Fun and Easy Jell-O Shots

Colorful and delicious, boozy Jell-O shots are always a sure hit at any party. Sometimes called "jelly" shots, these popular shooters can be made in any gelatin flavor and spiked with your favorite liquor.

Vodka and rum are the most popular options, but just about anything is possible. Once you have this basic Jell-O shot recipe down you can dress up your shooters with different colors, flavors, and add-ins.

Choosing a Flavored Gelatin for Your Shots

The first order of business when making jelly shots is choosing a gelatin to use—Jell-O is simply one popular brand of sweetened, flavored gelatin but the name is often used for any flavored gelatin—just like "Band-Aid" has come to describe any sort of adhesive bandage.

Most jelly shots are made with flavored gelatin (strawberry, raspberry, or lemon are always good choices!), but you can also buy unflavored gelatin and add your own flavorings. Our recipe calls for a 3-ounce box of flavored gelatin—the most common size you'll find at the grocery store.

Gelatin is made from animal collagen, but you can find store-bought vegan alternatives to make jiggly treats too.

The Best Alcohol for Jell-O Shots

Because of its neutral taste, vodka is widely considered the best liquor for Jell-O shots. It's like a blank canvas for the other flavors. This recipe doesn't require a fine vodka; a good-enough budget-friendly bottle will do, as the sweet flavor of the gelatin will balance out the vodka flavors.

If you prefer a more flavor-forward shot, rum also works well. You can also use tequila, whiskey, brandy, or gin, or experiment with flavored liquors, such as lemon vodka.

For the best results, stick to a liquor that's about 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume). Even if you'd like boozier shots, resist the urge to use a higher-proof liquor such as Everclear.

There are a few reasons for this: First, if you use a higher-proof liquor, you may have some issues getting the shots to set up, as liquor has a different freezing point than water. You need to maintain a balance between the alcohol and the other liquids or you might end up with a shot that's more soupy than jiggly. Second, high-proof alcohols tend not to taste as good as other liquors. And finally, packing a high-proof alcohol into a sweet little package makes it all too easy for people to overdo it.

How to Make Jell-O Shots in Cups, Shot Glasses, or a Pan

Once you've gathered your Jell-O and liquor of choice, the process of making Jell-O shots is simple: You simply combine the alcohol and cold water, dissolve the flavored gelatin in boiling water, mix the two liquids together, pour into a mold, and refrigerate until set.

Our recipe makes 16 1-ounce shots from a 3-ounce box of flavored gelatin. Scale this recipe up to make more shots or to fit bigger cups.

To mold the shots, you can use 1-ounce disposable plastic cups, shot glasses, or silicone molds in any shape. If using individual cups, place them on a sheet pan so it's easy to transfer them to to the fridge. For easy pouring into the shots, use a turkey baster or a pitcher with a thin spout.

Although individual shots are easier to serve and involve very little cleanup, you can also make a tray of spiked Jell-O and cut it into cubes to serve. Any baking pan with sides will do—even a glass pie dish. Once it's set, simply cut the gelatin into portions and either lay them out on a serving tray or leave them in the dish for guests to grab as they wish.

Jell-O Shot Recipe Tips

Here are a few expert tips on how to make the best Jell-O shots:

• For more vibrantly colored shots, you can add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture before pouring it into the mold.
• Small plastic shot cups are perfect for serving because a good squeeze pops the shot into your mouth. To make this easier, spray some cooking oil into the cups before pouring the liquid in, or rub them with a tiny drop of vegetable oil. This won't affect the taste.
• If making the shots a couple days ahead of time and/or taking them to a party, buy shot cups with lids to protect your creations and store in the fridge until serving.
• If you serve the shots in small glasses, it's best to provide miniature spoons so guests can dig out the gelatin.
• To make a bigger Jell-O creation and easily unmold it, reduce the liquid volume slightly. Try a test batch with all the liquids cut in half or double up on the gelatin.