These easy layered watermelon jello shots are so good! Green and pink jello give these shots their watermelon look with a sour watermelon candy on top for fun!Perfect for a warm weather treat.
Watermelon Jello Shots
If you’re having a party or backyard BBQ this summer, you need to serve these incredible layered watermelon jello shots. They’re so fun!
You can make them alcoholic for a fun adult drink or leave out the alcohol for a refreshing treat.
These will be perfect for your next party. Grab your plastic cups and jello mixture and let’s get started.
Also make sure to check out my strawberry shortcake jello shots or even this red, white and blue version if you need 4th of July jello shots.
Why you’ll love these Watermelon Jello Shots
- Tasty Treats – Even if you skip the alcohol, these little guys are really delicious.
- Basic Formula – The beauty of jello shots is that once you get the method down, you can switch up the flavors of gelatin for whatever occasion you’re celebrating.
- Crowd Pleaser – Make a batch for the adults and one for the kids.
Equipment you’ll need to make these festive jello shots
- Disposable shot glasses – 1 oz or 2 oz with lids for easy transport.
- Whisk
- Large Measuring Cup with Spout
- Lipped Baking Sheet – Using a lipped cookie sheet or baking dish is a great way to transport the shots in and out of the fridge while the layers are setting.
Ingredients you’ll need for this jello shots recipe
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe.Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- GREEN JELLO– Watermelon flavored gelatin mix (Starburst) but if you can’t find it, lime or any green jello will work. Or order the variety pack off Amazon.
- PINK JELLO– Pink watermelon gelatin mix (Jolly Rancher) but any pink (or even red) jello will work. Also found on Amazon if your market doesn’t have it.
- WATER– Both boiling water and cold water are needed.
- VODKA– Plain vodka works well with the flavored jello but next time, for a change, try a flavored vodka to complement the flavor of the jello, just make sure it doesn’t compete with the jello flavor. Smirnoff and Ciroc both make a watermelon vodka.
- SOUR WATERMELON GUMMIES– These make a fun topping. You can order them from Amazon or Five Below usually carries them, too.
How to make Layered Watermelon Shots
- STEP ONE: Make the green layer.In a large measuring cup (or mixing bowl with a spout), add 1 cup of boiling water and the green jello. Whisk until dissolved and then add in 1/2 cup vodka and 1/2 cup cold water and whisk again. Pour evenly into small plastic shot glasses (1 oz shown), that have been set onto a tray or lipped baking sheet, filling approximately 1/4 to 1/2 way up. Place the entire tray into the fridge for approximately 30 minutes or until green layer is firm.
- STEP TWO: Make the next color the same way.In a large measuring cup (or mixing bowl with spout), add 1 cup of boiling water and the pink jello and whisk until dissolved. Add in 1/2 cup vodka and 1/2 cup cold water and whisk again. Let the mixture cool slightly and then pour the rest of the way on top of the set green layer. Place the tray back into the fridge for approximately 2 hours to fully set.
- STEP THREE: Garnish and serve. Once fully set, add a sour candy to the top of each shot, add the lids and serve! Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
What to serve with Watermelon Jello Shots
I picture jello shots being party food and I like to pair them with other dishes commonly served at parties like bacon wrapped smokies, my easy rotel dip, or even Oreo dip.
Possible Variations/Additions
- Some people prefer the larger 2 ounce cups for jello shots and those work well too, you just will get less shots out of each batch.
- I was able to find both green Starburst watermelon jello and pink Jolly Rancher jello but if you can’t find them, lime works well.
- Triple sec, tequila, watermelon pucker and other alcohols will work for this jello shot cups recipe.
- Try cherry jello and cherry vodka for the flesh portion of the jello shot instead of pink layer that is flavored like watermelon. This is an easy recipe to change up.
- Serve these adult jello jigglers in glass shot glasses to class them up a bit or in the rind of a watermelon for a fun twist.
How to store watermelon jello shots
How to store them
You will want to store these easy jello shots in the fridge. If left out in the heat, you’ll have a melty mess.
How long with jello shots last in the fridge?
5-7 days. Don’t add the sour gummies to the top until you’re ready to serve.
Can I freeze jello shots?
Nope. As they become frozen it will affect the texture of the jello dramatically so it will become a gooey texture.
Notes
- To ensure you get two layers of color, allow the first layer of jello to set up for at least 30 minutes before your pour the next layer on top. You don’t want the colors to mix together.
- Like my caramel apple jello shots are made in apples, you can make these shots right in an actual watermelon rind. Slice and scoop out the watermelon flesh of a watermelon then pour the jello mixture into the watermelon and allow it to set up. Next, add the second layer and repeat setting up. Then, slice the watermelon to make individual watermelon slices.
- If you don’t like vodka, you can use another light liquor like rum and make rum jello shots.
- Once these are set and have the lids on them they are easy to transport and can be tossed into a bag or cooler.
FAQs
Can you get buzzed off jello shots?
Since they don’t have a ton of alcohol in them, it will likely take a handful of these jello shots to begin to feel the effects of them, but as with any alcohol, (in my mom voice) drink responsibly.
Can I add more alcohol to jello shots?
2/3 cup of vodka is about all you can get away with when making this jello shot recipe. If you add too much it will not allow the gelatin mixture to set up properly.
Can I double the recipe?
Sure can. If you want to make these for a holiday party, summer cookout or other event & need more, just double (or triple) the original version of recipe and it will work great.
Need more summer recipes? Try these:
Fuzzy Navel Jello Shots
Click here for my entire collection of drink recipes.
Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
5 from 3 votes
Layered Watermelon Jello Shots
Created by Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
Servings: 30 shots
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Chill Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
These easy layered watermelon jello shots are so good! Green and pink jello give these shots their watermelon look with a sour watermelon candy on top for fun!Perfect for a warm weather treat.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ounces green gelatin mix watermelon flavored (Starburst)
- 3 ounces pink gelatin mix pink watermelon flavored (Jolly Rancher)
- 2 cups boiling water divided
- 1 cup cold water divided
- 1 cup vodka divided
- 30 sour watermelon gummies
Instructions
On a lipped tray set out your cups and set aside for later. Also clear room in the fridge.
For the green layer
In a large measuring cup with a spout, or a mixing bowl with a spout, add 1 cup of boiling water and the green jello. Whisk until dissolved.
Next, add in ½ cup of cold water and ½ cup of vodka. Whisk again.
Carefully pour the mixture into the cups about ¼ to ½ way up.
Carefully place the tray in your refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes or until that layer is set.
For the pink layer
In a large measuring cup with a spout, or a mixing bowl with a spout, add 1 cup of boiling water and the pink jello. Whisk until dissolved.
Add in ½ cup of cold water and ½ cup of vodka. Whisk again.
When the green layer is set carefully pour the pink jello on top. Leave some room at the top for the gummy.
Place them back in the fridge for 2 hours or until they are set.
When ready to serve, garnish each shot with a sour watermelon gummy, place the lid on, and serve!
Notes
- Store in the fridge for up to a week.
- Use 1 oz cups (makes approximately 30 shots) or 2 oz shot cups (makes approximately 15 shots).
- Starburst and Jolly Rancher make green watermelon jello and pink watermelon jello but lime/cherry will also work.
- Ciroc and Smirnoff make watermelon flavored vodka if you don’t want to use plain.
- If you don’t like vodka, another light liquor can be substituted.
- Once these are set and have the lids on them they are easy to transport and can be tossed into a bag or cooler.
⭐️ Final Step! Please let me know how you liked this recipe by leaving a review and rating below. Your feedback supports my small business and allows me to continue providing free, high quality recipes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 40kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 5g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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