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Jell-O Shots (Red, White, and Blue)

Jell-O shots with glossy red, white, and blue layers are made by dissolving each gel base in boiling water, stirring until clear, then chilling between pours for clean, jiggle-ready slices. This easy Jell-O shots recipe uses sweetened condensed milk plus unflavored gelatin for a creamy white middle and vodka for a classic party-style finish.
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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 This makes the red layer.
Blue Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) berry blue Jell-O This makes the blue layer.
Unflavored gelatin (white layer)
  • 1 box (3 oz) unflavored gelatin Used to set the white layer.
Sweetened condensed milk (white layer)
  • 1 cup sweetened condensed milk Helps create the creamy, translucent white layer.
Boiling water, divided
  • 3 cup boiling water Divided: 1 cup for red, 1 cup for white base, 1 cup for blue.
Cold vodka, divided
  • 1.5 cup cold vodka Divided: 1/2 cup for red, 1/2 cup for red, and 1/2 cup for blue (total 1 1/2 cups).
Cold water (white layer)
  • 0.5 cup cold water Added to cool and finish the white layer mixture after gelatin dissolves.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 whisk

Method
 

Make the red layer
  1. Dissolve the cherry or strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes until fully dissolved and glossy.
  2. Stir in 1/2 cup cold vodka, then pour into shot cups to about one-third full.
  3. Refrigerate for 45 minutes until the red layer is fully set and no longer jiggles when touched gently.
Make and add the white layer
  1. Combine sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup boiling water, and unflavored gelatin, stirring until dissolved.
  2. Cool slightly, stir in 1/2 cup cold water, then spoon gently over the set red layer to avoid disturbing the surface.
  3. Refrigerate for another 45 minutes until the white layer is set.
Make and add the blue layer
  1. Dissolve the berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, stirring for 2 minutes until dissolved and smooth.
  2. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka, cool to room temperature, then gently pour over the set white layer.
  3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until fully set, then serve cold.

Notes

For the cleanest layers, let the red and white mixtures cool just enough to thicken slightly before pouring, and always pour gently onto the back of a spoon. Refrigerate covered for up to 3 days; they’re not recommended for freezing due to texture changes. For a non-alcoholic version, replace vodka with an equal amount of additional cold water (reduce vodka entirely, keep the rest of the method the same).