Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots
Easy and patriotic, these red, white, and blue jello shots have layers of cherry and blueberry gelatin and a sweetened cream layer for the strip of white.
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Table of Contents
- About Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots
- What tools do you need for jello shots?
- What’s in red, white, and blue jello shots?
- What type of vodka should you use?
- Can you decorate jello shots?
- Can you make jello shots in advance?
- How long are jello shots good for?
- Can you freeze jello shots?
- Notes & tips for jello shots
- More fun red, white, and blue recipes
- How to make red, white, and blue jello shots
- Recipe Details
About Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots
Celebrate your favorite red, white, and blue themed holidays with these fun vodka-infused jello shots. Easy to make and customize, these jello shots are always a fun party favor and are great for cooling off a crowd at an outdoor event.
What tools do you need for jello shots?
Before getting started, make sure you have the following on hand:
- 2 Ounce Plastic Shot Cups with Lids. You can also use standard shot glasses, but be aware that you can’t “shoot” with those – since it’s solid glass, you can’t squeeze the cups to help loosen the jello. If you use any type of firm container, plan on serving the jello shots with spoons.
- Funnel or Injector – Makes it easier to fill the jello cups.
- Mixing bowl, saucepan, whisk – All used for preparing and mixing the jello shots.
What’s in red, white, and blue jello shots?
- Red and blue gelatin – You can use any type of gelatin in a three ounce box, in any flavor that you want, so long as you have one red and one blue.
- Vodka and water – Because every jello shot needs spirits for punch and water to form the gelatin.
- Sweetened condensed milk – This creates the creamy white layer that separates the red and blue gelatin.
- Unflavored gelatin – Used to give the white layer a jello-like texture like the other two layers.
What type of vodka should you use?
To keep with the watermelon theme, any plain or watermelon-infused vodka or spirit will work just fine. I have used Smirnoff brand in the past and enjoyed it.
Can you decorate jello shots?
Certainly! Jello is sturdy enough to hold a lot of fun toppings, such as:
- Cool Whip or whipped cream (either storebought or homemade).
- A dollop of frosting.
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles.
- Fresh fruit, like sliced strawberries, cherries, raspberries, or blueberries.
- Sweet or sour candy.
- Chocolate or white chocolate shavings.
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).
However, I would recommend waiting to decorate the jello shots with whipped cream and orange slices until just before serving. The whipped cream will “deflate” over time, becoming a soupy mess on top of the jello shots.
How long are jello shots good for?
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.
Notes & tips for jello shots
- This recipe is designed to use two-ounce jello shot cups. You can also use one-ounce jello shot cups to easily double the yield (but you will have smaller jello shots).
- You can increase the yield of this recipe without any issues or adjustments, so feel free to whip up one large batch!
- Although you may be tempted to, do not add more than 1/2 cup alcohol to each batch of gelatin. 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.
More fun red, white, and blue recipes
How to make red, white, and blue 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 water to a saucepan, then bring to a boil.
Step 2 – Add blue powdered gelatin into a large mixing bowl, then pour in boiling water. Whisk them together until the gelatin is dissolved.
Step 3 – Pour in the vodka and a little more water, then whisk again to combine.
Step 4 – Create the first layer by pouring the jello into your chosen cups, filling about 1/3 of the way full. Once ready, transfer the jello shots to the refrigerator to set.
Step 5 – Let chill.
Step 6 – When the blue layer is set, start the white layer by adding cold water to a bowl and sprinkling unflavored gelatin on top. Allow the gelatin to bloom for about five minutes.
Step 7 – While the gelatin blooms, boil some more water. Once boiling, pour the hot water in with the gelatin, then whisk well.
Step 8 – Add the sweetened condensed milk and some vodka to the bowl, then whisk again. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Step 9 – Pour the white layer mixture on top of the blue gelatin, filling each cup about 2/3 of the way.
Step 10 – Let chill again.
Step 11 – When the white layer is set, prepare the red gelatin the same way you did the blue: boil water, mix boiling water with red gelatin until dissolved, add chilled vodka and a little more cup water, then whisk again.
Step 12 – Pour the red gelatin on top of the blue gelatin, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way or nearly full.
Step 13 – Let chill a final time.
Step 14 – Serve and enjoy!
Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups water, divided
- 3 ounces blue gelatin, such as blueberry
- 3 ounces red gelatin, such as cherry, strawberry, etc
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring 1 cup water to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat.4 1/2 cups water
- In a large bowl, pour in boiled water and add blue gelatin. Whisk quickly until gelatin is dissolved.3 ounces blue gelatin
- Add 1/2 cup chilled vodka and 1/2 cup cold water to gelatin mixture and whisk quickly until combined.1 1/2 cups vodka, 4 1/2 cups water
- Place jello shots in the refrigerator and let set for 1 hour or until firm.
- When ready for the next layer, add 1/2 cup cold water to a bowl. Sprinkle unflavored gelatin on top and let bloom for 5 minutes or until gelatin appears thick.4 1/2 cups water, 0.50 ounces unflavored gelatin
- While gelatin blooms, boil 1 cup of water.4 1/2 cups water
- Add boiling water to bowl with the gelatin and whisk until dissolved.
- Add sweetened condensed milk and a 1/2 cup vodka to bowl, then whisk well.14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, 1 1/2 cups vodka
- Allow mixture to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Remove jello shots from the refrigerator. Using a funnel or injector, pour white jello mixture into shot cups, smoothing or spooning out any bubbles that form on top. Fill cups 2/3 of the way full, leaving room for the final layer.
- Place jello shots in the refrigerator and let set for 1 hour or until firm.
- When ready to add the final layer, prepare the red gelatin the same way as the blue: boil 1 cup water, mix boiling water with red gelatin until dissolved, add 1/2 cup chilled vodka and 1/2 cup water, then whisk again.4 1/2 cups water, 3 ounces red gelatin, 1 1/2 cups vodka
- Remove jello shots from the refrigerator. Using a funnel or injector, pour red gelatin into shot cups, smoothing or spooning out any bubbles that form on top. Fill cups the rest of the way, roughly 3/4 of the way or almost full.
- Place jello shots in the refrigerator and let set for 1 hour or until firm.
- 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.
