Guinness Jello Shots
With tasty layers of bittersweet Guinness and rich Kahlua, these coffee-infused jello shots are perfect for stout lovers or St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
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Table of Contents
- About Guinness Jello Shots
- What’s in a Guinness jello shot?
- What tools do you need to make jello shots?
- How long do jello shots last?
- Can you freeze jello shots?
- Can you make jello shots in advance?
- Notes & tips for Guinness jello shots
- More great St Patrick’s Day Recipes
- How to make Guinness jello shots
- Recipe Details
About Guinness Jello Shots
With a rich, dark layer of Guinness-infused jello topped with foamy Kahlua, these Guinness jello shots look like tiny glasses of frothy beer.
What’s in a Guinness jello shot?
- Unflavored gelatin – The flavor in this recipe all comes from the spirits, so this recipe only needs straight gelatin to create the jello texture. You’ll also need to boil some water to activate the gelatin.
- Guinness – The namesame of this recipe, Guinness beer is known for having a malty sweet and bitter hoppy taste with hints of coffee and chocolate. It’s also what makes this jello shot have such a dark, rich color.
- Kahlua – This is used as the top, foamy layer of the shot. Kahlua helps tame the sharp Guinness flavor with some creamy sweetness. Plus, Kahlua is also a vanilla-coffee liqueur, which will help bring out the notes of coffee in the Guinness.
- Whipped Cream Vodka – This whipped-cream-infused vodka is combined with the Kahlua to give it a little more kick and creamy flavor.
What tools do you need to make jello shots?
Before getting started, make sure you have the following on hand:
- Shot Cups or Glasses – When picking a container to hold the jello shots, you have two options:
- You can use 2 Ounce Plastic Shot Cups with Lids, which are the classic choice for a jello shot. These are plastic cups that you can squeeze (to help loosen the jello so you “shoot” the jello shot) and the cups are disposable.
- You can also set these jello shots in glass shot glasses so that they look more like a glass of beer (as pictured) but keep in mind that your guests will likely need a spoon to eat the jello.
- Funnel or Injector – Makes it easier to fill the jello cups.
- Mixing bowl, saucepan, whisk – All used for preparing and mixing the jello shots.
- Hand Mixer – For giving the top layer of the jello shots a foamy look.
How long do jello shots last?
Once prepared, these jello shots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three to five days.
Can you freeze jello shots?
Bad news here, guys. Because jello shots have a gelatinous form and freeze differently than water or juice, I can’t recommend freezing these jello shots. The freezing process will change the texture of the jello and dilute the flavor.
For best results, enjoy these jello shots while they’re freshly made.
Can you make jello shots in advance?
Yes, you totally can! That’s the best part about jello – once it’s made, it can last a few days in the refrigerator. Just make sure the jello shots are stored in a sealed container (or that the individual cups have their lids).
Notes & tips for Guinness jello shots
- Although you may be tempted to, do not add more than 1/2 cup alcohol (total) to these jello shots. Alcohol does not solidify, so more alcohol would cause the jello not to set properly. The recipe is balanced so that you can still enjoy boozy jello shots with classic jello texture.
- If the shots set too firm, it means that not enough liquid (water) was used.
- If you want the Guinness layer ot be sweeter, you can replace a portion of the Guinness with Kahlua. How much you substitute will depend on your tastes, but I would recommend anywhere from 1/2 to 1 cup of Kahlua for Guinness.
- Not a fan of Kahlua? You can substitute this for an equal amount of Baileys Irish Cream or RumChata.
More great St Patrick’s Day Recipes
How to make Guinness jello shots
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – Add some of the water to a saucepan, then bring to a boil.
Step 2 – Add four packages of unflavored gelatin into a large mixing bowl, then pour in boiling water. Whisk them together until the gelatin is dissolved.
Step 3 – Pour in the Guinness, then whisk again to combine.
Step 4 – Pour jello into your chosen cups, filling about 3/4 full. Once ready, transfer the jello shots to the refrigerator to set.
Step 5 – Once the Guinness layer has set, boil the remaining water.
Step 6 – Add the last gelatin packet to a medium bowl, then pour in the boiling water. Whisk them together until the gelatin is dissolved.
Step 7 – Pour in the Kahlua and whipped cream vodka, then use a hand mixer to whip the mixture until about half of it is foamy.
Step 8 – Top off each of the jello shots with a layer of foamy Kahlua. If needed, whip the Kahlua mixture again to keep it frothy.
Step 9 – Transfer the jello shots to the refrigerator chill again until set.
Step 10 – Serve and enjoy!
Guinness Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 2 cup water, divided
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring 1 1/2 cup water to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat.2 cup water
- In a large bowl, add water and 4 packages of gelatin. Whisk quickly until gelatin is dissolved.1 1/4 ounce unflavored gelatin
- Add Guinness to gelatin mixture and whisk quickly until combined.2 cup Guinness
- Place jello shots in the refrigerator and let set for at least 1-2 hours or until set and firm.
- Once Guinness layer has set, boil the remaining 1/2 cup water.2 cup water
- In a medium bowl, add the boiled water, Kahlua, whipped cream vodka, and the last gelatin packet. Using a hand mixer, whip until half of the mixture is frothy, about 2-3 minutes.1/4 cup Kahlua, 1/4 cup whipped cream vodka, 1 1/4 ounce unflavored gelatin
- Using a funnel or injector, top the Guinness layer in the jello shots with the frothy mixture. About halfway through, whip the mixture again to keep it frothy.
- Place finished jello shots in the refrigerator and let set for at least 1 hour.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
