4th of July Snack Mix is a tasty, festive treat filled with white chocolate-coated cereal, pretzels, and candy! This easy snack will be the hit at your summer parties!
Check out my Holiday recipe collection for other festive recipes.
4th of July Snack Mix
The 4th of July is a favorite time at our home. I 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.
Ingredients
- Cap’n Crunch: Make sure you grab a bag/box without berries in it.
- Corn or Rice Chex: Adds crunch and a light, airy texture to the mix. Corn or rice chex works great in this snack mix.
- Mini Pretzel Twists: You can also use mini pretzel rods. Break the pretzels in half before adding if you can’t find mini.
- Honey-Nut Cheerios:Honey-Nut Cheerios are sweeter than regular Cheerios and add a delicious flavor.
- White Chocolate Chips: Melt it with a little bit of oil for smooth, delicious chocolate that melts and hardens without streaks.
- Red, White, & Blue M&M’s®: During the summer, many stores sell this blend in the holiday or seasonal section. You can also find it online. If needed, use regular M&M’s and pick out the blues and reds. The white chocolate coating will provide the missing white color.
- Sprinkles: This is totally optional but sprinkles make it look extra festive and they’re so much fun! I love using star sprinkles or red, white, and blue jimmies.
Quick Tip
Use leftover red, white, & blue M&M’s in this Patriotic Flag Bark or 4th of July Popcorn!
How To Make 4th Of July Snack Mix
- Prep: Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Combine: Stir Chex, pretzels, Cap’n Crunch, Cheerios, and M&M’s lightly.
- Melt White Chocolate: Heat white chocolate chips and oil for 30 seconds, stir, then 25 more seconds. Stir until smooth.
- Mix Snack Mix: Pour chocolate over the mix and stir. Spread out on the pan.
- Add Toppings: Press M&M’s and sprinkles on top before the chocolate hardens.
- Let Harden: Let sit at room temp or chill for 10-20 mins. Break into pieces and serve.
Quick Tip
If you prefer, you can melt the white chocolate chips using the double-boiler method.
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.
- Using high-quality white chocolate will always result in a better melt and a richer taste. My favorites are Ghirardelli® and Guittard®.
- To avoid burning, microwave the white chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, stirring for 20-25 seconds between bursts. Remember, the chocolate continues to melt after being 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.
Storage
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
- No-Bake Granola Bars with a chocolate drizzle
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake only four ingredients
- Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Cake with a graham cracker crust
- Ice Cream Pie only three ingredients
- No-Bake Brownie Bites coated in chocolate
4th of July Snack Mix
4th of July Snack Mix is a festive blend of white chocolate-coated cereal, pretzels, and candy—easy to make and impossible to resist at summer parties!
Equipment
- Large sheet pan (15″ x 21″)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Chex cereal corn or rice
- 1 cup mini pretzel twists or mini pretzel rods, broken in half
- 2 cups Cap’n Crunch cereal without berries
- 2 cups Honey Nut Cheerios cereal
- 1 cup red, white, and blue M&M’s or regular M&M’s, plus additional M&M’s if desired, see note 1
- 1-1/2 bags (16 ounces total) white chocolate chips 2-3/4 cups
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil or canola oil, or shortening
- 2 tablespoons festive sprinkles optional, see note 2
Instructions
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a very large bowl combine the Chex, pretzels, Cap’n Crunch, Cheerios, and M&M’s.
- In a medium 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 between each burst).
- 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, then transfer to the prepared sheet pan and spread into an even layer.
- 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.
- Allow to harden at room temperature or place in the fridge until firm, about 10–20 minutes. Break into pieces and serve.
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: During the summer, many stores sell Red, White, & Blue M&M’s in the holiday or seasonal area of the store. You can also find this blend 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.
Note 2: Adding sprinkles is totally optional, but it adds extra visual appeal and it’s fun! I love star sprinkles or red, white, and blue jimmies.
Nutrition Note: Nutritional information is for approximately 1/2 cup servings.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I like it best within 3–4 days. You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature.
Nutrition
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
When to use the vegetable/canola oil?
Step 3!
When do you use the large cookie sheet lined with parchment?
Step 4!