy! Plus, it whips together quickly and there is no baking needed.
Festive Snack Mix Add-ins
- Red, White, & Blue M&M’s®: During the summer, a lot of stores sell this blend in the holiday or seasonal area of the store. You can also find it online. In a pinch, grab regular M&M’s and just pull out the blues and reds. (Visually, the white chocolate coating will add in that missing white color.)
- Sprinkles: This is totally optional but sprinkles add extra visual appeal and they’re so much fun! I love using star sprinkles or red, white, and blue jimmies.
4th of July Snack Mix Tips
- Use an extra-large sheet pan (15×21 inches) or two large sheet pans.
- Allow plenty of time for the mix to set up. The coated cereal takes about an hour to fully harden and the cereal to become firm (it’s soggy/soft right out of the oven).
- Using high-quality white chocolate will always result in a better melt and a richer taste. My favorites are Ghirardelli® and Guittard®.
- To avoid burned white chocolate, microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, and stir it for at least 20-25 seconds in between each microwave burst. Keep in mind that chocolate is still melting even after it has been removed from the microwave.
- Work quickly! White chocolate hardens fast, so toss everything with the melted chocolate and work quickly. You’ll also want to add sprinkles right after drizzling on the white chocolate so they’ll stick.
4th of July Snack Mix Storing Tips
- Store 4th of July Snack Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. We like this snack mix best within 3-4 days.
- You can freeze any leftovers in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature.
More “No-Bake” Summer Treats
4th of July Snack Mix
Celebrate America with this tasty and festive 4th of July Snack Mix complete with white chocolate-coated cereal, pretzels, and candy! This easy snack mix will be the first thing to go at your summer parties!
4th of July Snack Mix
Celebrate America with this tasty and festive 4th of July Snack Mix complete with white chocolate-coated cereal, pretzels, and candy! This easy snack mix will be the first thing to go at your summer parties!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (55g) corn or rice Chex cereal
- 1 cup (37g) miniature pretzel twists or pretzel rods (if using rods, break in half)
- 2 cups (70g) Cap’n Crunch cereal (without berries)
- 2 cups (80g) Honey-Nut Cheerios
- 1 cup (207g) Red, White, & Blue M&M’s (or regular M&M’s) Note 1
- 1 and 1/2 bags (16 ounces, 465g) white chocolate chips (2-3/4 cups)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vegetable or canola oil (or shortening)
- Optional: 2 tablespoons festive sprinkles, additional M&M’s Note 2
Instructions
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PREP: Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
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COMBINE: In a very large bowl combine the Chex, pretzels, Cap’n Crunch, Cheerios, and M&M’s.
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MELT WHITE CHOCOLATE: In a medium-sized bowl, add the white chocolate chips and vegetable oil. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and microwave for another 25 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth. If needed, return to the microwave for a little longer in bursts of 10 seconds, stirring for 10 seconds in between each burst).
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MIX SNACK MIX: Pour the melted white chocolate over the snack mix, using a spatula to scrape all the melted chocolate into the mix. Working quickly, gently stir until cereal mix is well coated in the white chocolate and then transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread into one even layer.
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OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: Immediately, press a few additional M&M’s on top of the mix for more color (optional) and add sprinkles (optional). Add these optional toppings quickly before the white chocolate hardens, or they won’t adhere.
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LET HARDEN: Allow to harden at room temperature or place in the fridge until firm, about 10-20 minutes. Break into pieces and serve.
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STORAGE: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. We like this snack mix best within 3-4 days. You can freeze any leftovers in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature.
Recipe Notes
Note 2: Adding sprinkles is totally optional, but adds extra visual appeal and it’s fun! I love using star sprinkles or red, white, and blue jimmies.
Nutritional information is for approximately 1/2 cup servings.
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 62.1g | Protein: 5.7g | Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 12.7mg | Sodium: 210.1mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 45.5g
We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.
