Patriotic Red White and Blue Jello Shots Recipe
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Red White and Blue Jello Shots are so explosive, they put the fireworks to shame! Serve these 4th of July Jello shots at any summer shindig. Adults will love this boozy treat!
These super festive and fun vodka Jello shots are just what your party needs! They’re super colorful, fun, and beyond tasty.
The gradient of red, white, and blue in the glass, the whipped cream on top… Not to mention the flavor!
They’re a mix of sweet and tangy gelatin, with a creamy texture thanks to whipped cream vodka and actual whipped cream!
Red White and Blue Jello Shots
I love sharing this fun patriotic jello shot!
The blue layer of jello followed by the white jello layer create such a fun look – and let’s not forget about the red layer at the bottom!
You can make these for the fourth of July, Labor Day, or any type of patriotic treat.
The recipe card is a simple way to make these red, white, and blue jello shots recipe.
It’s one of those shot recipes that take just a little time to make, and is the best patriotic jell-shot recipe out there!
Do yourself a favor and buy disposable shot glasses so that you can use them for your July 4th celebration without having to spend a ton of time cleaning up!
Glass shot glasses are great but buying jello shot cups that you don’t have to clean sounds better.
This recipe makes 20 vodka shots, so there are plenty to go around. But it’s incredibly easy to double or triple the amounts so you can make enough for a crowd.
And trust me, everyone is going to want more than one!
Of course, I highly recommend breaking this recipe out to make some killer 4th of July Jello shots for your Independence Day bash.
But, they make fantastic Memorial Day cocktails, too – Patriotic drinks are just the ticket!! Try our show stopping firecracker cake that is so easy to make!
Themed drinks are just another way to enjoy the holidays, in my book.
Whether it’s my Lucky Shamrock Grasshopper Shot on St. Patrick’s day or a White Chocolate Ghost Cocktail Shooter on Halloween, you can be sure that I’m tying tasty treats into the festivities!
While we’re at it, why not throw candy into the mix? Try out my Gummy Bear Jello Shot recipe next time you want to shake things up. Or a classic Mimosa Jello Shot!
And don’t forget to serve food with your drinks! Have fun shareables on the table, like Soft Pretzel Bites or 7 Layer Taco Dip.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Boxed Jell-O – You’ll need red and blue gelatin powder for your 4th of July Jello shots, as well as a packet of unflavored gelatin for the white layer.
If you want to use the sugar-free variety, go right ahead! - Whipped Cream Vodka – The sweet flavor of this vodka ties in with the flavor of the whipped cream for a really cohesive and smooth jelly shot!
You can use regular, unflavored vodka if you prefer. - Whipped Cream – If you don’t want whipped cream in the shot, you can instead add another ¼ cup of simple syrup with some white gel food dye to get the right color.
- Simple Syrup – To make your own, combine equal parts sugar and water together. Start by boiling the water, then stir in the sugar.
Pull it off the heat and let the mixture cool, then refrigerate. That’s it!
IMPORTANT RECIPE NOTES
Tip for Making Layered Shots:
When making this recipe, wait for each layer to fully cool before adding the next.
Additionally, do not add the unflavored gelatin right to the hot water; wait until it dissolves in the cold water!
Plain, unflavored gelatin dissolves differently than flavored gelatin does. If you add hot water too soon, the gelatin becomes stringy.
Kitchen Tools and Supplies You’ll Need
- Plastic Shot Cups – These typically come in 2-ounce sizes, perfect for the red white and blue Jello shots!
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- Whisk – These have held up for over 10 years, and are still as good as the day I bought them.
- Silicone Spatula – Perfect for stirring fun, messy drinks like these. Plus, they’re easy to clean!
- Injector or Pouring Dish – You need a good, steady pouring instrument to get smooth, even layers.
Red White and Blue Jello Shots FAQ
We think vodka is the clear winner – and not just because it’s clear and doesn’t mess with the fun colors you’re trying to use.
Vodka doesn’t taste very strong, so you can enjoy the flavors of the gelatin.
In short, yes. You will need to consume quite a few to do that, though! It takes about 4 gelatin shots to equal 1 regular shot of straight liquor. So, keep track and party responsibly.
Be responsible for your July party and drink these Patriotic Jello shots responsibly. They sneak up on you since you think that you only have a little bit, but trust me when I say that they’re an easy way to get tipsy fast when you aren’t expecting it.
Set up time varies depending on what you are making. There are three different layers in our red white and blue Jello shots, and each layer takes about 2 hours to set.
That means chilling time alone will be 6 hours for this recipe, not including preparation. You want to make sure that you don’t rush the next step before the first layer is completed. This is key to having the perfect end result!
And if your first attempt has issues, just start over. It’s as easy as that!
Prep Ahead Instructions
Regular Jell-O is fine in the fridge for over a week, but vodka Jello shots are a bit different!
If you want to make them ahead of time, don’t let them sit in the fridge for longer than 5 days.
If you plan to garnish them with whipped cream and sprinkles, wait until you’re about to serve.
Otherwise, the sprinkles dissolve and the whipped cream runs, and it just won’t taste good. Save the fun stuff for last!
How To Store Vodka Jello Shots
The easiest way to store these is by covering them, placing them on a tray (a cookie sheet will do the trick!), and sliding the tray into the fridge.
This makes removing and serving them so much easier!
IMPORTANT: Don’t store jelly shots in the freezer; it ruins the consistency and texture.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Patriotic Red White and Blue Jello Shots Recipe
Ingredients
Red Layer
- 3 ounces red gelatin powder, 3-ounce box red Jell-O
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup whipped cream vodka
White Layer
- 2 packets unflavored gelatin, 0.25 ounces each
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup whipped cream vodka
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 1/2 cup whipped cream
Blue Layer
- 3 ounces blue gelatin powder, 3-ounce box blue Jell-O
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup whipped cream vodka
Optional Toppings
- whipped cream
- red sanding sugar
- blue sanding sugar
- red white and blue jimmies, or sprinkles
- white gel food coloring
Instructions
- Line your shot glasses up on a cookie sheet or other moveable, flat surface.
- Place the red gelatin mix in a medium mixing bowl and add the boiling water. Mix until dissolved. Add the cold water and vodka. Give a quick stir.
- Using an injector or pourable measuring cup, fill each shot glass about a third of the way full. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just eyeball it.Place in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
- For the white layer, add the cold water to a medium mixing bowl and add the gelatin on top. Be sure all the gelatin powder soaks into the water, but do not stir or move it around too much. Let the gelatin slowly dissolve until there are no clumps of powder left.
- Add the boiling water to the bowl and stir until the gelatin dissolves into the water. Add the simple syrup and vodka. Give a quick stir.Add the whipped cream to the bowl and lightly whisk until dissolved into the mixture. Let cool down to room temp.
- Using an injector or pourable measuring cup, fill each shot glass a third of the way full with the white layer (on top of the red). Do this gently.Place back in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
- Repeat steps 2-5, but use the blue jello in place of the red. Be sure to let the blue gelatin cool to room temp before adding to the top of the white. This will be your last layer, so fill it until there’s only about ¼ of an inch to the top left.
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkles, if desired, or serve as-is, and enjoy!
Donna’s Notes
- If you don’t want to add the whipped cream in the white layer, you can add another ¼ cup simple syrup and use a couple drops of white gel food coloring. I don’t think the flavor is as good, but it does the trick, and you really can’t tell since the other two layers have such a strong flavor.
- DO NOT add the unflavored gelatin to hot water before it’s dissolved in cold water. Unflavored gelatin doesn’t work the same as flavored jello. It gets clumpy and stringy when added directly to hot water.
- You can use sugar free options for your whipped cream and jello, if desired. It should set up the same.
- Do not add a layer on top of another layer if the mixture is still pretty hot. You’ll end up melting the layer underneath it and this can make the colors run together. Sometimes it causes a cool effect, other times, it just makes them ugly.
- Do not add the whipped cream and sprinkles to the shots until you’re ready to serve them. The shots will last about 24-48 hours with the whipped cream on them, but the whipped cream starts to get gross.
- Properly cover the jello shots if storing in the fridge, and they’ll keep for about 5 days. Do not freeze.
- You can use normal vodka if you prefer or other flavors as well. I just loved how the whipped cream vodka vibes with these flavor combinations.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published May 2022.. updated and republished May 2024
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Love all of your fourth of july recipes. Made these as a test and absolutely loved them. These will be a party favorite from now on.
I can’t believe how easy these were to make. They look fantastic and taste even better!
Hi Nicole!
We’re so glad that you enjoyed the recipe!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn