These easy watermelon jelly shots are out-of-this-world delicious! Made with watermelon gelatin, watermelon pucker, lime juice, and vodka, this recipe is perfect for the 4th of July or any other fun summer celebration!
Jelly 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 gelatin, 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
You really don’t need much for this jello shots recipe! Just some watermelon pucker, vodka, lime juice, and Watermelon Jolly Rancher gelatin.
gelatin – 1 small (3-ounce) package watermelon gelatin. I like Jolly Rancher gelatin for this but it can be hard to find. So you can use any other brand.
alcohol – ¼ cup watermelon flavored liqueur such as Watermelon pucker, 2/3 cup 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 with all the watermelon goodness.
produce – one lime
Substitutions
- For a simpler but slightly less flavorful version, replace the Watermelon pucker with ¼ cup cold water or vodka.
- If you don’t have a fresh lime, you can substitute 1 Tablespoon bottled lime juice (but I don’t think it tastes as good).
How to Make Watermelon jelly Shots
Prep work
First, spread out 16 to 20 2-ounce shot cups* onto a baking sheet. Set aside.
Juice half a lime. You’ll need 1 Tablespoon of lime juice.
Make the shots
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, ¼ cup watermelon pucker, and 1 Tablespoon lime juice into the gelatin mixture.
Pour the shots
Now, pour the mixture into the jello shot cups.
Put the lids on the watermelon gelatin shots and place in the refrigerator until gelled, 2 to 4 hours.
To keep condensation from forming inside the lids, make sure the liquid is completely cool before you put them on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make gelatin shots ahead of time?
Gelatin shots can be made up to three days ahead of time – store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
How do you serve gelatin shots?
I like to serve them with a mini tasting spoon*. It makes them much easier to eat!
Should I make these jelly shots in lime wedges?
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 gelatin which makes them taste awful.
Do I need a baking sheet?
Putting the 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 jelly 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 Jelly Shots
Ingredients
- 1 3-oz (small) package of watermelon gelatin
- 1 cup boiling water
- ⅔ cup Vodka
- ¼ cup Watermelon pucker or liqueur
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
Equipment
- 12 to 16 2-ounce jello shot cups with lids
- cookie sheet (optional)
- kettle or pot to boil the water
- measuring cup
- mixing bowl, preferably with a spout to make pouring easier
- mixing spoon
- 12 to 16 mini tasting spoons (optional) – to make eating the Jello shots easier
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.1 3-oz (small) package of watermelon gelatin
- Add boiling water and mix until all of the gelatin crystals have dissolved, about 30 seconds.1 cup boiling water
- Mix in Vodka, watermelon pucker and lime juice.⅔ cup Vodka, ¼ cup Watermelon pucker or liqueur, 1 Tablespoon fresh 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 gelatin is completely cooled before putting the lids on the shot cups. This will prevent condensation from forming. It doesn’t hurt the shots, but it doesn’t look as good.
- Serve with mini-tasting spoons to make the jelly shots easier to eat.
- Gelatin shots can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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This post was originally published on April 16, 2021 but was updated with new content on May 22, 2024.
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.
Make sure the jello has cooled before adding the booze or the alcohol will evaporate.
Thank you. I also soak watermelon pieces in the vodka and add on top.
Nicely done.
That’s a great idea, Mikel! Thanks for the suggestion.