How to Make Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots

4.55 from 137 votes
These Blue Hawaiian jello shots made with Malibu rum are the color of the ocean and taste so delicious you'll feel like you're sitting on a tropical beach. They're perfect to serve with other tropical flavors like Pina Colada jello shots and Strawberry Daiquiri Jello shots.
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These Blue Hawaiian jello shots made with Malibu rum are the color of the ocean and taste so delicious you’ll feel like you’re sitting on a summer beach. They’re perfect to serve with other tropical flavors like Pina Colada jello shots and Strawberry Daiquiri Jello shots.

how to make blue hawaiian jello shots

Whether I’m making jello shots for my own party or to take to someone else’s get-together, they’re one of my favorite party cocktails.

These blue Hawaiian jello shots are a take-off of the bright blue-colored cocktail with the same name.

Just looking at them reminds me of the ocean, and makes me want to head to the beach. Which makes them the perfect addition to any summer get-together!

Ingredients

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blue hawaiian jello shot ingredients

The original drink is kind of like a blue Pina Colada.

To keep with the pineapple and coconut flavors, these Blue Hawaiian jello shots are made with pineapple juice and Malibu coconut rum along with Blue Curacao and Berry Blue jello.

Pots and Utensils

Here are the supplies you’ll need to make these jello shots:

What Size Of Jello Shot Cups Are The Best?

Spreading jello shot cups out on a cookie sheet makes the Blue Hawaiian jello shots easy to move to the fridge

Before you start making your Blue Hawaiian jello shots, you might want to get your jello shot cups ready.

I like to use the 2 ounce jello shot cups that come with lids*.

That way you can stack them in the refrigerator (I always need as much fridge space available as possible when I’m having a party!). And you don’t have to worry about them spilling if they get knocked over before they are set.

Spreading them out on a cookie sheet makes them really easy to move to the fridge when chilling time comes. It also saves your counter from getting jello on it if you happen to spill some.

How to Make Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots

Put the water on to boil.

I like to use an electric kettle* for this. It boils faster and doesn’t take up any stove space (another thing that always seems to be in short supply when I’m getting ready for a party).

blue hawaiian jello shots mixing

Once it is boiling, combine the Berry Blue Jello crystals with 1 cup hot water, making sure to stir until all of the sugar has dissolved.

I use a bowl with a handle and spout*…it makes pouring the jello into the cups much easier when we get to that stage.

How Much Alcohol Do You Put In Jello Shots?

Add 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 1/2 cup Malibu Coconut Rum and 1/4 cup Blue Curacao.

blue hawaiian jello shots cold liquids

For this step, I combine the pineapple juice, coconut run and blue curacao in a 2-cup measuring cup that you can read from the top*. It makes measuring so much easier!

Put together, the total of these liquids should come to 1 cup.

This is to double-check that I haven’t messed up on my measurements. (Adding in too much liquid will cause the jello not to set).

blue hawaiian jello shots filled

Pour the jello mixture into the jello cups and they are ready to chill!

You may want to wait until the jello is cool before putting the lids on.

That will prevent condensation from building up on them. It isn’t really a big deal if it does, since it doesn’t hurt the jello. They just look a little nicer without it.

How Long Does It Take Jello Shots To Set In The Fridge?

Refrigerate the jello shots until they are set, about 2 to 4 hours.

The time will vary based on how full you filled the jello shot cups and how cold your refrigerator is.

How Many Jello Shots Are In A Box Of Jello?

One small (3-oz) box of jello makes about 16 2-ounce jello shots depending on how much you put in each cup.

A large (6-oz) box of jello makes about 32 2-ounce jello shots. You would need to double the amounts for the other ingredients in this recipe to make this work.

How Long Do Jello Shots Last?

Jello shots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Because these ones contain juice, I wouldn’t keep them much longer than that.

Having said that, I find they start to lose flavor after a few days.

So I usually make these jello shots 1 to 2 days before the party. That way I get the benefits of making them in advance but they still taste their best.

blue hawaiian jello shots

How Do You Serve Jello Shots?

For all the people who don’t want to down jello shots the traditional way, I serve my jello shots with mini tasting spoons*.

They are the perfect size for eating out of a jello shot cup.

Other Jello Shot Recipes You Might Like

Or browse through all of our jello shot recipes for more ideas.

blue hawaiian jello shots stacked on a table

Blue Hawaiian Jello Shot Recipe

4.55 from 137 votes
Servings: 16 shots
Prep 10 minutes
Chilling Time 4 hours
Total 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 3-ounce (small) box Berry Blue Jello
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • ½ cup coconut rum (such as Malibu)
  • ¼ cup Blue Curacao
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice

Equipment

  • kettle or pot for boiling water
  • Mixing bowl and spoon
  • measuring cups
  • 12 to 16 2-oz jello shot cups with lids
  • Baking sheet (optional – for carrying the Jello shots to the refrigerator)

Instructions
 

  • Pour the jello into a mixing bowl.
  • Add boiling water and stir until the crystals are all dissolved.
    1 3-ounce (small) box Berry Blue Jello, 1 cup boiling water
  • Mix in the Malibu coconut rum, Blue Curacao, and pineapple juice.
    ½ cup coconut rum, ¼ cup Blue Curacao, ¼ cup pineapple juice
  • Pour the mixture into jello shot cups
  • Chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours until set.

Notes

  • for extra tropical flavor, you can replace the boiling water with boiling pineapple juice 
  • I like to use a mixing bowl with a spout*. It helps to prevent spills when you’re pouring the jello into the shot cups.
  • Spreading out the jello shot cups* on a cookie sheet makes them easy to move into the fridge for chilling.
  • Serving your jello shots with mini tasting spoons* gives people who don’t want to down them the traditional way another option.
Nutrition Facts
Blue Hawaiian Jello Shot Recipe
Serving Size
 
1 jello shot
Amount per Serving
Calories
42
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

authorWanda Simone
courseDessert
cuisineAmerican
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Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots Recipe

This post was originally published on June 16, 2018 but was updated with new content on March 21, 2024.


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15 Comments

  1. Hello question. What if I use blue Hawaiian liqeour ?

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Lachandra…I didn’t know there was such a thing 🙂 So obviously, I haven’t tried it. But assuming it’s based on the flavors of the original drink, it seems like it would work.

  2. What would be a good substitute for the pineapple juice?

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Jess…the pineapple juice is kind of what makes these Jello shots into a Blue Hawaiian. You can use water instead, but its not going to taste the same.

  3. What could you replace the alcohol with? They sound amazing but unfortunately am currently pregnant.

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Kristin…I haven’t tried this so I don’t know exactly how it would taste, but I think you could use Coconut water instead of the Malibu rum and orange juice (no pulp) or orange-flavored kool aid instead of the blue curacao.

      1. Crystal L Vasquez says:

        Hi, what if i use pineapple juice instead of the boiling water. Should i boil the pineapple juice?

        1. Wanda Simone says:

          Hi Crystal…yes, I think boiling the pineapple juice would work. I would stir it while it is on the stove and take it off the heat as soon as it starts to boil to make sure it doesn’t burn.

  4. the jello boxes also say to add cold water to boiling water after the jello dissolves… do you do this step or instead of the 2 cups of cold water would you use pineapple juice?

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Jennifer…use pineapple juice instead of the cold water.

  5. 1 star
    My jello didn’t set. I followed the exact recipe. Very upset about this. What a waste.

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Samantha…There are a few reasons why Jello shots don’t set: 1. The hot liquid wasn’t hot enough or the Jello wasn’t mixed long enough after the hot water was added so the Jello doesn’t dissolve completely, 2. Too much liquid was added (any more than 2 cups total and it won’t set) or 3. They weren’t chilled long enough or the refrigerator wasn’t cold enough. I have made the recipe successfully lots of times (as have many others) so I’m pretty sure it has the correct instructions.

  6. So we don’t add the cold water that you would normally add after you mix the boiling and jello?

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Susan…right, no cold water. The pineapple juice mixed with the alcohol takes the place of the cold water.