Vodka Jello Shots Recipe

Vodka Jello Shots are a classic party cocktail that’s easy to customize with any flavor you’re craving… and trust me, they go quick. It all comes down to the perfect vodka-to-water ratio, so they hold their shape but still pack a little punch. They take about 10 minutes to make and a few hours to set – then you’re done.

cherry and blue berry jello shots stacked next to a bowl of shots

Why We Love Jello Shots

  • Jello shots are hands down the most beloved college party cocktail ever! Vodka jello shots have been a staple with my friends and me ever since our 20s. We’d make them for Saturday nights at my friend Chris’s house, take them tubing down the Salt River, and they’d pop up just about every time someone had a party.
  • Honestly, what’s not to love about jello shots?! They’re easy to make, everyone loves them, and the variety of colors makes them extra fun. So clear out some space in your fridge and let’s get mixing!
  • This is your basic vodka jello shots recipe. We’re not making them from scratch with unflavored gelatin. We’re using boxes of flavored Jell-O gelatin mix to make these jello shots. While I love cocktail-inspired jello shots, these classic jello shots with vodka are my go-to for any occasion that warrants ’em.
  • The only real decision you have to make for this recipe is which flavor of Jell-O (and vodka) you want to use. Decisions decisions.
baking sheet of cherry, blue berry, orange, and lime jello shots

Ingredients

WATER: Just like regular jello, you’ll need some water for these shots.

JELLO MIX: This recipe uses 3-ounce boxes of jello. You can grab any flavor you like. If you can only find 6-ounce boxes, be sure to double the rest of the ingredients and have more cups on hand.

VODKA: You need regular vodka for standard jello shots. (I have flavored vodka recommendations below.) 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. Just don’t pick a bottom-shelf big plastic bottle. The cheaper vodka will come through in the shots and punch you in the face. You want a vodka that’s a little smoother.

ingredients to make jello shots in bowls on a counter

How to Make Jello Shots

STEP 1 Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Then pour a 3-ounce box of gelatin mix into a medium mixing bowl or 4-cup glass measuring cup. Pour the boiling water over the jello and whisk until the jello is completely dissolved. Add the vodka and cold water to the mixing bowl and give everything a whisk to mix it all up

jello and hot water in a glass bowl with a whisk

STEP 2 Place the plastic jello shot cups on a baking sheet without the lids. (Doing this makes the shots easier to move around.) Pour the jello mixture into plastic cups and chill in the fridge until set, about 2 hours.

jello shot mix being poured into a small plastic cup

STEP 3 Once the jello shots are set, you can top them with the lids for storing and to make them travel-friendly. You can serve the shots as is or add a swirl of whipped cream on top just before eating.

close up of a jello shot with whipped cream on top

Tips & Tricks

  • You’ll get about 10 to 12 vodka jello shots per 3.1-ounce box of Jell-O. So if you’re making your shots all one flavor, be sure to grab a few boxes so you’ll have enough for everyone.
  • Black cherry, grape, and berry blue jello mixes are my favorites when I’m making a lot of shots. But since vodka is a neutral spirit, you can use ANY jello flavor you love best!
  • If you’re topping the shots with whipped cream, wait until the last minute. The gelatin will break down the whipped cream, and it’ll look melted after a few minutes. Option B would be to use Cool Whip instead.

Variations

There are TONs of flavor combinations you can try with a box of jello and flavored vodka. These are some of my favorites.

🍒🍈 Lime vodka + Cherry gelatin = Cherry Limeade
🍑🍑 Vanilla vodka + Peach gelatin = Peach Cobbler
🍋🥧 Whipped vodka + Lemon gelatin = Lemon Meringue Pie
🥥🍍 Coconut vodka + Pineapple gelatin = Pina Colada
🍓🍰 Cake vodka + Strawberry gelatin = Strawberry Shortcake
🍯🍏 Caramel vodka + Green apple gelatin = Caramel Apple
🍊🍊 Vanilla vodka + Orange gelatin = Creamsicle

close up of jello shots in a white bowl

Jello Shots Recipe FAQs

How long does it take to make jello shots?

The mixing and pouring part? About 5 minutes. The hard part is waiting for the shots to set up.

How long do jello shots take to set?

They take between 2 to 3 hours to set up all the way.

If the jello is still liquidy after the allotted time, something in your liquid-to-gelatin ratio was off.

How long are jello shots good for?

You should eat your shots within a week. Two weeks at the absolute most! After that, the gelatin will start to break down and they will have a weird texture and the taste isn’t great.

looking down at a bowl of jello shots with cups around it

What is the best alcohol to put in jello shots?

I use 80-proof vodka for these shots. A neutral spirit (AKA regular vodka) will pair with any flavor of jello and let that flavor be the star. You can use flavored vodkas to mix things up. Just know that these vodkas have a lower ABV than regular vodka of 60-proof instead of 80-proof.

If you want to kick things up, you can use 100-proof vodka. Stick with the 1 cup hot water to 1/2 cup cold water to 1/2 cup vodka ratio if using high proof vodka, though. You want to stay away from Everclear. Sure, it has a real kick, but it doesn’t set up the same, and can lead to runny shots. You’ll also lose the yummy jello taste, and it’ll be like shooting straight high-proof alcohol.

How much alcohol is in a jello shot?

This jello shot recipe uses 1/2 cup vodka for 12 shots = 1/3 ounce vodka per shot. That’s 4 jello shots to equal 1 regular shot of vodka.

Even if you take out the cold water and use 1 cup vodka = that’s still only 2/3 ounce vodka per shot. This is typical of jello shots. That’s 2 jello shots to equal 1 shot of vodka.

Can you get drunk off jello shots?

Eventually. The truth is, while you may get a big alcohol taste, there isn’t really that much in each shot. You’d need about 3 jello shots to equal 1 shot of vodka. Beyond that, it all comes down to your tolerance.

How do you take jello shots?

If you’re using the type of cups pictured here, you have a couple of options. You can run your finger or tongue around the outer edge of the shot and then suck it out of the cup. I’ve also had readers (thanks, John!) say they chill the shots upside down so the shots rest on the lid. To take the shot, you pop off the cup and suck the shot off the lid.

If trying the upside-down method, I’d let the jello set for 30-45 minutes first so there’s less chance of the liquid seeping out. You can also test one shot to see if the liquid stays in before committing to flipping them all.

jello shots stacked in a pyramid

What You Need

Making jello shots is easy with the right tools. Here’s what I use every time:

Jello shot cups with lids – the 2-ounce size is perfect. Lids mean you can stack them in the fridge without covering with plastic wrap, and they’re easy to transport to a party.

Squeezable jello shot cups – These are a game-changer. No digging your fingers in, no fighting with plastic – just squeeze and shoot. Your guests will love them, and you’ll never go back to regular cups.

Jello shot syringes – A fun alternative to cups, especially for themed parties. Fill them ahead, and guests shoot them directly. No cups, no mess.

A small funnel – Pouring hot liquid into tiny cups without a funnel is a recipe for a sticky mess. A small kitchen funnel makes this go 10x faster.

A large liquid measuring cup – You need something with a pour spout to fill the cups cleanly. A 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup is ideal.

square image of jello shots piled in a bowl

Vodka Jello Shots

Julie Kotzbach
The only vodka jello shots recipe you need – perfect ratio, sets every time, and ready in minutes. The party drink everyone asks for.
4.65 from 1009 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 10 shots
Calories 60 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Layout plastic cups on a baking sheet without the lids on. Set aside.
  • Pour the gelatin mix into a medium mixing bowl or 4-cup liquid measuring cup. Pour the boiling water into the bowl and whisk until gelatin is completely dissolved. Pour in the vodka and cold water and whisk once more to combine.
  • Pour the jello mixture into the plastic cups, filling about 3/4 full so there is room for the lid to be put on later.
  • Refrigerate the shots for 2-3 hours or until set. Put a lid on each cup and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Notes

  • You can use any flavor of Jell-O you like. I grabbed grape, orange, cherry, lime, and berry blue. Each 3-ounce box of gelatin mix will make about 10 shots, so it’s good to make a few different flavors.
  • Want to kick these shots up a notch? Omit the 1/2 cup cold water and use 1 cup of vodka instead. Just be sure to warn your friends!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 shotCalories: 60 kcalCarbohydrates: 8 gProtein: 1 gSodium: 42 mgPotassium: 1 mgSugar: 7 gCalcium: 1 mgIron: 0.01 mg

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.

Keyword jello shot, vodka jello shots
Tried this recipe?If you made this recipe, leave a comment and star rating to let others know how it turned out.

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4.65 from 1009 votes (978 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




107 Comments

  1. Anthony Allen says:

    5 stars
    I made these the other day but put them in a cupcake pan and topped with whip cream.. I used gray goose vodka and omg they were amazing. Thanks for the recipe worked well

    1. What kind of pan did you use to get them out of the cupcake pan in tact?

      1. Hi Ms. K! You can use a silicone pan so you can pop out the shots or give your muffin tin a quick spray of coconut oil (or cooking oil if you’re cool with that) so the jello releases.

    2. Don’t use a rusty cupcake pan. Best to use the mini cupcake pans. Can you freeze them for faster use?

      1. Hi Kathy! I don’t recommend freezing the jello shots. They’ll keep in the fridge for a few days if you need to make them ahead of time. That being said, if you HAVE to freeze them, you can. They’ll last for about 2 weeks in the freezer. Then thaw them in the fridge overnight before serving.

    3. Maybe after they’re frozen they I can put them in a cupcake foil like paper cups ? I just don’t want everybody touching them right ? or even a toothpick maybe before they’re completely frozen. But yes I have a little baby cupcake pan I’m gonna try to in

      1. Sometime i use a 2oz. Portion cup with lid, and chill upside-down they stick on lid, “like a shot on a little plate”

    4. 5 stars
      this recipe soundz awesome!! i am looking for some fun things for a family gathering.. looking for watermelon and booze next. thanks! 🙂
      hey anthony did you just eat them out of the pan with spoons?

  2. 5 stars
    Super simple to make, I wound up making cups instead of regular little shots! I did grape and black cherry ones and used strawberry vodka.

    1. What type of pan are you using to release the jello, plz?

      1. I found the easiest thing to use is I got some fake syringes from party city around Halloween and you get almost every drop

  3. Anne Cannon says:

    5 stars
    How long are Jell-O vodka shots good for? I made them on New Years Eve and now I am on a 21 day challenge with no alcohol. Will they still be good on January 23?

    1. Hi Anne! They’re not going to last that long and still have a good taste/texture. You can get about a week to a week and a half out of these shots. The gelatin starts to get more solid as they sit in the fridge and it can get gross. I don’t want that for you. 🙂

      1. Amy Thrift says:

        I made some when i moved in to my 1st apartment like 5 years ago…. I lived with my dad and he was sober so no drinking…. I was so excoted to be able to drink at home…… Anyway, i did them that night and had made like 50 of them (idk why) and then forgot about them (probably had like 10 between me and my friend and they were made with 1 cup of alcohol and were taller cups) and like a month or 2 or so later I found them and decided “ok im so eating a bunch of these tonight” grabbed like 4 to go sit down and then have while i watch tv. When i toched it, to get it out of the cup i thought it felt weird but i wasnt sure as i normally just carry a butter knife or tooth pick with me when im doing jello shots, but as soon as it was in my mouth i knew something was wrong….. It was gritty textured and tasted foul. I was so pissed because i had to throw so many away because i used like 2 whole bottles of alcohol (1 vodka 1 rum).

        1. Jello shots definitely have a shelf life. You want to eat them within a week or so of making them. The gelatin will start breaking down and then… well you know.

      2. Does the vodka need to be cold?

  4. 5 stars
    Thanks for a great recipe and the nostalgic memory of tubing the Salt! I no longer live in Az but have great memories of all the desert fun!!

    1. Tubing is seriously the best! Glad I could bring back that memory. 🙂

  5. How far in advance can you make these? I have a party Friday but would like to not make them last minute unless it’s necassary. I was hoping to make them a day or two before?

    1. A day or two ahead of time is just fine. Be sure to keep them in the fridge with the lids on. 🙂

      1. Kylie Miller says:

        how strong are the shots with only 1/2 cup of vodka?

  6. I was planning to make them in a corningware casserole rectangular glass dish that will work too I hope and then i was going to cut them into cubes and use the next day.

    1. Hi Terri! You can absolutely do that! if the jello sticks a bit, dip the bottom of the dish in warm water for about 10 seconds to help it release. 🙂

  7. A tip: let your boiling water a gelatin cool a bit before adding alcohol. This prevents your alcohol from boiling out resulting in weaker shots than intended.

    1. Good call! I usually bring my water just to simmering so it’s hot enough to melt the gelatin/jello mix without evaporating the alcohol. 🙂

      1. Even better tip, replace cold water with ice.
        Let it melt completely and then add the vodka.

  8. Great basic recipe! We always make ours then freeze them to set! Let them thaw an hour or so in the fridge before you want to eat!

    1. Freezing them is a great idea! Especially if you’re taking them along with you in the summer. No melting, just nice cool shots later. 😀

  9. I need to make a large amount of jello shots for a benefit dinner(250). What is the best way to make such a large amount?

    1. Hi Shawn! You can totally make large batches of the jello shots. Just multiply in ingredients accordingly and make sure the jello powder all dissolves.
      So say for example you’re making 5 flavors – 50 shots per flavor – you’d want 5 boxes of jello, 5 cups boiling water, 2 1/2 cups cold water, and 2 1/2 cup vodka per flavor.
      Hope this helps! 🙂

  10. Nessebeth says:

    Probably a silly question, but I bought the big 6 ounce box. Do you just double everything and it still works out? Has anyone every doubled and used the big box of Jello?

    1. Pretty much! You’ll use the amount of hot water listed on the box and mix it with the jello powder. Then use 1/2 the amount of cold water listed and make the other half vodka, OR use all vodka instead of cold water if you want them really strong.

  11. Hi there!

    I was thinking of making Jell-O shots, probably blue berry flavoured, I was wondering if I could replace the cold water with sprite/seven up instead?

    and then also use either vodka or rum?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Monica! You can totally use a lemon-lime soda in place of the cold water! I would stick with vodka for the berry blue flavor. Silver rum goes better with the lime jello, kind of like a daiquiri, or pineapple.

      1. Awesome, thank you so much!

  12. Excited to make these tonight for a party we’re having tomorrow! Quick question, if you use 1 cup of vodka for a stronger flavor, should the alcohol be cold since you are replacing the cold water? I just want to make sure I make them correctly. Thanks!!!

    1. Hi Caroline! Room temperature vodka (or cold) is just fine. Adding cold water helps bring down the jello temp so it’ll cool sooner and not melt the plastic cups.

  13. 5 stars
    I have never seen this method, definitely try it right away

  14. 5 stars
    These are fantastic! Next I want to try that champagne punch – now to convince the hubs I need another girls night in ?

  15. 5 stars
    Jello, came out with Cotton candy flavored, with Wonder woman, on the front at my local Grocer Outlet I grabbed 8 and we are making them, since we our out of school, for 6 weeks when we get closer to Memorial day, and we can get our travel trailer, undo and ready for summer, and lots of summer fun, and several flavor of Jello, orange, grape, strawberry, shots, they are so good.

  16. 5 stars
    These are STRONG! I would cut the vodka in half next time.

  17. julie you are bests

  18. Susan Dubose says:

    5 stars
    I always forget the ratio when making Jell-O shots, but these were so easy to make and they set up perfectly!

  19. Karen Riley says:

    5 stars
    Thanks a lot Julie. Here I was thinking I’d jump on here and learn to make jello shots real quick. But nnnoooo! You had to go making red, white and blue ones (it’s 4th of July). And if that wasn’t enough, then you had to mention bomb pop jello shots and the black magic…4th of July will be all popped out by the time I finish making all these yummy shots and the whole apartment complex will be drunk!!! Thanks for all the great ideas. As far as the black magic, I’m gonna try something red, blue and white sugar on top (???). Cant wait to get started…headed to the kitchen now and the grocery store and liquor stores as soon as they open ??

  20. 5 stars
    We should eat your shots within a week. Because it’s even taken all by my kid just some days.

  21. Emily Stimpson says:

    5 stars
    That’s easy to whip up and can be made in any flavor of Jello you love!

  22. Nicole Albavera says:

    5 stars
    Hey I know this might be a little late, but I’m planning on making 50 Jell-O shots! What is the best way to make these ?

    1. Hi Nicole! Layout two baking sheets, set up your cups, mix, and pour! If you’re making all one flavor/color you can mix all the jello at once. If you want a rainbow of colors, you’ll want 5 different jello flavors (since the small boxes make 10 shots each).

    2. 5 stars
      You can totally make large batches of the jello shots. Just multiply in ingredients accordingly and make sure the jello powder all dissolves.
      So say for example you’re making 5 flavors – 50 shots per flavor – you’d want 5 boxes of jello, 5 cups boiling water, 2 1/2 cups cold water, and 2 1/2 cup vodka per flavor.
      Hope this helps! 🙂

      REPLY

  23. After properly chilled, will they travel well in a cooler for about a 3 hour road trip??

    1. Hi Tammy! Yes, after the shots set you can pop them in a cooler with some freezer packs and they’ll be just fine.

  24. I just love the Salt River tubing reference! Question, I have some glittery sugar free jello, think these would set up ok? I’ve made regular jello shots lots of times for tibing. But we have an event coming up in s few weeks I’d love to make glitter ones for but can only find in sugar free :/

    1. Hi Dianna! Any jello gelatin mix will work the same for this recipe – so your sugar-free glittery stuff is good to go. If you want to add your own glitter to regular jello for these shots, you can buy disco dust. It’s a food-grade edible glitter used for cake decorating. It comes in a bunch of colors and a little goes a long way. 🙂
      https://amzn.to/3vmn1k4

  25. I use 2 jello (3 oz) and 1 1/2 hot water and 1/2 liquor I didn’t add cold water will it come out right

    1. Hi Sandra! Yes, they’ll be fine. The jello will just take longer to cool all the way and set up. 🙂

  26. 5 stars
    Gong to make some of these for a 4th of July party, I’m thinking red and blue Jello flavors, then whipped cream on top! Would sugar free Jello work for this?

  27. Bill McLeish says:

    4 stars
    Good recipe but disappointed at the use of so much plastic… The world is in trouble with plastic pollution already, why use something that will take 1000 years to degrade instead of glass or ceramic which can be washed and re-used?

    1. Hi Bill. You can absolutely make these shots in a glass baking dish (turn them out and cut into squares) or silicone molds or glass shot glasses. The plastic cups are so you can pack them up and take them to a party, tubing, poolside, etc.

      1. Hi Julie, in response to Bill’s comment, I totally agree with him 🙂 and I haven’t made these yet. Would regular white reusable plastic ice cube trays work or would they be too hard to get out? And what are some ideas to put in to be able to take them out without hands touching them?

        1. Hi Karen. You could make these shots in an ice cube tray. Each divot is usually around 1 ounce, so the recipe should yield twice as many shots. I would recommend spritzing the tray with coconut oil or vegetable oil to make the shots easier to remove later. If it’s a silicone tray, you should be able to press them out of the divots easily. If they stick (silicone of regular tray), you can dip the bottom in some warm water to help release the shots like you would for a jello mold. 🙂

    2. Amy Duffy says:

      5 stars
      I do these in the smallest size Dixie cup I can find, Bill. Maybe others are doing the same– or in other molds.

    3. Hi Bill, I was thinking the same thing as soon as I read it. I haven’t made them yet. I do have one or two mini ice cube silicone trays like for a mini fridge so I know those will work. But I was also thinking I might just use a regular ice cube tray. So I’m going to ask the Creator if she thinks a plastic reusable ice cube tray would work or if I should just stick with the mini silicone?

  28. Do you need to use cups with lids?

    1. Hi Jessica! You don’t have to use the little cups with lids. They’re just convenient for throwing the shots into a cooler or stacking them. You can make the shots in a baking pan or (mini) muffin tin coated with nonstick spray, silicone molds, glass shot glasses, or even a retro jello mold if you make a big enough batch. Whatever you’re feelin’.

  29. 5 stars
    Fun fact! After you pour them in the plastic cup, put the lid on and turn them upside on the baking sheet before popping them in the fridge. This way when they set, they’ll be stuck on the lid portion for easier removal without having to use your finger to get them out!

  30. GrammarCooks says:

    5 stars
    It took 12 minutes and I’ve made both a regular and a sugar free batch. I’m glad I checked ahead of time to see if I was supposed to keep the lids off until after they’re set, because I would’ve just put the lids on, but now that I think about it, it’ll take longer for it to cool if the lids are on. I’ve got D&D in 2 hours and I’m ready to slap those lids on and pack them up for all my friends. 🙂

  31. This reminds me of a funny story!
    My hubby and I made pudding shots for an outing and gave everybody some, skipping over my MOL(knowing she would decline), after which she indignantly demanded that we don’t leave her out. Okay??? We gave her a handful of pudding shots. “These are so yummy and so fun! Is that rum extract? We should make these for the youth group!” 😂😂😂 No. No, we definitely should NOT.

  32. How durable are these if they’re not kept cold? I’m guessing the end product doesn’t need to be kept terribly cold since they’re good for tubing? We’re either tubing or doing a party in the country, so no refrigeration and it may take a while to get there but I’ve got an ice chest.

    1. Hi Bonnie! An ice chest should be fine as long as the jello shots are completely set before you pop them in. Worst case scenario they’ll get a little loose and have some “juice” around the edges. We’ve taken them tubing a number of times and they do fine in the ice chest. 🙂

  33. Will the help set of I use 1 cup boiling water and 1 cup ever clear?

    1. Hi Sam. You can totally swap the vodka for Everclear. Just hang onto your butt once you’ve had a few. 😉

  34. If you want another great combo, orange jello and raspberry vodka is amazing! I love mixing a cup of Fanta orange with 2 shots or so of raspberry vodka, and this jello shot combo is just like it!

  35. If I want to layer the colors, do I wait until each color is set before I pour the next color on?

    1. Hi Penny! Yes, you’ll need to let the first layer set for about 1 hour before you can pour in the next color. That way the jello is set enough that the second layer won’t mix into the first. 🙂

  36. 5 stars
    This is the second year in a row that I’ve come back to this site and used this Jello Shots recipe – especially the various flavor formulations like Cherry Limeade, Peach Cobbler, Lemon Meringue Pie, Tropical Punch, etc – for our annual holiday party

    Because I only make these once a year, I always get a little nervous that the 6oz Jello mix + 2 Cups boiling water + 2 Cups vodka (because we make ours with love!) isn’t going to turn out, mostly because the 6oz Jello boxes say to add only 2 cups of boiling water, so I worry that the additional liquid might mess things up

    But I’m pleased to say they turn out FANTASTIC, have no issues setting-up, and even after several hours at room-temperature, the gelatin form still holds up

    Despite being a crowd of 30-60 year olds, people absolutely love these, and many take them home as “party favors”

    2 QUICK TIPS I MUST ADD:

    • When combining ingredients, whisk everything together BY HAND. It seriously only takes 2-3 minutes, and does a MUCH better job. In other words, DO NOT use an electric whisk (like those that come with electric hand-mixers): While you’d think an electric whisk would do a better job, in truth, it just flings Jello mix particles out to the edges of the bowl, and then actually leaves a thin layer of gelatin formation at the bottom of the bowl. Hand-mixing with a whisk produces a far better result!
    • Use a turkey baster to suck-up the liquid and then disperse it into your cups. It takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, it’s much faster an easier than trying to pour / spoon / etc the liquid.

    Thanks SO MUCH for an amazing recipe – I can’t wait to make these again next year! 😁

  37. 5 stars
    Love reading all the comments! wondering if you can make them in mini cupcake liners?

    1. Hi Kimberly. If you use cupcake liners, they’ll need to be foil. The paper liners will absorb the liquid and get stuck to the shots. Mini cupcake liners run from 0.5 to 1 ounce, so the shots will be tiny. Standard-size liners run from 2-3 ounces if you want the option for regular-sized shots. 🙂

  38. Sandra Smith says:

    Hi ladies!
    I’m helping my niece with her husband 30th birthday. We’re planning on making 100 1oz jello shots. And 200 2oz jello shots. How many boxes. I’m totally confusing myself.
    TIA
    Sandi

    1. Hi Sandra. You’ll need 20 boxes for the 2 ounce shots and 5 boxes for the 1 ounce shots. These numbers apply when you’re using the 3-ounce boxes of jello. Each batch of this recipe will yield about 20 ounces of jello shot mix (3-ounce box of gelatin powder + other ingredients). Hope this helps!

  39. 5 stars
    Could you be any cooler?!? I love your blog and you had me at Bread Booze Bacon:). Although I’ve had many a jello shot, I had never made them before. Your recipe was great and your note about warning our friends if adding more vodka had me and my husband cracking up. Thank you, I’ll be visiting your blog again, thank you for your down to earth tone, it’s so refreshing.

  40. 5 stars
    Thanks for a great recipe and the nostalgic memory of tubing the Salt! I no longer live in Az but have great memories of all the desert fun!!

  41. I don’t think I’ve actually had Jello shots since college, but these seem like the perfect thing to make for the big game this weekend! It’ll be like taking a trip down memory lane. I think I might even have to go with a few different flavors to mix things up! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  42. 5 stars
    Want to kick it up a notch? Use 100 proof vodka and do equL parts water and vodka. 25% shots. Lol. They set up fine. I’ve made them many times.

  43. FYI, this page isn’t mobile friendly. When the toggle is used to increase portions the side menu opens.

    1. Thank you for letting me know Anne. I’m currently working on switching my site over so that side menu doesn’t fly out all the time. It bugs me too.

  44. Can I sub tequila for vodka?

  45. 5 stars
    They are a huge crowd pleaser! I bring them to every party!

  46. How long do do these last in the refrigerator?

    1. Hi Caitlin. The jello shots will last up to 1 week in the fridge, but the sooner you consume them the better. I recommend consuming them within 3 days.

  47. Leslie Tripp says:

    4 stars
    I made vodka shots with
    Mississippi Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka and Orange 🍊 geletin

    Smirnoff Whipped Cream Vodka with Strawberry 🍓 geletin

  48. Jamie Marquis says:

    Should I chill the vodka first?

    1. You can, but you don’t have to. The cold water will help chill the hot water down enough.

  49. 4 stars
    I just poured these following the recipe with strawberry Jell-O and a half a cup of vodka because we’re already gonna be drinking when we do these lol I got 15 out of the recipe!

  50. Hi! I cant find any shot glasses with lids on them in time. Is it possibly without the lids?

    1. Hi Ida. Yes, you can make these shots without lids. The lids help when you’re taking the shots to-go and keep the top of the shots from developing a skin, but you’ll have at least a day or two before that happens.

      If you need to take them somewhere, leave the shots on the baking sheet (stacking the trays if needed). Then, wrap plastic wrap around the tray(s) covering the shots and have someone hold the trays.

  51. Does any one have a comparison to the 1/2 cup of vodka to 1 cup? I don’t want them to be super strong they don’t taste good.

  52. 5 stars
    these were perfect! i used smirnoff and they sit wihin 1.5-2 hrs

  53. 5 stars
    Best jello shot recipe! Ive been using this same recipe for years now and nothing beats it! 10/10 simple and delicious!

  54. Rick Knotts says:

    a really quick blast of pam or such will make the jello shots magically release. not talking a long spray,as fast as you can move one pass. more then enough to be your second best friend!