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Jell-O Shots

Jell-O shots made in three glossy, translucent layers—red, white, and blue—so every cup stacks cleanly and jiggles when set. This easy vodka jello shots recipe uses sweetened condensed milk for a creamy white middle and quick chilling between pours.
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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: 110
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cherry or strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) cherry or strawberry Jell-O For the red layer
Berry blue Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) berry blue Jell-O For the blue layer
Unflavored gelatin
  • 1 box (3 oz) unflavored gelatin (for white layer) For the white layer
Sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (for white layer) For the white layer
Boiling water
  • 3 cups boiling water, divided Use 1 cup for red, 1 cup for white, 1 cup for blue
Cold vodka
  • 1.5 cups cold vodka, divided Use 1/2 cup for red, 1/2 cup for white, 1/2 cup for blue
Cold water
  • 0.5 cup cold water (for white layer) Add after gelatin dissolves for the white layer

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the red layer
  1. Dissolve cherry or strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes, until fully dissolved and smooth; keep it glossy with no visible granules. Stir in 1/2 cup cold vodka, then pour into shot cups until each cup is about one-third full.
  2. Place the filled shot cups on a sheet pan and refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) for 45 minutes until the red layer is fully set with a firm jiggle.
Make and set the white layer
  1. Combine sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup boiling water, and unflavored gelatin, stirring until dissolved and silky; then cool slightly so it won’t melt the red layer. Stir in 1/2 cup cold water, then spoon gently over the set red layer.
  2. Return the cups to the refrigerator and chill at 40°F (4°C) for another 45 minutes until the white layer is set and opaque.
Make the blue layer and finish
  1. Dissolve berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes until completely smooth; then mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka. Cool to room temperature for about 10 minutes, then gently pour over the white layer.
  2. Refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) for at least 1 hour until fully set, then serve cold so the layers stay translucent and glossy with clean edges.

Notes

Pro tip: cool the white and blue mixtures slightly before pouring—this helps prevent the red layer from streaking and keeps the layers distinct. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3 days; freeze is not recommended because the texture can break after thawing. For a lighter option, use low-fat sweetened condensed milk for the white layer (texture remains set but slightly softer).