vibrant, tasty, and alcoholic Jell-O shots are an excellent way to get the party started. These popular shooters, sometimes known as “jelly” shots, are made using flavored gelatin and a shot of vodka.
The most common choices are vodka and rum, but really anything goes. You can get creative with your Jell-O shots once you master the fundamentals by adding new colors, flavors, and garnishes.
Contents
Choosing a Flavored Gelatin for Your Shots
Jell-O is just one popular brand of sweetened, flavored gelatin, but the name has come to designate any flavored gelatin, just like “Band-Aid” has come to describe any form of adhesive bandage, therefore the first step in producing jelly shots is selecting a gelatin to utilize.
Jelly shots are commonly made using flavored gelatin (strawberry, raspberry, or lemon are great options), but unflavored gelatin is also available if you choose to flavor your own. The most commonly available size of flavored gelatin in grocery stores is a 3-ounce package, so that’s what we’ve called for in our recipe.
The Best Alcohol for Jell-O Shots
Vodka is typically regarded the finest liquor for Jell-O shots due to its neutral flavor. The other flavors can really pop against this background. An inexpensive bottle of vodka will do just fine for this recipe because the sweet gelatin will mask any harsh alcohol flavors. Rum is a great alternative if you want a shot with extra flavor.
You might even use flavored liquors like lemon vodka, or stick to the classics like tequila, whiskey, brandy, or gin. Alcohol with a strength of about 80 (or 40% ABV) is recommended. Don’t use a stronger liquor like Everclear just because you prefer stronger shots. This is due to several factors: First, because liquor has a greater freezing point than water.
You may have trouble getting the shots to set up if you use a higher-proof liquor. If the ratio of alcohol to other liquids is off, the resulting shot will be more soupy than jiggly. To add to that, high-proof liquors typically don’t have the best flavor. Finally, the convenient portability of high-proof alcohol makes it all too simple for people to drink excessively.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Vodka Jello Shots
Water – This Jello Mix Recipe Calls for Three 3-Ounce Boxes of Jello. Choose from a wide variety of flavors. You’ll need twice as many cups and other supplies if you can only get 6-ounce cartons.
Jello Mix – Jello shots made with non-flavored vodka won’t set the right way. (Below, I list some of my favorite flavored vodkas.) The finest vodka for jello shots, though, is a solid mid-range brand.
Vodka – I’m not referring to the $35-a-bottle variety. That’s what you use for vodka sodas and martinis. A bottle of Absolut or Smirnoff, which costs around $12, will do the trick. Don’t go for the cheap, large plastic bottle at the back of the store. The shots of cheap vodka will hit you like a ton of bricks. You’re looking for vodka with less bite.
How to Make Jello Shots
You’ll need a pot to boil water in, a whisk, a measuring cup, some tiny plastic (or glass) cups, and a measuring cup. You can use any flavor of Jell-O you choose, along with water and any kind of alcohol you like.
Step 1: Dissolve Jell-O
Put 1 cup of boiling water in a measuring cup, then add the Jell-O powder. Mix thoroughly with a whisk until all of the gelatin powder has dissolved in the water.
Step 2: Add Your Alcohol
When creating jell-o shots, one common error is to combine the boiling water and alcohol in a single pot. It’s important to add the alcohol to a chilled jell-o mixture so that it doesn’t evaporate.
Adding alcohol to a big measuring glass while it is still cold is not only safe, but also allows for instantaneous measurement. Whatever kind of liquor you choose can be used. Need some ideas? Here are 100 of our best jell-o shot recipes. Everyone can find something useful in it.
Step 3: Pour Into Cups
After the alcohol has been whisked in, they are ready to be poured into shot glasses. Shot glasses can be made of glass or plastic, but we don’t know anyone with a collection large enough to hold a full batch.
You could even go for the bizarre and serve your shots in unusual containers, such as these pink lemonade jell-o shots or our infamous pickleback jell-o shots. Put the shots in the fridge for at least three hours before serving.
Conclusion
You may be transported back to a college or other occasion where cheap beer was the drink of choice and Jell-O Shots were served out of garbage cans. Who, though, says that Jell-O Shots are just fun while in college?
These classic cocktails are always a hit since they’re simple to prepare and everyone knows how to drink them. With enough practice, you can make shots that are far superior to the standard fare by using high-quality liquor and complimentary flavors in place of cheap vodka and neon lights.
Jell-O Shots require only gelatin, water, and booze to make. Use any flavor of gelatin you like; just don’t make the mistake of buying unflavored gelatin and making sad, bland shots.
Alcoholic beverages such as vodka and white rum are recommended, while other spirits such as gin, whiskey, tequila, and brandy can be used instead. While other spirits might overpower the Jell-O with their own flavors, vodka’s neutrality will really let the Jell-O shine.
