Adult Jell-O Shot Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of alcohol to water in jello shots? ›

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 cup vodka, or other liquor. Place the mixture in the refrigerator to reach a consistent temperature. Place 1 (3-ounce) package any flavor gelatin in a separate bowl or glass measuring cup, and slowly add the remaining 1 cup boiling water.

Jello shots won't set properly if you add too much alcohol. Generally, a basic batch of jello shots is made with one cup of juice or water, one packet of gelatin, 1/2 cup of cold water and 1/2 cup of alcohol. However, jello shots can be made with as much as 2/3 cup alcohol without changing their texture.

1 small box of jello yields about 15 jello shots (2 cups of liquid). 2 boxes (or 1 large 6 oz. box) yield 30 shots, which will fit nicely on a baking sheet to transport them easily to the refrigerator.

A standard recipe made with 3 ounces of Jell-O powder calls for 5 ounces of 80-proof vodka and 11 ounces of water, but this results in a shot that tastes watered-down. To make a stronger shot, use just 4 ounces of water and between 8 and 14 ounces of vodka (to taste)

Note: The colder your alcohol is, the better the result. I think this has to do with the activation of the gelatin. Personally, when possible, I keep the bottle of alcohol in the freezer for several days before making my shots.

Jello shots are a fun addition to any party. Spiked with alcohol, these boozy jigglers are easy to make and come in every color and flavor imaginable. While vodka is a popular option because of its neutral flavor, you'll find jelly shot recipes that use rum, tequila, whiskey, liqueurs, wine, and even a dark beer.

Jello Shots, like life, are all about balance. That said, if you want a strong one, it is possible if you leave it in the fridge long enough. In a Supercall experiment, we found that the strongest Jello Shot that will set is three-to-one ratio of 80-proof alcohol to water, and it took a full day to become mostly solid.

DON'T Expect Jello Shots to Get You Drunk

While people can go heavier on the booze, the standard Jello Shot holds significantly less alcohol than a regular shot. That's the great thing about Jello Shots, Williams says. “You can have fun, throw back a couple Jello Shots and still be fine.”

But the best vodka for jello shots is a good middle-shelf option. I'm not talking about high-end $35 a bottle stuff. That's for martinis and vodka sodas. A $12 bottle of Absolut or Smirnoff will work just fine.

How Long Will My Vodka Last? An unopened bottle of unflavored vodka has a shelf-life of decades. After opening, it will still be good for 10 to 20 years. For flavored vodkas, the shelf-life spans from six months to 2 years.

Do jello shots count as shots? ›

A jello shot, colloquially, or Jell-O shot, is a gelatin and alcohol mixture consumed as a shot.

You do not want to freeze jello shots. You can speed up the set time by placing it in the freezer, but you'll have to keep checking them to make sure they don't freeze. Jello shots can last in the fridge for up to three to five days, so you can still make them in advance of the party without having to freeze them!

A jello shot container will yield 12 shots if the cups are filled to the top, or if you fill them half way you can get about 20 shots per jello box. Nutritional information assumes 12 shots per jello box. You can make these shots 7-10 days ahead of time.

Why didn't all my shots set properly? Typically this happens when you didn't stir the gelatin mix with the boiling water long enough.

To do it, simply pour your liquid Jell-O shot into the cups, add the lid, and then flip each one before refrigerating. The result is a shot that sticks to the lid rather than the edges of the cup, allowing you easy access to that Jell-O goodness and making it so much easier to slurp down.

Vodka and white rum are both great options for your alcohol, although other spirits, like gin, whiskey, tequila and brandy all work.

To help jello shots to set more quickly, make sure you mix VERY COLD ingredients into your mixture. That means put your alcohol in the freezer and have some ice cubes ready to go. If making them from a box of flavored gelatin: Dissolve the box of jello powder into boiling water and stir until dissolved.