How To Make Jello Shots
What better way to entertain than having a wide selection of multicolored, hard-hitting jello shots? College parties have been using them for years and whether you are hosting a party or just want to entertain a few friends, they will always get conversations started and lighten the mood. Here you will find a step-by-step guide on how to make jello shots perfectly, every time!
The Essentials
Note: These are just the essential items you will need for the traditional recipe. There are lots of ways to get creative with shots and I will go into this in further detail later on in the tips and tricks section.
- Plastic Jello Shot Cups with Lids
- Popsicle Sticks
- 6 ounces of different types of Jello mix (6 ounces will make around 32 shots)
- 3 ¼ cups of chilled water
- 1 cup of chilled Vodka (or alcohol of your choice)
Check out our supplies here if you need to buy cups and sticks!
The Steps or How To Make Jello Shots
Step 1
Combine together the cup of chilled Vodka and 1 cup of chilled water into a bowl, and then set aside in a refrigerator to chill. Make sure you let the mixture become fully chilled before moving to the next point. If it is not cool enough you will be left with weaker shots and nobody wants a weak shot!
Step 2
After your mixture in step 1 has cooled, bring the remaining water to a boil in a pot or jug. We will need 1 cup of boiling water for the shots to work, so boiling 1 ¼ cups should account for the evaporation that will take place while the water boils.
Step 3
Once we have one cup of boiling water it is time to add the jello! Take your jello mixture and gently fold it into the boiling water a little at a time, making sure to completely dissolve the granules.
Step 4
Next we are ready to complete the mixture. Grab the chilled Vodka mixture from the refrigerator and incorporate it into the jello mixture making sure to mix thoroughly.
Step 5
Now it is time to get the cups ready for the mixture. The easiest way to make sure party goers can slide the jello shots out in one piece is to lightly spray the cups with cooking spray before adding the mixture. Be sure to use a flavorless cooking spray to avoid any nasty taste, oils such as canola, corn or sunflower will all work fine. Also throw a Popsicle stick into each cup for easy removal.
Step 6
Finally, fill each cup with the jello mixture leaving a ½ inch gap from the top of the cup. Place the cups on a tray in the refrigerator until they have fully set, which can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, and then leave them there until they are ready to be served. Simple! You have finished the steps on how to make jello shots and can start making batches.
Tips & Tricks
As I mentioned earlier there are a number of ways you can get creative with jello shots. With simple modifications to the recipe we used you can produce some stunning looking shots. A simple trick is creating different color layers in your shots. Using the above recipe, make several batches of different colored jello mixture. Add each layer and let it set completely before adding the next, this will take more time but will produce a beautiful multi-colored shot which will be sure to impress your friends.
Another option to try is using different fruit skins to hold your shots instead of plastic cups which I am sure you have seen before. Simply slice your chosen fruit in half, for example an orange. Scoop out the fruit and use the empty skin as the cup to pour your mixture. Once the mixture has set you can cut the fruit shots into slices for an amazing party shot! How about trying a layered mixture in the fruit for an even more exciting shot?
Remember not to limit yourself! There are a wide range of different jello flavors including orange, strawberry, pineapple, melon, grape, cherry, lime, watermelon, cranberry and many more! Mix and match and design your own flavors, be sure to let us know if you would like to submit any recipes you come up with too.
I hope you have enjoyed this quick guide on how to make jello shots, if you are looking for some more recipes to choose from check out our list here. Also, if you would like to read a little bit about the history of jello, check out the Jell-O Wikipedia page here.
