7 Delicious Cocktail-Inspired Jello Shot Recipes

In the past few years, Jello shot recipes have gone from the realm of college parties to the menus of fancy craft cocktail bars (strange, but true). Along the way, they’ve evolved from sugary technicolor jigglers in plastic cups to hipster-approved appetizers. No matter your tastes, however, you can be sure there’s a recipe out there for you. To help get you started, we’ve rounded up seven Jello shot recipes inspired by classic cocktails. (There’s even a brandy old fashioned for our Midwestern readers.)

Before you get started, it helps to stock up on the necessary equipment—namely, the Jello molds. It’s perfectly fine to use disposable shot glasses for each of the following recipes. But silicone molds have the benefit of being reusable and they come in an assortment of shapes if you’d like to get creative. Not to mention, if you plan on taking them along on your next camping weekend, the trays come with lids and are easy to pack. (Just be sure you have enough ice in the cooler!) Here are some great options for silicone cube molds:

These silicone cube trays can be used for ice and for making Jello shots. Even better, each tray comes with a lid which makes it easy to take along to a party or camping trip.

Each of these molds creates 37 mini hexagon cubes. They also come with lids for easy storage.

For Jello shots that look like slices of citrus, use these silicone molds.

Once you have the molds, it’s time to choose your recipe. Each of these Jello shots need 3-4 hours to set. They’ll keep for about 3 days, so plan accordingly.

Our Favorite Fancy Jello Shot Recipes

Margarita Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. limeade
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 6 oz. tequila
• 2 oz. triple sec

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. Pour limeade into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
2. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the gelatin dissolves.
3. Remove from heat and stir in tequila and triple sec.
4. Pour the gelatin mixture into the molds. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

Gin & Tonic Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. tonic water
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1-2 oz. simple syrup
• 2 packages unflavored gelatin
• 6 oz. gin

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. In a small saucepan, stir together the tonic water, lime juice, and simple syrup.
2. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top of the tonic water mixture and allow to sit for about one minute. Then cook over low heat until the gelatin dissolves, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir in the gin.
4. Pour the gelatin mixture into the molds. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

Moscow Mule Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. ginger beer
• 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1-2 limes)
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 6 oz. vodka

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. In a small saucepan, stir together the ginger beer and lime juice.
2. Sprinkle the gelatin on top of the ginger beer mixture. Don’t stir, and let sit for about 5 minutes until the gelatin forms a film on top.
3. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin film dissolves. Be sure it doesn’t come to a boil.
4. Take ginger beer mixture off the heat and stir in the vodka. Pour the mixture into the tray or molds.
5. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

Sangria Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• 8 oz.water
• 2 (3 oz.) packages orange gelatin
• 8 oz. red wine
• 2 oz. brandy
• 1 cup chopped fruit (apples, strawberries, oranges)

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the gelatin to the boiling water and stir until it dissolves. Remove from heat.
3. Add the red wine and brandy to the gelatin and stir until combined.
4. Put about a tablespoon of chopped fruit into each mold. Pour the gelatin mixture into the molds.
5. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

Brandy Old Fashioned Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• maraschino cherries (1 per shot)
• 12 oz. water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 oz. Angostura bitters
• 6 oz. soda water
• 1 oz. maraschino cherry juice
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 6 oz. brandy

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. Place a maraschino in each mold so that the stem will stick out the top.
2. Stir together the water, sugar, and Angostura bitters in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
3. Add the soda water and cherry juice to the cooled bitters syrup. Stir until combined. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
4. Cook over low heat until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the brandy. Pour the mixture into the molds.
5. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

Mojito Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. water
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 6 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 8 oz. white rum

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. In a small saucepan, stir together the water and sugar over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
2. Sprinkle the gelatin on top of the water and whisk until the gelatin completely dissolves.
3. Pour the lime juice and fresh mint leaves in a mixing bowl. Pour the liquid gelatin over the top and let steep for about 15 minutes.
4. Stir in the rum. Then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large glass measuring cup. Pour the gelatin mixture into trays or molds.
5. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

Bellini Jello Shots

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. water
• 8 oz. peach juice or purée
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup sparkling white wine or Champagne

Directions:

1. Spray a silicone ice cube tray or gelatin molds with nonstick spray. In a small saucepan, stir together the water, peach juice, and sugar. Sprinkle the gelatin on top of the water and let sit for 1-2 minutes.
2. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the gelatin and sugar dissolve.
3. Stir in the sparkling wine. Pour the mixture into molds.
4. Refrigerate the gelatin for 4 hours or until set. To remove the cubes from the molds, slide a butter knife around the edges, then push up from the bottom.

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