This post first appeared on Real Housemomss where I am a contributor.
Arnold Palmer Jello Shots aren’t your mama’s Arnie Palmer! Spiked with citrus vodka, these little guys will make you forego the fairways to party at the clubhouse!
Arnold palmers are the go-to summer drink at my house. A cold glass of lemonade with some iced tea floating on top is the perfect way to cool down on a hot day. And I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather turn into unique jello shots than our favorite summer drink. These shots are made for summer parties, but they’re delicious any time of year!
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Ever since I worked in restaurants, iced tea and Arnold Palmers were an art. Okay maybe not “an art” but there is definitely a right and a wrong way to make these drinks. It sounds silly but if you think about the last time you were served an iced tea where the ice was almost melted and the tea was just on the cold side of warm. Yeah. One of my favorite things about making Arnold Palmers was the float. I loved the natural layered effect that happened when I would pour the iced tea in over the lemonade. Of course, it all gets stirred together in the end, but for presentation points, it was worth the effort.
When I went about making these shots I wanted the same layered effect in the shot cups. I’m a firm believer there should be some indication of what you’re drinking either from the aroma or look of your drink. These Arnold Palmer shots have the look and taste of a summertime classic with a whole lot of vodka added in. I went with a citrus vodka for my shots, but you could use regular vodka. For those that want to take things to the next level, divide the jello base before adding in the vodka. Then add 1/2 cup citrus vodka + lemonade to one bowl and 1/2 cup sweet tea vodka + iced tea to the other bowl. The sweet tea vodka will darken up the color of the tea layer too.
Arnold Palmer Jello Shots
Ingredients
Jello Base:
- 2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin (or 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin)
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 cup hot water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup vodka regular or citrus-flavored
Lemonade Layer:
- ÂĽ cup lemonade
Tea Layer:
- ÂĽ cup iced tea
Equipment:
- 20 2-ounce plastic cups with lids
Instructions
- Place the plastic cups onto a baking sheet so they are spread out. Set aside.
- Add gelatin to a small mixing bowl. Pour in cold water and whisk to combine. Let sit for 2 to 3 minutes while you bring 1 cup of water to a simmer.
- Pour the hot water into the gelatin and whisk until the gelatin is dissolved.
- Add the sugar and whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Pour in the vodka and stir to combine.
- Pour half of the jello base into another bowl (you should have about 1 cup of liquid in each bowl.
- To one bowl, add the lemonade and stir. To the other bowl, add the iced tea and stir.
- Pour 2 tablespoons of the lemonade jello into the bottom of each plastic cup.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the fridge and chill the shots for 30 minutes or until the jello begins to set and the top is tacky.
- Remove the shots from the fridge and pour 2 tablespoons of the tea jello into each cup.
- Return the baking sheet to the fridge and chill for 2 hours, or until the jello is completely set. Cover each cup with a lid and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
Jen Konop says
If I want to do the sweet tea vodka, how much do you use for each layer ? In the recipe it says 1 cup vodka is used, but also mentions 1/3 c citrus vodka and 1/3 c sweet tea vodka. Please clarify – thanks! BTW – these look delicious. Hoping to make for country concert tailgate!
Julie Espy says
Hi Jen! So, what you’ll do is make the jello base without the vodka – you should have roughly 2 cups of the base. Then divide that into 2 bowls. Then you’ll add 1/2 cup sweet tea vodka + 1/4 cup iced tea to one bowl and then 1/2 cup vodka (or citrus vodka) + 1/4 cup lemonade to the other half. Proceed as directed. Sorry about the amount of vodka confusion. I bumped up the booze amount and apparently missed a spot when updating. Thanks for pointing that out! I hope you have a great time at the concert!!
Stephanie Lock says
Have you tried to make it with the pre-made Arnold Palmer tea? If so, how do you adjust your recipe? Does it taste just as good as your recipe above?
Julie Espy says
Hi Stephanie! I haven’t used the pre-made mix, but you absolutely could! Make the jello based on the recipe card and substitute 1/2 cup pre-made Arnold Palmer mix for the lemonade, and iced tea. I’m sure it’ll taste just as good, as long as you like the Arnold Palmer mix you use. 🙂 Chill for 2- 3 hours and you’re good. The only big difference is that there won’t be layers.