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Holly Jolly Jello Shots
Holly jolly jello shots are a beautiful grown-up Christmas treat that features colorful layers of raspberry, lime, and creamy white jello infused with vodka.
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Holly jolly jello shots are a playful party treat that will be a hit at any of your festive holiday celebrations. With their beautiful layers of red, white, and green, these vodka-infused jello shots are almost too pretty to eat.
Looking for more adult-only holiday treats? You’ll want to make this Chocolate cheesecake trifle, Christmas lasagna, and Bailey’s Fudge.
Holly Jolly Jello Shots Ingredients
You will need:
- 1.5 ounces unflavored gelatin, divided
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 6 cups boiling water, divided
- 1½ cups vodka, divided
- 6 ounces raspberry-flavored jello gelatin
- 6 ounces lime-flavored jello gelatin
- Garnish: squirt whipped topping, red/white/green holiday sprinkles, or red & green colored Skittles candies
PRO TIP: These holly jolly jello shots take quite some time to assemble, so we suggest making them the day before you plan to serve them, as they will do best if they have plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator. Don’t rush the process, or your layers will mix, and you will not get the pretty layered look you are aiming for.
Substitutions and Additions
JELLO: I like the combination of raspberry and lime in this recipe. You can replace the raspberry flavor with another red-colored flavor, such as cherry or strawberry jello. I have not found a flavor substitute for the green jello, but the lime flavor works great with any of the above-mentioned red flavors.
VODKA: You do not need to use a high-end (top-shelf) vodka for these jello shots; however, I suggest using one you enjoy drinking. You can use vanilla vodka or whipped cream-flavored vodka as substitutes if you desire.
How to Make Holly Jolly Jello Shots
PRO TIP: Remember that when serving these holly jolly jello shots, they should be labeled for adults only. You can make these kid-friendly by omitting the vodka and replacing it with cold water in the recipe.
STEP ONE: In an 8-cup, microwave-safe, spouted measuring cup, add 2 cups of water and microwave on high for 4 minutes to boil the water. Add 2 of the (0.25-ounce) packets of unflavored gelatin to the hot water and whisk until completely dissolved. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup vodka until completely smooth, and the sweetened condensed milk is thinned out. Divide this mixture into three equal portions (approximately 1½ cups each). Set aside to cool.
PRO TIP: A dinner fork works great to whisk the ingredients in a smaller vessel like the 2-cup spouted measuring cup. If you notice that your flavored gelatin starts to thicken a little while it is cooling on the counter, then give it a quick whisk with the fork. You don’t want little lumps in your layers.
STEP TWO: In a 2-cup, microwave-safe spouted measuring cup, add 1 cup of water and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Sprinkle in 1 (0.25-ounce) packet of unflavored gelatin and whisk until completely dissolved. Add 1 (3-ounce) box of raspberry-flavored gelatin and whisk to combine. Finally, add ¼ cup of vodka and whisk to combine.
STEP THREE: Pour the raspberry gelatin into a thin layer on the bottom of a 9×13 glass baking dish. Carefully transfer it to a flat surface in the refrigerator and allow it to chill and set up for 45 minutes.
PRO TIP: Make sure that each layer has set up pretty firm before adding the next layer. It may take slightly longer for each of your layers to firm up, but it is very important so that the final product has very distinguishable layers. Pour slowly to ensure that you do not disturb the layer underneath.
STEP FOUR: Once you have finished preparing your first raspberry (red) layer, then you will want to wash your measuring cup and prepare your lime (green) layer so that it has time to cool off on the counter, before adding it to the layers of holly jolly jello shots. You DO NOT want to add hot or warm jello to the dish of layers because it can melt the layer you are pouring it onto, thus ruining the layered look of the holly jolly jello shots.
STEP FIVE: Prepare your lime (green) gelatin by following step 2, except you will replace the raspberry with the lime gelatin. Set aside to cool off once mixed. You will repeat this step after making each layer alternating between raspberry and ending with the lime. Make sure to wash your measuring cup between flavors.
STEP SIX: Once your raspberry layer has chilled and set up, carefully pour on one of your (1¼ cup) portions of the sweetened condensed milk mixture. Place the dish back into the refrigerator to chill and set up for 45 minutes.
STEP SEVEN: Add your pre-mixed lime (green) gelatin mixture. Chill for 45 minutes.
STEP EIGHT: Make your second (3-ounce box) raspberry (red) layer and set it aside to cool on the counter.
STEP NINE: Add the second 1¼-cup sweetened condensed milk mixture (give it a quick stir before pouring if it has started to firm a little, so you don’t have lumps). Chill for 45 minutes.
STEP TEN: Carefully pour on the premade raspberry layer. Chill for 45 minutes.
STEP ELEVEN: Make your final (3-ounce) box of the lime (green) mixture and set it aside to cool on the counter.
STEP TWELVE: Add the final 1¼-cup portion of the sweetened condensed milk mixture to the dish. Chill for 45 minutes.
STEP THIRTEEN: Pour on the final mixture of lime-flavored gelatin. This will be your top layer. At this point, you will want your holly jolly jello shots to have a good amount of chill time. I highly suggest an overnight chill in the refrigerator, but a minimum of 6 hours is needed to really make sure that all of the layers have set up and are firm.
PRO TIP: Once your holly jolly jello shots have firmed up, you can slice them in the dish into squares. Carefully remove the individual squares and place them onto a large serving platter. Squirt a small amount of whipped topping onto the center of each square serving and top with either the holiday sprinkles or a green or red candy.
How to Serve Holly Jolly Jello Shots
Your guests at all your holiday parties will ooh and aah over these beautiful, layered grown-up treats. They are such a stunning treat to look at, your guests are bound to be impressed. Serve them with Bailey’s and coffee ice cubes or a mug of spiked hot chocolate.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Keep your jello shots in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Do not garnish until ready to serve. These holly jolly jello shots keep very well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days, making them a great make-ahead treat to take to a holiday party.
IN THE FREEZER: Because of the gelatin and alcohol, this jello shot recipe doesn’t tend to freeze very well.
Holly jolly jello shots are filled with Christmas spirit. Colorful layers of raspberry, lime, and creamy white jello are infused with vodka to make a beautiful treat for your holiday festivities. This stunning treat is worth the extra time and effort it takes to make them.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make these ahead of time?
These holiday jello shots can be made up to five days ahead of time.
How do I store vodka jello shots?
If you have any leftover jello shots, you can store them in the fridge for up to five days.
Can you freeze jello shots?
No, we don’t find that jello shots freeze well because of the gelatin and alcohol.
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Holly Jolly Jello Shots
Holly jolly jello shots are a beautiful grown-up Christmas treat that features colorful layers of raspberry, lime, and creamy white jello infused with vodka.
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces unflavored gelatin divided
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 6 cups boiling water divided
- 1½ cups vodka divided
- 6 ounces raspberry-flavored jello gelatin
- 6 ounces lime-flavored jello gelatin
- Squirt whipped topping for garnish (red/white/green holiday sprinkles, or red & green colored Skittles candies make great garnishes)
Instructions
- In an 8-cup, microwave-safe, spouted measuring cup, add 2 cups of water and microwave on high for 4 minutes to boil the water. Add 2 of the (0.25-ounce) packets of unflavored gelatin to the hot water and whisk until completely dissolved. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup vodka until completely smooth, and the sweetened condensed milk is thinned out. Divide this mixture into three equal portions (approximately 1½ cups each). Set aside to cool.
- In a 2-cup, microwave-safe spouted measuring cup, add 1 cup of water and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Sprinkle in 1 (0.25-ounce) packet of unflavored gelatin and whisk until completely dissolved. Add 1 (3-ounce) box of raspberry-flavored gelatin and whisk to combine. Finally, add ¼ cup of vodka and whisk to combine.
- Pour the raspberry gelatin into a thin layer on the bottom of a 9×13 glass baking dish. Carefully transfer it to a flat surface in the refrigerator and allow it to chill and set up for 45 minutes.
- Once you have finished preparing your first raspberry (red) layer, then you will want to wash your measuring cup and prepare your lime (green) layer so that it has time to cool off on the counter, before adding it to the layers of holly jolly jello shots. You DO NOT want to add hot or warm jello to the dish of layers because it can melt the layer you are pouring it onto, thus ruining the layered look of the holly jolly jello shots.
- Prepare your lime (green) gelatin by following step 2, except you will replace the raspberry with the lime gelatin. Set aside to cool off once mixed. You will repeat this step after making each layer alternating between raspberry and ending with the lime. Make sure to wash your measuring cup between flavors.
- Once your raspberry layer has chilled and set up, carefully pour on one of your (1¼ cup) portions of the sweetened condensed milk mixture. Place the dish back into the refrigerator to chill and set up for 45 minutes.
- Add your pre-mixed lime (green) gelatin mixture. Chill for 45 minutes.
- Make your second (3-ounce box) raspberry (red) layer and set it aside to cool on the counter.
- Add the second 1¼-cup sweetened condensed milk mixture (give it a quick stir before pouring if it has started to firm a little, so you don’t have lumps). Chill for 45 minutes.
- Carefully pour on the premade raspberry layer. Chill for 45 minutes.
- Make your final (3-ounce) box of the lime (green) mixture and set it aside to cool on the counter.
- Add the final 1¼-cup portion of the sweetened condensed milk mixture to the dish. Chill for 45 minutes.
- Pour on the final mixture of lime-flavored gelatin. This will be your top layer. At this point, you will want your holly jolly jello shots to have a good amount of chill time. I highly suggest an overnight chill in the refrigerator, but a minimum of 6 hours is needed to really make sure that all of the layers have set up and are firm.
Notes
These holly jolly jello shots take quite some time to assemble, so we suggest making them the day before you plan to serve them, as they will do best if they have plenty of time to chill in the refrigerator. Don’t rush the process, or your layers will mix, and you will not get the pretty layered look you are aiming for.
Remember that when serving these holly jolly jello shots, they should be labeled for adults only. You can make these kid-friendly by omitting the vodka and replacing it with cold water in the recipe.
Make sure that each layer has set up pretty firm before adding the next layer. It may take slightly longer for each of your layers to firm up, but it is very important so that the final product has very distinguishable layers. Pour slowly to ensure that you do not disturb the layer underneath.
Once your holly jolly jello shots have firmed up, you can slice them in the dish into squares. Carefully remove the individual squares and place them onto a large serving platter. Squirt a small amount of whipped topping onto the center of each square serving and top with either the holiday sprinkles or a green or red candy.
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