How To Make Jell-O Shots and Pudding Shots Like a Party Pro (2024)

Gettin' jiggly wit it

A party tray of boozy, jiggly, Jell-O® shots or pudding shots is right where childhood nostalgia meets grown-up playtime. With so many flavors and colors to choose from—combined with all kinds of liquors—you can create shots to suit any occasion. I'll show you how to make Jell-O shots and pudding shots with tips and recipes, and show you how to make molded and layered Jell-O shots that'll be the talk of the party.

See our entire collection of Jell-O shot recipes

How to Make Basic Jell-O Shots

This recipe for Berry Shooters is a great starting point for the easiest kind of gelatin shots to serve in cups.

Makes about 10 2-ounce shots

Ingredients

1 (3-oz.) package flavored gelatin of your choice

1 cup boiling water

1 cup vodka

Directions

In a bowl, mix boiling water with gelatin. Stir constantly for a couple of minutes until no clumps remain and gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in vodka. Place shot glasses on a baking tray for easy transport. Pour gelatin mixture into paper or plastic shot cups* and chill in refrigerator until set, 1 hour or more.

*Reviewers suggest coating the shot cups lightly with cooking spray so the shots slide right out. Give each mini cup a quick wipe with a paper towel to remove excess and spread oil evenly.

Jell-O Shot FAQ

Q: Can I make Jell-O shots using only alcohol and no water? (Because how awesome would that be?)

A: Sorry to crush your dreams, but in order for the shot to solidify enough to hold its shape, there has to be enough hot water in the mix to activate the gelatin.

Q: What's the ideal alcohol to water ratio?

A: The amount of alcohol and water you use in your recipe really does make a difference to the look, taste, texture, and of course the strength of your gelatin shot. Here are some basic guidelines based on a 3-oz package of gelatin:

  • Classic: 8 ounces boiling water + 3 ounces cold water + 5 ounces vodka = a clear, firm gelatin shot that tastes like a sweet, slightly watered-down vodka-based drink.
  • Stronger: 4 ounces boiling water + 4 ounces cold water + 8 ounces vodka = a cloudier but firm and less overly sweet gelatin shot with a stronger taste of alcohol.
  • Ridiculous: 4 ounces boiling water + 8 to 19 ounces vodka = a cloudy but reasonably firm gelatin shot with a very pronounced alcohol flavor bordering on ickyness. At this higher alcohol to water ratio, you'd be serving shots that have many times more alcohol than the "classic" shot. Not necessarily a good thing.

Q: Can I use any kind of alcohol in a Jell-O shot?

A: Sure. A gelatin shot made with plain vodka will taste like the flavor of the gelatin, while a flavored booze combined with a complementary gelatin can taste like real co*cktails. For example, tequila + lime-flavored gelatin = margarita shot.

Q: How many shots should I make for a party?

A: A 3-ounce package of gelatin combined with 2 cups of liquid (water + alcohol) will make about 10 2-ounce shots. Figure 2 to 4 shots per guest. But remember: Each adorable gelatin shot is actually a serious slug of alcohol, so be a smart and responsible host.

How to Make Molded Jell-O Shots

How To Make Jell-O Shots and Pudding Shots Like a Party Pro (1)

These shots are firmer than basic Jell-O shots and can stand alone after they're popped out of their molds.

  • Use the basic recipe for Jell-O shots, but whisk a packet of unflavored gelatin (such as KNOX) into the flavored gelatin until thoroughly combined. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Stir in 1 cup vodka.
  • Spray a silicone mold, or other flexible mold, lightly with cooking spray and wipe excess with a paper towel. Place the mold on a baking sheet. Pour mixture into molds and chill until firm. Keep cold until you're ready to unmold them.
  • To unmold, pour a few inches of hot water into a baking pan larger than the mold. Dip the bottom of the mold in the hot water for a few seconds, then invert onto a tray.

How to Make Sliced Jell-O Shots

Follow directions for molded shots, but pour the mixture into a small baking pan to a depth of about an inch. Chill until very firm. Dip a knife or cookie cutters in hot water and cut the gelatin into shapes. Use a small knife or offset spatula to remove shapes to a separate tray. You can also place them in mini-cupcake liners for easy handling. Chill until serving. Try this recipe for Tart Lemon Drop Jelly Shots.

How to Make Layered Jell-O Shots

How To Make Jell-O Shots and Pudding Shots Like a Party Pro (2)

Allow several hours to make these colorful, multi-layered shots.

  • Working with 1 layer at a time, dissolve a 3-ounce package of flavored gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water. Add 1 cup vodka or other spirit.
  • Pour into prepared shot cups or molds, leaving room for the other layers. Chill until set, about 1 hour in the fridge. Prepare the next gelatin color layer and pour it on top of the first layer. Chill until set. Repeat with as many layers as you dare.

Jell-O Shot Flavor Ideas

How To Make Jell-O Shots and Pudding Shots Like a Party Pro (3)

Use mixed co*cktails as your inspiration. For extra style points, create layers using the colors and flavors of your main ingredients. Here are some ideas to get your started:

  • Top Shelf Margarita: lime-flavored gelatin + tequila + triple sec + orange liqueur
  • Simple Margarita: lime-flavored gelatin + tequila
  • Moscow Mule: unflavored gelatin + ginger beer + lime juice + vodka
  • Champagne co*cktail: unflavored gelatin + champagne + sugar
  • Bloody Mary: unflavored gelatin + tomato juice blend + hot pepper sauce + vodka + celery + horseradish
  • Pina Colada: unflavored gelatin + pineapple gelatin + coconut milk + rum + maraschino cherries
  • Mojito: unflavored gelatin + lime juice + mint + rum
  • Mimosa: unflavored gelatin + orange juice + champagne
  • Lemon Drop: unflavored gelatin + lemon vodka
  • Horchata Rum: unflavored gelatin + horchata + rum + honey
  • Fireball: orange-flavored gelatin + apple cider + Fireball whiskey

Jell-O Shot Serving Ideas

Sure, gelatin shots in little cups are easy peasy to do, but with a little time an effort, you can take them to a whole new level. Here's a party-ready way to serve watermelon shots that look like tiny watermelon wedges. Watch the video to see how it's done:

More serving ideas:

Serve watermelon gelatin + vodka shots in lemon wedges.

Edge the rim of your shot cups in salt, sugar, or candy sprinkles depending on your shot flavor.

Decorate shots with a sliver of fruit over the top.

Add a berry, maraschino cherry, or other small fruit to the shot cup before chilling.

Top shots with a squirt of whipped cream and sprinkles.

Slice shots into cubes and insert decorative co*cktail picks for serving.

Thread shot cubes onto skewers with bits of bite-sized fruit.

Pour the entire shot mixture into a Bundt pan, add fruit as it chills, and slice into servings.

How to Make Pudding Shots

How To Make Jell-O Shots and Pudding Shots Like a Party Pro (4)

Here's another dessert from your childhood that you can lace with booze. Same concept as Jell-O shots, but with a smooth and creamy texture.

  • Oreo Cookie Gourmet Pudding Shots
  • Chocolate Pudding Shots
  • Caramel Apple Martini Pudding Shots
  • White Russian Pudding Shot
  • Pina Colada Pudding Shots!

See our entire collection of shooter and shot recipes

How To Make Jell-O Shots and Pudding Shots Like a Party Pro (2024)

FAQs

Should you grease jello shot cups? ›

Tipsy Tips for Making Fun Jello-Shots

Squeeze me—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.

What alcohol is best for jello shots? ›

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

How do you get jello shots to slide out? ›

Pour gelatin mixture into paper or plastic shot cups* and chill in refrigerator until set, 1 hour or more. *Reviewers suggest coating the shot cups lightly with cooking spray so the shots slide right out.

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

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)

Should you flip jello shots? ›

That's where a new trick comes into play that promises to make downing those Jell-O shots at the party so much easier to consume: turn the shot upside down to prevent the Jell-O from sticking to the cup.

What makes jello shots not set? ›

Jello shots won't set properly if you add too much alcohol.

Do jello shots get stronger the longer they sit? ›

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.

Do you need to spray cups for jello shots? ›

And don't feel confined to just shot cups. Use molds for fun shapes like these banana jello shots, or fill hollowed-out citrus peels and slice into fruit slices like we did with these jello shots in orange wedges. Just make sure to spray any molds or containers you'll be using with a thin layer of cooking spray.

How do you make jello shots not stick to the container? ›

To make the gelatin shots not stick, you can put a little cooking spray on the inside of your cups. Simply spray a paper towel and wipe the inside of the cups with the cooking spray.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 5898

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.