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

Jell-O shots recipe with three translucent, glossy layers—red, white, and blue—in clear plastic cups. Easy vodka jello shots that set in stages for clean patriotic stripes.
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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: 85
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cherry or strawberry Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) Cherry or strawberry Jell-O
Berry blue Jell-O
  • 1 box (3 oz) Berry blue Jell-O
Unflavored gelatin
  • 1 box (3 oz) Unflavored gelatin for the white layer
Sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup Sweetened condensed milk for the white layer
Boiling water
  • 3 cup Boiling water divided
Cold vodka
  • 1.5 cup Cold vodka divided
Cold water
  • 0.5 cup Cold water for the white layer

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Red layer
  1. Dissolve cherry or strawberry Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, then stir for 2 minutes. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka and pour into shot cups to fill one-third of the way.
  2. Refrigerate for 45 minutes until fully set, then look for a firm, no-wobble red layer before layering on top.
White layer
  1. Combine sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup boiling water, and unflavored gelatin, then stir until dissolved. Cool slightly, add 1/2 cup cold water, and stir again until smooth.
  2. Spoon gently over the set red layer so the surface stays intact and the layers remain distinct. Refrigerate for another 45 minutes until the white layer is set.
Blue layer
  1. Dissolve berry blue Jell-O in 1 cup boiling water, then stir for 2 minutes. Mix in 1/2 cup cold vodka, cool to room temperature, and gently pour over the white layer.
  2. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour until fully set, then serve cold. The finished cups should show clear, glossy red-white-blue stripes under the light.

Notes

For the cleanest layers, keep the vodka and the water cold for each mixing stage and pour slowly while the previous layer is firm but not frozen. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; they also freeze well for up to 1 month (thaw in the fridge before serving). For a lower-sugar option, use a reduced-sugar gelatin/Jell-O brand for the red and blue layers.