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Pool Party Jello Shots are a fun way to unwind by the water this summer simply by swapping out your cooler filled with cans and serving these adorable, alcohol-infused sweet treats. This vodka jello shot recipe is so quick and easy to make using only fruit-flavored jello, vodka, water, and the cutest combination of candy.
For more fun ways to make delicious Jell-O shots this summer, try my 4th of July Jello Shots, Creamsicle Jello Shots, and Butterbeer Jello Shots.
Perfect Pool Ready Vodka Jello Shots
This Pool Party Jello Shots recipe is so straightforward and simple, made in only 15 minutes using a box of blue jello combined with water and vodka and then decorated with candy.
While I’ve certainly slurped my share of jello shots and turned plenty of punch and cocktails into jiggly finger food, I’ve never prepared them with a fun pool party theme, complete with gummi bears floating inside an inner tube.
Vodka Jello shots are my favorite cool and refreshing poolside treat because they’re so easy to prepare in advance, so you can spend time swimming outside instead of cooking in a hot kitchen. Stock up on supplies because you’ll need to make more than one batch – some with alcohol for the adults and some for the kids as a snack.
Why We Love This Pool Party Jello Shots Recipe
- Quick and easy to make in 15 minutes.
- Only uses 2 ingredients plus water and candy decoration.
- Cool and refreshing sweet treats for warm weather.
- Add alcohol for adults or leave it out for the kids.
- Easily the best Jello Shots recipe.
- Make-ahead recipe is the ideal time-saver for party prep.
- Fun to serve for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day or gatherings, or any summer festivity.
Ingredients
- Blue raspberry flavored gelatin mix
- Water
- Cold Vodka
- Peach ring gummies
- Gummy bears
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
Substitutions and Additions
- Garnish With Gummy Candy: Feel free to use green apple or watermelon gummi rings or even gummi lifesavers instead of the peach ring gummies.
- Cute Candy: Although fish do not belong in a pool, you can add Swedish fish or gummy sharks to the bottom of your shots and make it a beach-themed cocktail.
- Add Some Shade: Shade your gummy bear with a cocktail umbrella to protect him/her from the sun!
- Change up the Booze: This is a versatile recipe. Feel free to change it up to make tequila jello shots or rum jello shots too!
Recommended Tools
- Tray
- 1-ounce Jello Shots cups
- Measuring cup with a spout
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
How to Make Pool Party Jello Shots
Pool Party Vodka Jello Shots are a fun way to get any party started! This recipe is so easy to prepare in mere minutes and makes the cutest cocktail in a cup — perfect for summer and warm weather get-togethers.
- Make The Mixture: Whisk 1 cup of boiling water into the jello to dissolve the powder. Add cold vodka and cold water and whisk again (1 cup total).
PRO-TIP: You can use up to ⅔ cup of vodka and a total of 1 cup of cold liquid. So if you use ⅔ cup of vodka, use ⅓ cup of cold water. Adjust accordingly depending on how strong you want your jello shots. - Chill: Pour the liquid into the cups and chill for 3 hours or until they are set.
- Garnish: Place a gummi ring on each jello shot, cut a gummi bear in half, and insert it into the ring.
- Serve: Keep these refrigerated until ready to serve and keep cool while serving. Enjoy!
Tips
- If you prefer the 2-ounce cups for jello shots, they will work well too– you just will get less shots out of each batch.
- I like to line up my shot glasses on a flat, firm, moveable surface like a tray or cookie sheet. This makes it easier to move them back and forth from the fridge.
- This recipe is really easy to double or triple (and I recommend it!).
- Looking for a strong jello shots recipe – add a bit more alcohol to the mix.
- Use cold vodka or water. This will help bring the temperature down.
- Make sure you have room in your fridge for the tray of jello shots.
How to Make the Best Jello Shots Recipe
The key to the perfect jello shots is the ratio of alcohol. You can use anywhere from ½ cup vodka to ⅔ cup of vodka. The key is making sure it is cold when you mix it in with the boiling water and jello mixture.
You will want a total of 1 cup of cold liquid to be mixed in. Do not use more than ⅔ cup of alcohol or the Jell-O will not set properly.
Storage Tips
- To Store: You can store your jello shots covered in the fridge for up to a week.
- To Freeze: Do not freeze these jello shots!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you think these will be too strong you can use ½ cup water and ½ cup vodka or ⅔ cup vodka and ⅓ cup water, or any variation you like as long as you have 1 cup.
Yes, you can make these jello shots without alcohol and serve them to your kids. To make these virgin jello cups, replace the vodka with cold water.
It is not recommended to freeze these shots because the consistency and texture will change. It is best to keep them covered in the fridge until use.
If you choose to freeze your jell-o shots, they will not freeze solid. The texture may be grainy or icy, but you can eat them straight from the freezer if you don’t mind the cold.
You can make these Pool Party Jello Shots a few days ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator with the plastic lids that come with the package of shot cups. Garnish them just before you are ready to serve.
It depends on your tolerance, but there is only 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup vodka for all 20 shots. So you are not getting a tremendous amount of vodka in each jello shot.
You would probably need about 4-5 to feel much of an effect from them.
Other Easy Cocktail Recipes
Pool Party Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 3 ounces blue raspberry flavored gelatin mix
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup cold vodka
- ½ cup cold water
- 20 Peach ring gummies
- 20 Gummy bears
Instructions
- On a tray set out your cups, set aside for later. This is also a good time to make sure you have room in your fridge for the tray of jello shots.
- In a large measuring cup with a spout or a mixing bowl with a spout add 1 cup of boiling water and your jello.
- Whisk until the jello is all dissolved.
- Add in your ½ cup of vodka and ½ cup of water. Whisk again.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the cups almost all the way up.
- Place them in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until they are set. (overnight is recommended)
- Place a gummy ring on each one and then cut a gummy bear in half and stick one in each ring.
- Keep these refrigerated until ready to serve and keep cool while serving.
- These will stay good in the fridge for a week!
Notes
- To Store: You can store your jello shots covered in the fridge for up to a week.
- To Freeze: Do not freeze these jello shots!
- You can use up to ⅔ cup of vodka for a total of 1 cup of cold liquid. So if you use ⅔ cup of vodka, use ⅓ cup of cold water. Adjust accordingly depending on how strong you want your jello shots.
- If you prefer the 2-ounce cups for jello shots, they will work well too– you just will get fewer shots out of each batch.
- I like to line up my shot glasses on a flat, firm, moveable surface like a tray or cookie sheet. This makes it easier to move them back and forth from the fridge.
- This recipe is really easy to double or triple (and I recommend it!).
Make sure you have room in your fridge for the tray of jello shots.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutrition information is an estimate. Please utilize your own brand information to double check against our estimates.
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