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

Jell-O shots with three translucent layers—red, creamy white, and glossy blue—built in clear cups with a vodka finish. This easy Jell-O shots recipe uses gelatin for the white layer and precise chilling times for clean, firm slices.
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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: 140
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cherry or strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) Jell-O Use cherry or strawberry for the red layer.
Berry blue Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) Jell-O Use for the blue layer.
Unflavored gelatin
  • 1 box (3 oz) gelatin For the white layer.
Sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup condensed milk For the white layer.
Boiling water
  • 3 cups water Divided across all layers.
Cold vodka
  • 1.5 cups vodka Divided across all layers; keep cold.
Cold water (for white layer)
  • 0.5 cup water Used only for the white layer.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the red layer
  1. Dissolve the cherry or strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, then stir for 2 minutes until fully dissolved and translucent. Stirring cue: no visible granules.
  2. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka and pour into shot cups, filling about one-third of the way. Visual cue: the surface should look glossy before it sets.
  3. Refrigerate the cups for 45 minutes until fully set. Doneness cue: the layer should jiggle slightly but hold its shape when nudged.
Make the white layer
  1. Combine sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup boiling water, and unflavored gelatin, stirring until dissolved. Visual cue: the mixture looks smooth and evenly blended.
  2. Cool the white mixture slightly, then stir in 1/2 cup cold water for the white layer. Temperature cue: it should be warm-cool, not hot, before layering.
  3. Spoon the white layer gently over the set red layer. Visual cue: pour slowly so the red layer doesn’t break through.
  4. Refrigerate for another 45 minutes until the white layer is fully set. Doneness cue: it should feel firm and sliceable.
Make the blue layer and serve
  1. Dissolve the berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, then stir for 2 minutes until fully dissolved. Stirring cue: completely clear, with no grit.
  2. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka, cool to room temperature, and then gently pour over the white layer. Visual cue: the blue layer should settle without mixing into the white.
  3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until fully set, then serve cold. Doneness cue: cups should wobble cleanly as one piece.

Notes

For the cleanest layers, let the white mixture cool until warm-cool and pour slowly with a spoon to prevent breaking the set red layer. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; they do not freeze well because the texture can become grainy after thawing. For a lower-sugar option, use a sugar-free Jell-O for the red and blue layers while keeping the same gelatin and condensed milk method (the white layer will still be sweet from the condensed milk).