This recipe for Red, White and Blue Jello Shots has become a viral favorite, garnering over 150 raving 5-star reviews and racking up more than 250,000 views! Every year, it takes Pinterest and Facebook by storm, proving itself as a true crowd-pleaser.
Full of festive colors and bursting with fruity flavors, these jello shots boast a delightful creamy white mixture in the center, making them the perfect way to add a touch of fun and patriotism to your next Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day celebration.
4th of July Jello Shots Recipe
We’ve spent years perfecting this recipe for the 4th of July Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots recipe, so you can focus on celebrating! This tried-and-tested recipe takes the classic colors of Independence Day and transforms them into festive layered jello shots, perfect for adding a fun twist to your favorite spirits.
Forget about searching for the “best” recipe—because you just found it! Made with simple boxes of jello and spiked to perfection, these are the ultimate make-ahead dessert for adults. After all, what’s a 4th of July party without festive treats to enjoy alongside the fireworks?
Red White and Blue Jello Shots Ingredients
- Blue Jello: I used berry blue flavored Jell-O for my blue layer.
- Red Jello: You can use a strawberry or cherry-flavored Jell-O for the red layer.
- Knox unflavored gelatin: The unflavored gelatin helps to set the sweetened condensed milk into a firm but creamy consistency. It creates a nice contrast to the firmness of the jello layers.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Sweetened condensed milk is naturally opaque, so when mixed with the gelatin, it creates a solid white layer that stands out visually against the colorful jello layers. It also adds a rich and sweet flavor to the white layer to balance out the tartness of the jello and the bite of the vodka.
- Cold water
- Boiling water
- Vodka: I recommend using a good quality vodka for this recipe. You can make your red and blue layers with unflavored vodka or use your favorite flavors. A berry, vanilla, or whipped cream-flavored vodka would all be fun to try.
- Whipped cream: You can use store-bought whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, or make your own homemade whipped cream from scratch.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Red White and Blue Jello Shots
- Make The Blue Layer: Dissolve the blue jello powder in boiling water. Add the vodka, stir, and fill each shot glass 1/3 of the way. Chill for 1 hour or until set.
- Make The White Layer: Bloom the unflavored gelatin by stirring it with cold water and letting it sit for 3 minutes. Stir in boiling water until the gelatin has dissolved. Add the sweetened condensed milk, stir, then cool for 5 minutes. Pour the white jello on top of the blue layer and chill for 1 hour or until set.
- Make The Red Layer: Dissolve the red jello powder in boiling water. Add the vodka, stir, and cool for 5 minutes. Pour the red jello on top of the white layer and chill for 1 hour.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with whipped cream, patriotic sprinkles, and a flag toothpick, if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Whether you’re sitting poolside or attending a backyard barbecue, 4th of July jello shots with vodka are the perfect way to kick off any party!
- Grab A Garnish: For extra fourth flair, top your patriotic jello shots with a dollop of whipped cream, Patriotic Star Sprinkles, Toothpick Flags, colored sprinkles or sanding sugar.
- Make Mocktails: You can make this Fourth of July shots recipe without alcohol and serve them to your kids. Simply replace the vodka with cold water and follow the same simple steps.
- Set Out A Spread: Serve these fourth of July jello shots with some Red, White and Blue Strawberries, Firecracker Cupcakes, American Flag Sheet Cake, or try some of our other great Red, White and Blue Dessert ideas to round out your menu!
Tips & Variations
- It’s important to bloom the unflavored gelatin first, or you will end up with gross lumps in it, and it won’t dissolve correctly. All the powder must touch water so each gelatin grain can fill up with water.
- If you don’t wait for the second and third layer to set, you could partially melt the layer underneath it, causing color bleed. The shots will still taste great, but they won’t look as pretty.
- If your jello layer isn’t setting up, you either used too much water or vodka. Reduce your amounts and try again.
- I recommend placing your empty shot glasses onto a small rimmed tray before filling them with the liquid. This will make it easier to transfer the jello shots to the refrigerator to chill.
- If you want to make the pretty whipped cream swirls as shown in the photos, use a frosting bag and Ateco #824 frosting tip. Other frosting tips will make it pretty as well, this one is just my favorite!
- Do not garnish the shots if you’re not serving them right away. They’re quick and easy to garnish, so make them look special right before serving.
- If using glass shot glasses, you may want to provide mini spoons for serving your guests. You won’t be able to loosen the sides of the shot like you might in a typical plastic shot cup.
Proper Storage
- To Store: To store, place in the fridge, covered, for up to three days. If you leave them too long, they will dry up or the color will bleed.
More Easy Jello Shot Recipes
If you tried this Red, White and Blue Jello Shots Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!
Red White and Blue Jello Shots
Serves — 24
Red, White and Blue Jello Shots are the perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Rest Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 box blue Jello 3 ounces
- 1 box red Jello 3 ounces
- 2 packets unflavored Gelatin (0.25 ounces each)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
- 1 cup cold water
- 3 cups boiling aater
- 2 cups Vodka
- whipped cream optional garnish
- patriotic star sprinkles optional garnish
- toothpick Flags optional garnish
Instructions
DIRECTIONS FOR BLUE LAYER
- Pour the Berry Blue jello into a bowl. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir until fully dissolved.
- Add 1 cup vodka and stir again.
- Pour the jello into each of your shot glasses, filling 1/3 of the way. Chill for 1 hour or until the layer is set.
DIRECTIONS FOR WHITE LAYER
- Place the two packets of unflavored gelatin in a clean, medium mixing bowl and add 1 cup cold water. Give a slight stir and let sit for 3 minutes so that the gelatin blooms.
- Add 1 cup boiling water to the bowl and stir until the gelatin has dissolved.
- Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and stir well to incorporate. Then cool for 5 minutes.
- Pour on top of the blue jello layer (filling it another third of the way making it 2/3rds full at this point). Chill for 1 hour or until the layer is set.
DIRECTIONS FOR RED LAYER
- Pour the strawberry or cherry gelatin into a bowl. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir until the jello has fully dissolved.
- Stir in 1 cup vodka, stir again, then allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
- Pour the red jello on top of the white layer, filling the top layer close to the top of each glass rim. Chill for 1 hour.
- Top with whipped cream, patriotic sprinkles, and a flag toothpick, if desired. Enjoy!
Jenn’s Notes
Important note: You need to make sure you allow time in between each layer to let the colors set.
Storage:
- To Store: To store, place in the fridge, covered, for up to three days. If you leave them too long, they will dry up or the color will bleed.
- It’s important that you bloom the unflavored gelatin first or you will end up with gross lumps in it and it won’t dissolve correctly. All the powder must be touching water so each gelatin grain can fill up with water.
- If you don’t wait for the second and third layer to set, you could partially melt the layer underneath it, causing color bleed. The shots will still taste great, but they won’t look as pretty.
- If your jello layer isn’t setting up, you either used too much water or vodka. Reduce your amounts and try again.
- I recommend placing your empty shot glasses onto a small rimmed tray before filling them with the liquid. This will make it easier to transfer the jello shots to the refrigerator to chill.
- If you want to make the pretty whipped cream swirls as shown in the photos, use a frosting bag and Ateco #824 frosting tip. Other frosting tips will make it pretty as well, this one is just my favorite!
- Do not garnish the shots if you’re not serving them right away. They’re quick and easy to garnish, so make them look special right before serving.
- If using glass shot glasses, you may want to provide mini spoons for serving your guests. You won’t be able to loosen the sides of the shot like you might in a typical plastic shot cup.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 62mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 0.04mg
How many does this recipe make?
I doubled and made 60 using 2 oz plastic mini cups. Used the 6 oz jello packets.
Can you do this in a 9 x 13 pan and cut into squares?
I didn’t add unflavored gelatin to the red or blue layers. I used 1 cup boiling water with the jello … waited a few minutes and added 1 cup vodka which I had in the freezer. The white layer I used frozen vodka as well to “pillow” the unflavored gelatin and sweetened condensed milk for several minutes and then added the hot sweetened condensed milk.
Ok I’m confused. The unflavored jello is used for the white layer so why does it say to add half a envelope to each red and blue layers ? Also, it says to put 2 1 oz packages to the white layer. But 1 3 oz red and 1/2 unflavored which equals 4 1/2 oz for red and blue layers does that matter ? Sorry for the confusion, first timer here and I don’t wanna mess them up!
So sorry if this question is totally obvious but what does allow it to “pillow” mean?
It isn’t! This was written a long time ago and I honestly don’t know why I used the term pillow – LOL. Just let it settle in there. Don’t mix it yet.
Great! Thank you for your promt response and an amazing recipe!
What’s the purpose of the unflavored gelatin?
It’s for the white layer with the condensed milk.
thanks for jumping in on this one Alex!! Was gone for the weekend <3
It says to use envelops of unflavored gelatin but gelatin comes in different size packages …. could I get a measurement please?
1 ounce packets
Made these tonight…They are AWESOME!!!
putting boiling water into a bowl of vodka will burn off all the alcohol. Every good jello shot recipe I have followed says to pillow the gelatin over cold water then turn on the burner to heat up. LET COOL, then add the vodka
Adding water that was recently boiled will only reduce the alcohol by about 15%. If the mixture was kept on the burner, the alcohol would eventual burn off. This recipe should be okay.
I made this exactly as the recipe said. The white part provides way too much liquid. It filled 12 5 oz shots not 3 oz. 12 different people drank it and it was awful and strong. The flavor was not good. The white part tasted like congealed milk not like jello. And even if it is only 15% alcohol reduction, that avoids the entire point.
Why put unflavored gelatin in with the flavored? Is that necessary?
When you add hot water to the vodka the alcohol dissipates. Add the vodka to cooled down mixture.
Not if you put the vodka in the freezer. Add the hot water to the jello – stir until dissolved – wait a few minutes and then add the cold vodka.
Alcohol does not freeze.