Easy Watermelon Jello Shots
These easy watermelon jello shots are out-of-this-world delicious! Made with watermelon Jolly Rancher gelatin, watermelon pucker, lime juice, and vodka, this recipe is perfect for the 4th of July or any other fun summer celebration!
Jello shots are so fun and go perfectly with any party or barbecue. Got any plans for the 4th of July? Go red with these jello shots (or check out my tropical red, white, and blue jello shots.)
Watermelon and summertime go together like cotton and candy. Seriously, what is summer without watermelon? Pair it with jello shots, and you end up with the ultimate adult boozy treat.
Made with just a few simple ingredients, these are so easy to put together.
And they’re so tasty, you’ll be super excited to share them with your friends at your next get-together.
Ingredients
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You really don’t need much for this jello shots recipe! Just some watermelon pucker, vodka, lime juice, and Watermelon Jolly Rancher gelatin.
Watermelon pucker – Watermelon pucker is a watermelon flavored liqueur that is commonly used in all types of mixed drinks. You can find it at your local liquor store, but feel free to omit and substitute with cold water or more vodka.
Vodka – I like to use a decent quality vodka for this recipe (like Kettle One, Smirnoff or Grey Goose) because the clean flavor doesn’t interfere much with all the watermelon goodness.
Watermelon Jolly Rancher gelatin – The essential component to this recipe! You’ll want to make sure you have 2.79 ounce package.
Lime juice – Fresh lime juice is best since it helps to cut back on the sweetness of the jello shots.
How to Make Watermelon Jello Shots
First, spread out 16 to 20 2-ounce jello shot cups* onto a baking sheet. Set aside.
Next, pour the contents of the gelatin packet into a mixing bowl or large measuring cup. Using a bowl with a spout* makes it much easier to pour the mixture into the jello shot cups later.
Add one cup of boiling water to the gelatin powder, stirring until all of the crystals have dissolved (30 seconds to a minute).
Then, mix 2/3 cup Vodka, 1/4 cup watermelon pucker, and 1 Tablespoon lime juice into the gelatin mixture.
Next, pour the mixture into the jello shot cups.
Put the lids on the watermelon jello shots and place in the refrigerator until gelled, 2 to 4 hours.
To keep condensation from forming inside the lids, make sure the jello is completely cool before you put them on.
FAQ’s
Jello shots can be made up to three days ahead of time – store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
I like to serve them with a mini tasting spoon*. It makes them much easier to eat!
No, I wouldn’t. They look cute, like mini watermelon slices. But it’s a lot of work to remove the pulp from the limes. And the flavor from the lime rind soaks into the jello which makes them taste awful.
Putting the jello shot cups on a baking sheet catches any spills while pouring and it makes them easy to put in the refrigerator. But it isn’t absolutely necessary for making jello shots.
Other Jello Shot Recipes You Will Enjoy
- Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots Recipe
- Piña Colada Jello Shots
- Sour Apple Jello Shots
- Very Berry Strawberry Daiquiri Jello Shots
Or browse through all of our jello shot recipes for more ideas.
Easy Watermelon Jello Shots
Equipment
- jello shot cups with lids
- cookie sheet (optional)
- kettle or pot
- measuring cup
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 2.79-oz (small) package of Jolly Rancher watermelon gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- ⅔ cup Vodka
- ¼ cup Watermelon pucker or liqueur
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Spread out 16 to 20 jello shot cups on a cookie sheet. Set aside.
- Pour the contents of the gelatin package into a mixing bowl.
- Add 1 cup of boiling water and mix until all of the gelatin crystals have dissolved, about 30 seconds.
- Mix in ⅔ cup Vodka, ¼ cup watermelon pucker and 1 Tablespoon lime juice.
- Pour the mixture into the jello shot cups, filling them about ¾ full.
- Put the lids on the jello shot cups and refrigerate until gelled, 2 to 4 hours.
Notes
- A cookie sheet isn’t absolutely necessary, but it catches any spills when you’re pouring. And it makes moving the jello shots to the refrigerator easier.
- If you don’t have watermelon pucker, you can omit it and substitute cold water, or extra vodka if you really want a kick.
- Make sure the jello is completely cooled before putting the lids on the jello shot cups. This will prevent condensation from forming. It doesn’t hurt the jello shots, but it doesn’t look as good.
- Serve with mini-tasting spoons to make the jello shots easier to eat.
- Jello shots can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator before serving.
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This post was originally published on April 16, 2021 but was updated with new content on August 10, 2022.
For the best tasting Jell-O shots, be sure to chill the alcohol, otherwise it all cooks off when you add it to the hot jello mixture.
Thanks for the tip, Jennifer! I usually wait until the hot Jello has cooled down to add the alcohol so I don’t have an issue with evaporation. But I do think adding chilled alcohol helps it to set faster.