9 Sensational Summer Jello Shots – colorful, flavorful jello combined with tropical booze makes these jello shots scream SUMMER; grab your friends and make your taste buds sing. Bottoms Up!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my disclosure policy for more on affiliate links and my policies.
Say hello to my little friends…and by friends I mean these delightfully-tropical-let-me-grab-my-sunscreen-and-beach-towel-hey-friend-meet-my-boozy-friends-these-flavorful-jello-shots!
My hubby and I have become the go-to bringers of cheese/summer sausage/crackers and jello shots. The cheese/summer sausage combo is because we have a professional slicer, and the jello shots are because we’re good at making them and we always have one-ounce plastic cups on hand.
So anywho, my family had its annual family reunion and we brought jello shots!! The weather in Wisconsin has been pretty steamy so far (YES!!), so I thought I would stick to summery tropical flavors. Also, since we’re the go-to-bringers, we try to outdo ourselves each time. Thus for the family reunion this year I had nine different flavors with a whopping 200+ jello shots total. 🙂
9 Sensational Summer Jello Shots Table of Contents
Bahama Mama Jello Shots
Bahama Mama Jello Shots are the family fan favorite! It was the first to go both because the lid said “BM” and my family has a sick sense of humor AND because watermelon jello, Malibu Coconut Rum, and peach schnapps tastes like watermelon jolly ranchers.
Sex On The Beach Jello Shots
Sex On The Beach Jello Shots are another favorite, once again because my family has an interesting sense of humor and because of the rocking tropical flavors! Hello, cranberry juice, orange jello, Malibu Coconut Rum, and vodka.
Rummy Bears Jello Shots
Rummy Bears Jello Shots are delicious but also exciting with their surprise gummy bear inside. You can’t go wrong with a gummy bear inside of a jello shot made up of pineapple jello, wild strawberry vodka, and Malibu Coconut Rum. You just can’t.
Side Note: Sky Wild Strawberry Vodka smells heavenly!! Also, if you love the Rummy Bears Jello Shots, you'll LOVE Rummy Bears 2.0 Jello Shots.
Jello Shot Recipe Tip: The gummy bears can be added before or after you add the liquid/alcohol jello mixture to your 1-ounce plastic cups. I add mine first so I can kind of smoosh them onto the bottom standing up in hopes that will stick a bit and stay standing. They will melt a little bit if you stick them in while your liquid jello is still warm, but it's just a bit and they still turn out great.
Pina Colada Jello Shots
Pina Colada Jello Shots are my personal favorite. You can’t go wrong with pineapple jello, Malibu Coconut Rum, and triple-sec (an orange-flavored liqueur) in my book. Plus it just makes you want to relax and have another. #justsaying #sarahsaysrelax
Dreamsicle Jello Shots
Dreamsicle Jello Shots are a go-to of mine. They are orange which is fitting for Halloween, another holiday we tend to make jello shots for, and because they are positively dreamy with orange jello, vanilla vodka, and triple-sec. Isn’t everything dreamy that is Dreamsicle flavor?
Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots
Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots make me think of Elvis and are made up of berry blue jello, Malibu Coconut Rum, and blue curacao. These summer jello shots are very tropical and will turn your tongue blue.
Bomb Pop Jello Shots
My Bomb Pop Jello Shots are a bit misleading because they don’t look like a bomb pop. Technically the recipe should be made with cherry jello but I am a big fan of black cherry jello and therefore mine are dark. You can use cherry or black cherry jello, either way, these shots pop with lemon vodka and blue curacao.
Lemon Drop Jello Shots
Lemon Drop Jello Shots are also one of my personal favorites. I am old school and still enjoy a lemon drop shot now and again. The jello shot version made up of lemon jello, lemon vodka, and triple-sec tastes very much the same as the alcohol shot version but without the sticky lemon covered in sugar!
Purple People Eater Jello Shots
OK, so Purple People Eater Jello Shots don’t exactly sound like summer or tropical. In fact, it makes me think of Little Monsters. Does anyone else remember that movie with Fred and Ben Savage? I remember seeing it in the theater...did I just age myself?!
Nonetheless, the Purple People Eater Jello Shots are another go-to for me; they’re tasty and are also very fitting for Halloween. Fortunately, they are still fitting for summer as they’re packed with grape jello, watermelon pucker, and vodka.
5 Tips + Tricks for Making Summer Jello Shots
1. If making multiple jello shot flavors boil several cups of water at a time. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into a large glass measuring cup, and then return the pot to continue to boil until ready for the next jello shot recipe.
2. Using the smaller boxes (3-ounces) of jello makes it easier to make multiple flavors, however, you can use the larger boxes of jello (6-ounces) and just double the recipe. The 3-ounces make about 20 jello shots and the 6-ounce would be about 40 jello shots.
3. These one-ounce plastic cups with lids are AWESOME! There is nothing better for making jello shots and they can also be used as disposable shot glasses. If you use a larger plastic cup than 1-ounce the jello shot recipe won't change just fill the cup to your desired level.
4. To get jello shots out of the cup, use your tongue or finger, or use the lid of the cup like a spoon. I've heard people using cooking spray, this doesn't appeal to me, but feel free to give that a whirl.
5. Amazon and Walmart have a good selection of Jello flavors!
Jello Shots never tasted so good with these tropical 9 Sensational Summer Jello Shots! Remember to always drink/eat responsibly! 🙂
9 Sensational Summer Jello Shots
Ingredients
Bahama Mama
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces watermelon jello
- ⅓ cup Malibu Coconut Rum
- ⅓ cup peach schnapps
Sex On The Beach
- ½ cup boiling water
- ½ cup boiling cranberry juice¹
- 3 ounces orange jello
- ⅓ cup vodka
- ⅓ cup peach schnapps
Rummy Bears
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces pineapple jello
- ½ cup wild strawberry vodka
- ¼ cup Malibu Coconut Rum
- 20 gummy bears²
Pina Colada
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces pineapple jello
- ⅓ cup Malibu Coconut Rum
- ⅓ cup triple sec
Dreamsicle
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces orange jello
- ⅓ cup vanilla vodka
- ⅓ cup triple sec
Blue Hawaiian
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces berry blue jello
- ⅓ cup Malibu Coconut Rum
- ⅓ cup blue curacao
Bomb Pop
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces cherry or black cherry jello
- ⅓ cup lemon vodka
- ⅓ cup blue curacao
Lemon Drop
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces lemon jello
- ⅓ cup lemon vodka
- ⅓ cup triple sec
Purple People Eater
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 ounces grape jello
- ⅓ cup vodka
- ⅓ cup watermelon pucker
Instructions
- Boil water. Pour one cup of boiling water into a large glass measuring cup.
- Pour in jello and mix until jello is dissolved. Mix in alcohol.
- Pour into 1-ounce plastic cups.
- Refrigerate until jello is solid; once solid cap with plastic lids for easy transport. Eat & Enjoy!
Jack says
What exactly is triple sec?
Sarah says
Hi Jack, it's an orange-flavored liqueur.
Robin Dulmus says
West do you do if you have 2 ounce cups
Sarah says
The recipe doesn't change, you'll just have more jello in the cup. Happy Jello Shot Making!!
Cynthia Jordan says
Hi I made the Rummy Bears and Bahama Mama shots and they were a huge hit! I'll be making these all summer long! Thanks!
Sarah says
Yes!! That's what I LOVE to hear, Cynthia!! Those are two of my favs too. Thank you for making and sharing!!
Amanda says
Hello! How many Jell-O shots does one recipe make?
Sarah says
Hi Amanda! About 20 Jell-O shots. Thanks!!
Cheryl says
A fun way to release the Jell-O shots without coating the cup in oil is to let guests use a pretty plastic swizzle stick to and run it along the inside edge. It works great and no time spent piling or adding an oily substance to the shots.
Sarah says
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for the fun tip and for stopping by and commenting.
Kaitlyn says
For the Bahama Mama, I cannot locate watermelon jello anywhere. Is there another jello you would recommend in its place?
Sarah says
Hi Kaitlyn - Most likely I got the watermelon jello from Walmart. They seem to have the largest selection. Amazon also has it, https://amzn.to/2wyWcMj (affiliate link). In keeping with the Bahama Mama, you could do peach jello with watermelon schnapps/pucker.
If you change the flavors it won't be a Bahama Mama anymore, but would still taste delish. You could try strawberry or orange jello. I hope that helps! Thanks for making and commenting!
Jessica says
Hey there! Great page with fun recipes and info. Thanks for sharing! I've read the jello will be rubbery if the alcohol isn't ice cold? Is there any truth to that?
Sarah says
Hi Jessica! Thanks. Nope. I've never used ice cold alcohol and I've never had rubbery jello shots. 🙂
Kim Butala says
Sarah, I can not find Pineapple Jello. Did you make this with a clear Gelatin mix and just add flavor?
Sarah says
Hi Kim! No, I made it with pineapple jello. I've never had a problem finding pineapple jello. That being said, Walmart has a pretty vast selection of jello; you might try there. 🙂
Ruby says
Hey Sarah!
I love how fun these jello shots are. If I want them strong, can I add more alcohol? Or will that mess up the jello from setting? Thanks!
Sarah says
Hi, Ruby! If you want to add more alcohol then you need to add less water otherwise, yes, it will mess with the consistency. You should be using the same overall amount of liquid, even if you are using more alcohol. Does that make sense? I've personally never made them stronger, so I can't vouch for how they will turn out. If you do it, I'd love to hear how it goes. Thanks!
Kari says
Hi I was wondering if you let the water cool before adding the alcohol?
Sarah says
Hi, Kari - Nope. You mix the jello in the boiling water until it dissolves and then pour in the alcohol.
susan shakoor says
where do you find those cups? Online?
Sarah says
Hi Susan! I bought mine from a local restaurant supply store, however, under "Jello Shot Tips" right before the recipes I have a link to Amazon for the same 1-ounce cups. I hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Enjoy! 🙂
Kelly says
Hi! Loved the recipes, wondering if you've found a way for the shot to slide right out of cup? I hate it when they get stuck and I need a spoon lol
Sarah says
Hi, Kelly! I am SO glad you enjoyed the recipes! As a long time Jello shot maker /eater we always use our tongue or finger. When it comes to Jello shots, I think that's just how it goes. 😉
Thanks for making my recipes and stopping by and commenting! If I come up with another way to get the Jello shots out I'll definitely share it! 🙂
Shai says
I was just wondering where your located in wisconsin n if you make them for other people?
Sarah says
Hi Shai! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! No, I do not make them for other people, but thanks for your interest! 🙂