How are you celebrating the Fourth of July this year?

Whether you're attending a big neighborhood BBQ or a small family picnic, this flag-inspired candy station is sure to be a hit. The key to making this setup is simple: empty egg cartons!

After a quick wash with soapy water, Nellie's Free Range Egg cartons make perfect trays for this patriotic treat station. You can choose candies of all shapes, sizes, and flavors, or you can use chopped strawberries, blueberries, and apples to create your colorful design right in the carton. And did you know that every carton is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and has half the carbon footprint of a molded fiber carton? It's true! And when all the candies have been gobbled up, you can recycle the empty egg cartons again.

If you're a guest at a friend or family member's BBQ, we recommend bringing your red, white, and blue candies in jars and setting up the flag once you arrive. And speaking of jars, when buying candies for this treat, bring some empty jars to your local bulk store. Many bulk stores allow containers to be weighed before filling so that you can avoid single-use plastic bags. Keep reading for even more tips and tricks.

Supplies

3 empty Nellie's Free Range Egg cartons
Scissors
Star-shaped silicone chocolate mold
White candy melts
Assorted candies in red, white, and blue

How to make the candy station

Begin by cutting the flat lid segments off of three empty egg cartons and set aside for another project (such as this festive floral garland) or recycle. Leave two of the hinged cartons as is, but cut the third down the center hinge. Hand-wash the egg cartons with soap and water and let dry.

Arrange the egg cartons on the table as shown, so that the flag is 6 compartments tall and 12 compartments long. Start by filling the top left 15 compartments (3 compartments by 5) with blue candies, and then fill the remaining rows with alternating red and white treats.

To make the stars, warm the white candy melts in the microwave, stirring every 15-30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Fill the chocolate mold and let harden in the fridge.