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Jell-O Shots

Jell-O shots recipe made with three glossy layers—red, white, and blue—in clear plastic cups. You’ll dissolve each color with boiling water, set in the fridge between layers, and finish with a clean, jiggly pour.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
setting 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Calories: 165
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) cherry or strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) berry blue Jell-O
White layer
  • 1 box (3 oz) unflavored gelatin for white layer
  • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk for white layer
  • 1 cup boiling water divided
  • 1 cup cold vodka divided
  • 0.5 cup cold water for white layer
Remaining fluids
  • 2 cup boiling water divided
  • 0.5 cup cold vodka divided
  • 2.5 cup boiling water divided

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the red layer
  1. Bring 1 cup boiling water to a boil, then dissolve the cherry or strawberry Jell-O in it and stir for 2 minutes. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka, then pour into shot cups to fill one-third of the way for a translucent red base.
  2. Refrigerate the cups for 45 minutes until the red layer is fully set and looks firm, not sloshy.
Make and add the white layer
  1. In a bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup boiling water, and unflavored gelatin until dissolved. Cool slightly, stir in 1/2 cup cold water, and aim for a pourable, glossy texture before topping the set red layer.
  2. Spoon the white mixture gently over the red layer to avoid mixing colors, creating a clean middle layer. Refrigerate for another 45 minutes until the white layer is set.
Make and add the blue layer
  1. Dissolve the berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water and stir for 2 minutes to fully hydrate. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka, cool to room temperature, and prepare for a smooth, glossy blue pour.
  2. Gently pour the blue layer over the set white layer, leaving a level top. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until fully set, then serve cold with visible layers.

Notes

Pro tip: cool the Jell-O mixes to prevent the previous layer from softening, and pour slowly to keep the red/white/blue lines crisp. Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; freezing is not recommended as layers can weep after thawing. For a non-alcoholic version, replace vodka with an equal amount of cold water.