Watermelon Jello Shots

Infuse the taste of summer into a classic party-friendly dessert with these watermelon jello shots. Easy to make with watermelon-flavored gelatin and vodka!

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About Watermelon Jello Shots

Nothing says summer quite like watermelon and nothing says party season quite like a festive serving of jello shots.

And with these pink and green watermelon jello shots, you can have the best of both worlds: sweet-as-candy watermelon flavor paired with chilled jello and a friendly little punch of vodka.

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.

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.

What’s in watermelon jello shots?

• Pink and green watermelon gelatin – Both types of gelatin are used to give the classic look of a pink and green watermelon. If you only want to use one color of gelatin, I would recommend pink.
• Vodka and water – Because every jello shot needs spirits for punch and water to form the gelatin.
• Sour watermelon gummies – Totally optional, but a fun topper.

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 type of vodka should you use?

To keep with the watermelon theme, any plain or watermelon-infused vodka or spirit will work just fine. As far as brands, I regularly use Smirnoff and recommend it.

Notes & tips for watermelon jello shots

• Although you may be tempted to, do not add more than 1/2 cup alcohol (total) 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.
• 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!
• If you can’t find green watermelon jello, lime jello will work just as well.

More recipes with watermelon

How to make watermelon 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 green powdered gelatin to 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 1/4 of the way full. Once ready, transfer the jello shots to the refrigerator to set.

Step 5 – Let chill.

Step 6 – When the first layer is set, prepare the pink gelatin the same way you did the green: boil water, mix boiling water with pink gelatin until dissolved, add chilled vodka and a little more cup water, then whisk again.

Step 7 – Pour the pink gelatin on top of the green gelatin, filling each cup about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way.

Step 8 – Let chill again.

Step 9 – Top each jello shot with a sour watermelon gummy (optional).

Step 10 – Serve and enjoy!