These 4th of July Jello Shots are super festive with their red, white, and blue layers. Such a fun twist on the traditional jello shooter with cherry, blue raspberry, and a creamy jello center!
Whether you are lounging by the pool or spending the fourth of July holiday with friends you are going to want to have plenty of boozy options on hand if they are a drinking crowd!
These delicious 4th of July jello shots are a big hit, but we have plenty more creative jello shot ideas for your patriotic holidays and beyond.
While everyone loves jello shots recipes, don’t forget about other easy but mesmerizing cocktails like my Tipsy Mermaid and Jolly Rancher Vodka drinks. For frozen treats, serve margarita popsicles or these kid-friendly bomb pops!
If you are like us, you always have tons of kids running around at parties, so you can serve a similar version that doesn’t contain alcohol but tastes just as great. These red, white, and blue jello cups are super cute in footed glasses and can be served for Labor Day and Veteran’s Day because they have the same patriotic colors.
As you are gathering 4th of July party ideas, don’t forget to choose easy recipes. I have a full collection of Fourth of July recipes that I revisit every year to make the menu easy, including my 4th of July Poke Cake which is super simple, refreshing, but so delicious!
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🇺🇸 Ingredients:
- red jello mix – cherry jello or strawberry jello can be used, we’re using the 3.4 oz. smaller box
- blue jello mix – berry blue or blue raspberry are both great options
- boiling water – the water needs to be hot enough to dissolve the gelatin, I typically heat it in the microwave for a couple minutes and mix right in my glass measuring cup to reduce dishes.
- Cold water – once the gelatin has dissolved, we can cool down the mixture with cold or even icy water. The faster it cools, the quicker it sets.
- vodka – The jello flavor is fairly strong, so you can use a medium grade vodka. Top shelf is not necessary, though can certainly be used.
- clear gelatin – We use envelopes of unflavored gelatin to create that white layer. If you are using a different brand, check the package so that you are using the correct amount of gelatin per liquid – these little packets are usually one packet per cup of liquid.
- sweetened condensed milk – this sweetens our clear gelatin and also adds creaminess and an opaque white color. You can use heavy cream or coconut milk in its place, though note that your white layer will not have sweetness to it, though I’m not sure anyone would miss it.
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Optional Garnish:
whipped cream and/or patriotic sprinkles, maraschino cherries would also be great
Substitutions and Variations
Use this same recipe for a fun twist on this classic jello shot by changing up the gelatin flavor and color:
- Halloween (Candy Corn Shots) – Use orange and yellow gelatin for the vodka layers and follow the same instructions for the white.
- Christmas – Use red and green jello, then top with whipped cream and festive sprinkles.
- St. Patty’s Day – You could make green and white layered shooters or add a yellow layer for a pot of gold feel.
- Kid-Friendly – Easily change these red, white, and blue jello shots into a non-alcoholic version by omitting the vodka in the recipe and using 4 cups water instead of 3. Simply substitute water for the vodka in the recipe.
- Flavored Liquor – Boost your fruit flavors by using flavored vodka instead of standard. We love blue raspberry vodka in the blue jello layer and even some coconut rum in one of the flavors.
🔪 Fourth of July Jello Shot Instructions:
Step 1: Whisk together one package of red jello and 1 cup of boiling water until the jello is completely dissolved. Please note: We started with a blue layer, but you can layer either the blue or the red on the bottom of this Independence Day jello shot.
Step 2: Pour ½ cup of vodka into a 2-cup measuring cup (you’ll see why in just a minute!) Add ½ cup of cold water to the vodka. For a stronger jello shot, you might want to use more vodka. I thought it became too strong with more than ¾ cup vodka in each layer. Whatever you choose, add cold water to the vodka to make 1 cup TOTAL of clear liquid.
Step 3: Carefully transfer the blue jello mixture into the measuring cup with the vodka and water. (Now you have everything in a tidy measuring cup with a spout – perfect for pouring into your shot glasses!) Slowly fill the bottom ⅓ of glass or plastic shot glasses to make the first layer. I experimented with a ton of different shaped shot glasses – some plastic, some glass. They all turned out awesome. You should be able to make about 30 jello shots. Just keep filling the glasses ⅓ of the way until you run out of mixture.
Step 4: Place the jello shots into the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
Pro Tip: Place all of your shot glasses onto a baking sheet (one with edges preferred!) for easy transfer in and out of the refrigerator!!
Step 5: Once the blue layer of jello has set, it’s time to mix up the white layer. In a medium mixing bowl, sprinkle two packets of clear, unflavored gelatin over 1 cup of hot water. Whisk until the gelatin is fully dissolved in the water.
Step 6: Add an additional 1 cup of water and the sweetened condensed milk. Stir until the mixture is combined – it will be white and opaque.
Step 7: Chill this white jello mixture in the refrigerator until it is room temperature. Don’t chill it too long – you don’t want it to start setting! But you also don’t want to pour a warm mixture onto the blue layer. Pour the white jello over the blue layers until each shot glass is ⅔ of the way full.
Step 8: Chill in the refrigerator until fully set – at least 1 more hour. Make the red layer just like you made the blue layer. Stir the red jello powder into boiling water (1 cup).
Step 9: Combine vodka and water to make 1 cup of clear liquid. Stir the jello and vodka solution together.
Step 10: Allow the red layer to cool to room temperature – it cannot be warm when pouring over the white layer!!! Now fill the shot glasses to the very top with the next layer.
Step 11: Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 more hours, or until the jello shots are set.
Step 12: Pipe freshly whipped cream on top of the jello shots and add sprinkles, if desired. The whipped cream and sprinkle garnishes should not be added until just before serving.
Tips for Making Red, White, and Blue Jello Shots
- Make sure the white jello mixture is cooled completely before pouring it on the blue layer, or the gelatin will melt and the colors will bleed together.
- The red jello also needs to be cooled to room temperature before adding on top of the white layer for the same reason.
- Using ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water in each of the blue and red layers of jello was my personal favorite as the flavors were able to come through and the vodka was not too strong. ¾ cup vodka and ¼ cup cold water will pack more punch (or you could use a full cup of vodka and no cold water if you wanted), but the vodka flavor is quite strong. If you are opting for more vodka, I would recommend using a top shelf alcohol.
- You should get at least 30 jello shots from this recipe, however, it will depend on the size of the glass or cup you are using.
- Pipe the whipped cream (or Cool Whip) on top or use a can of spray whipped topping. Since we’re typically celebrating outside, please note that the whipped cream (and the jello, for that matter) will melt in hot weather. Keep these jello shots inside or in a cool location and only top with whipped cream right as you are serving them.
Common FAQs
Most of the time vodka and rum are the best options. Other liquors like tequila or whiskey can be used but they have a tendency to overpower the flavors of the Jello. If you use rum, be sure to choose a white rum (or even Malibu!) so that it is clear and doesn’t tint the colors of the jello.
We recommend keeping them for no more than 3 days.
As long as you use a clear vodka you are good to go! Flavored vodka can be used, but when you mix it with the flavor of the gelatin, sometimes it’s just too much.
Keep them in the refrigerator, covered and ungarnished, for up to 3 days. You can add the whipped cream just before serving.
More 4th of July Favorites
If you tried these 4th of July Jello Shots or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
4th of July Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 1 – 3.4 oz. box red jello mix cherry or strawberry
- 1 – 3.4 oz. box blue jello mix berry blue or blue raspberry
- 3 cups boiling water divided
- 1- 1 ½ cups vodka clear
- 2 – .25 oz. packets clear gelatin
- 14 oz. sweetened, condensed milk
- Heavy cream or whipped cream (optional for topping)
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles (optional for topping)
Instructions
- Whisk together one package of blue jello and 1 cup of boiling water until the jello is completely dissolved.
- Pour ½ cup of vodka into a 2-cup measuring cup (you'll see why in just a minute!) Add ½ cup of cold water to the vodka. For a stronger jello shot, you might want to use more vodka. I thought it became too strong with more than ¾ cup vodka in each layer. Whatever you choose, add cold water to the vodka to make 1 cup TOTAL of clear liquid.
- Carefully transfer the blue jello into the measuring cup with the vodka and water. (Now you have everything in a tidy measuring cup with a spout – perfect for pouring into your shot glasses!)
- Slowly fill the bottom ⅓ of glass or plastic shot glasses. I experimented with a ton of different shaped shot glasses – some plastic, some glass. They all turned out awesome. You should be able to make about 30 jello shots. Just keep filling the glasses ⅓ of the way until you run out of mixture.
- Place the jello shots into the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
- Once the blue layer of jello has set, it's time to mix up the white layer.
- In a medium mixing bowl, sprinkle two packets of clear, unflavored gelatin over 1 cup of boiling water. Whisk until the gelatin is fully dissolved in the water.
- Add an additional 1 cup of cold water and the sweetened condensed milk.
- Stir until the mixture is combined – it will be white and opaque.
- Chill this white jello mixture in the refrigerator until it is room temperature. Don't chill it too long – you don't want it to start setting! But you also don't want to pour a warm mixture onto the blue layer.
- Pour the white jello over the blue layers until each shot glass is ⅔ of the way full. Chill in the refrigerator until fully set – at least 1 more hour.
- Make the red layer just like you made the blue layer. Stir the red jello powder into boiling water (1 cup). Combine vodka and water to make 1 cup of clear liquid. Stir the jello and vodka solution together.
- Allow the red layer to cool to room temperature – it cannot be warm when pouring over the white layer!!!
- Now fill the shot glasses to the very top with the red jello solution.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 more hours, or until the jello shots are set.
- Pipe freshly whipped cream on top of the jello shots and add sprinkles, if desired. The whipped cream and sprinkle garnishes should not be added until just before serving.
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Notes
- Make sure the white jello mixture is cooled completely before pouring it on the blue layer, or the gelatin will melt and the colors will bleed together.
- Make sure each layer is solid and chilled well before adding the next layer to prevent the colors from bleeding together.
- Using ½ cup vodka and ½ cup cold water in each of the blue and red layers of jello was my personal favorite liquor/jello balance as the flavors were able to come through and the vodka was not too strong. ¾ cup vodka and ¼ cup cold water will pack more punch (or you could use a full cup of vodka and no cold water if you wanted), but the vodka flavor is quite strong. If you are opting for more vodka, I would recommend using a top shelf alcohol.
- This recipe makes approximately 30 jello shots, however, it will vary depending on the size of the glass or cup you are using.
- Pipe the whipped cream (or Cool Whip) on top or use a can of spray whipped topping. Since we’re typically celebrating outside, please note that the whipped cream (and the jello, for that matter) will melt in hot temperatures. Keep these jello shots inside or in a cool location and only top with whipped cream right as you are serving them.
Nutrition
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