These Rainbow Jello Shots are made with six vibrant layers of jello flavors mixed with vodka then topped with whipped cream and rainbow candy for a fun adult party treat!
These Bailey’s Pudding Shots or these Pumpkin Pudding Shots are also so fun to make!
Table of contents
Layered Jello Shots
These vodka jello shots are perfect for parties and celebrations. These colorful shots will definitely impress everyone at your next party, especially a St. Patrick’s day celebration, pride month, etc.
Leave out the alcohol for a kid friendly batch that is just layers of jello.
Now these jello shots do take a little time to make because of the chill time of each layer but the presentation value is so worth it!
I used rainbow berry airhead candy to create the rainbow on top of the shots, and it looks perfect.
Ingredients/shopping list
Jello: Grape, berry blue, lime, pineapple, orange, and strawberry are the flavors we used. Feel free to change up the flavors of the jello if you want.
Vodka: Vodka was my alcohol of choice. My favorite vodka is Tito’s. I used plain vodka but get creative and used a whipped cream vodka or other flavor to enhance your shots even more.
Water
Whipped Cream: for the perfect topper to mimic the look of clouds.
Rainbow Berry Airheads: The rainbow candy looks great for St. Patrick’s day celebrations. Any rainbow candy works.
Variations/ Substitutions
1. Use different flavored powdered jello packet flavors. You will find that there are tons of different flavors of jello and you can go from grape jello to green apple.
2. Instead of vodka use coconut rum, Schnapps, tequila or another alcohol of choice. Just use the same amount of alcohol for each different flavor of jello as you would in the recipe for vodka.
3. I use clear plastic shot glasses but you can also buy condiment cups for storing the shots. They often come with lids to place on top, so don’t decorate till right before serving.
4. Skip the candy on top and the whipped cream if you would like.
How to Make this Recipe
Place the plastic shot glasses in rows on a rimmed baking sheet. Make sure you have a space cleared out in the refrigerator to place the sheet for chilling each layer.
Step 1 – Make the Purple Layer:
- In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk in the grape jello until dissolved.
- Stir in ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour a thin layer of the purple jello mixture evenly into each cup (remember, you’ll be doing six layers total, so don’t add too much).
- Chill the cups in the refrigerator for 1.5 hours.
Step 2 – Make the Blue Layer
- Repeat the process with the blueberry jello and 1 cup of boiling water.
- Stir in ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour a thin layer of the blue mixture evenly into each cup.
- Chill the cups in the refrigerator for another 1.5 hours.
Step 3 – Make the Green Layer
- Repeat the process with the lime green jello and 1 cup of boiling water.
- Stir in ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour a thin layer of the green mixture evenly into each cup.
- Chill the cups in the refrigerator for another 1.5 hours.
Step 4 – Make the Yellow Layer:
- Repeat the process with the pineapple jello and 1 cup of boiling water.
- Stir in ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour a thin layer of the yellow mixture evenly into each cup.
- Chill the cups in the refrigerator for another 1.5 hours.
Step 5 – Make the Orange Layer:
- Repeat the process with the orange jello and 1 cup of boiling water.
- Stir in ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour a thin layer of the orange mixture evenly into each cup.
- Chill the cups in the refrigerator for another 1.5 hours.
Step 6 – Make the Red Layer:
- Repeat the process one last time with the strawberry jello and 1 cup of boiling water.
- Stir in ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of cold water.
- Pour a thin layer of the red mixture evenly into each cup.
- Chill the cups in the refrigerator for the last 1.5 hours.
Before serving, you can top the Jello Shots with whipped cream and add optional toppings like Airhead strips cut into one-inch squares or a maraschino cherry.
What alcohol is best for jello shots?
Using clear alcohols like vodka or white rum helps keep the jello colors more vibrant. But you can use any favorites like tequila, whisky, etc too. You can also use ½ vodka and ½ flavored liqueur if desired. Use up to a 1 cup of alcohol to a cup of water.
Tips
- Make sure to let each layer set properly in the refrigerator before adding the next layer. This will help ensure that the layers are distinct and not mixing together.
- To make the layers more defined, pour the mixture over the back of a spoon, so it hits the previous layer gently and spreads evenly.
- Make sure to stir the jello mixture thoroughly until it’s fully dissolved before adding the vodka and cold water.
- Use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel to pour the mixture into the shot glasses, which will help prevent spills and make it easier to pour into each layer.
- To avoid bubbles forming on the surface of the Jello Shots, stir the mixture gently and try to pour it slowly and steadily.
- Chill each layer for at least 1.5 hours before adding the next layer, but don’t wait too long or the previous layer might set too much and prevent the next layer from adhering properly.
- When topping with whipped cream, do so just before serving. You can also add some colorful sprinkles on top to make it even more festive.
- To transport your Jello Shots, use a container that’s tall enough to hold the shot glasses upright and prevent them from falling over. You can also place the container on a tray to make it easier to carry.
FAQ’s
Store the jello shots in a sealed container. Place plastic wrap on top or place lids on each cup. Then refrigerate until you are ready to serve. I recommend adding whipped cream and candy right before serving.
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Rainbow Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Grape Jello 1 – 3 oz. box
- 3 ounces Berry Blue Jello 1 – 3 oz. box
- 3 ounces Lime Jello 1 – 3 oz. box
- 3 ounces Pineapple Jello 1 – 3 oz. box
- 3 ounces Orange Jello 1 – 3 oz. box
- 3 ounces Strawberry Jello 1 – 3 oz. box
- 9 cups water divided
- 3 cups vodka divided
- whipping cream optional garnish
- Rainbow Berry Airheads optional garnish
Instructions
- Place (16) 3 oz. plastic cups onto a sheet pan.
For the purple layer
- Boil 1 cup of water in a medium sauce pan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the grape jello, stirring until dissolved. Stir in ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water.3 ounces Grape Jello
- Pour a thin layer evenly in each cup. Remember, you are doing 6 layers total so don’t add too much.
- Place the cups in the refrigerator to chill for 1.5 hours.
For the blue layer
- Boil 1 cup of water in a medium sauce pan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the berry blue jello, stirring until dissolved. Stir in ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water.3 ounces Berry Blue Jello
- Pour a thin layer evenly in each cup and place the cups back in the refrigerator to chill for another 1.5 hours.
For the green layer
- Boil 1 cup of water in a medium sauce pan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the lime green jello, stirring until dissolved. Stir in ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water.3 ounces Lime Jello
- Pour a thin layer evenly in each cup and place the cups back in the refrigerator to chill for another 1.5 hours.
For the yellow layer
- Boil 1 cup of water in a medium sauce pan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the pineapple jello, stirring until dissolved. Stir in ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water.3 ounces Pineapple Jello
- Pour a thin layer evenly in each cup and place the cups back in the refrigerator to chill for another 1.5 hours.
For the orange layer
- Boil 1 cup of water in a medium sauce pan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the orange jello, stirring until dissolved. Stir in ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water.3 ounces Orange Jello
- Pour a thin layer evenly in each cup and place the cups back in the refrigerator to chill for another 1.5 hours.
For the red layer
- Boil 1 cup of water in a medium sauce pan. Remove from the heat and whisk in the strawberry jello, stirring until dissolved. Stir in ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water.3 ounces Strawberry Jello
- Pour a thin layer evenly in each cup and place the cups back in the refrigerator to chill for the last 1.5 hours.
- Before serving, top with whipped cream.whipping cream
- Optional toppings; Airhead strips cut into one inch squares or a maraschino cherry.Rainbow Berry Airheads
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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