Mardi Gras Jello Shots

For a great tasting cocktail that goes with the purple, gold and green decorations at your Mardi Gras party, this Mardi Gras jello shots recipe is sure to be a big hit.

When it comes to party cocktails, you know I love a good jello shot recipe!

And I love me some color.

So what’s the most colorful party around where cocktails are pretty much a given? Mardi Gras!

I just couldn’t resist coming up with a Mardi Gras jello shot recipe that has the Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and yellow) in layers…tastes great, too.

It does take a little bit of extra time to do all the layers, but they look so pretty that I think they’re worth it.

Of course, if you don’t want to do that much work, you could just make each color in its own jello shot cup. Which still looks very festive.

How To Make Mardi Gras Jello Shots

To keep the flavor consistent throughout all the layers, I used vodka as the main alcoholic ingredient in all of them. Then added some extra flavor to each of the layers to make them taste better

I find that jello shots with straight vodka are too strong for most people. However if your friends are avid vodka drinkers, you can replace some of the other cold liquids with more vodka if you wish.

Also, because vodka is a big component of this Mardi Gras jello shots recipe, I always use a premium brand like Absolut or Ketel One. That helps the shots to taste smoother.

Of course, if you prefer to make non-alcoholic Mardi Gras jello shots, that’s easy to do, too. Just replace all of the alcohol with cold water and you’re good to go.

The Purple Jello Layer

I did the purple layer first. You can switch the colors around if you want to, but I think having the darkest layer at the bottom of the jello shot cup looks the best.

Start making the jello as you normally would by mixing 1 cup of boiling hot water with Grape jello.

Then add 1 cup of cold liquids – I used 1/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup Chambord (raspberry liqueur) and 1/2 cup vodka.

You can adjust the amounts of each of these to your taste as long as the total comes out to 1 cup.

I didn’t strain my lime juice so you can see little bits of lime pulp in the jello. I like the flavor they add so I leave them in there. But if you want a clearer look, make sure to strain the lime juice before pouring it in the jello.

Fill the bottom 1/3 of your jello shot cups with the purple jello mixture.

Then put the jello shots in the refrigerator until they are firm, usually 2 to 4 hours.

The Yellow Jello Layer

Once the purple jello has gelled, you’re ready for the yellow layer.

It starts out the same way, 1 cup of hot water mixed with Lemon jello. Using a mixing bowl with a pour spout makes it much easier to fill the jello cups later.

Then add 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup Limoncello and 1/2 cup vodka. Again, you can adjust the amounts as long as the total amount of cold liquids comes out to 1 cup.

I like to pour them all into a measuring cup to make sure they come out to 1 cup, and then add the cold liquids to the jello mixture.

Let the lemon jello sit in the bowl until it is cool, about 20 minutes. This will prevent it from melting the previous layer when you add it to the jello shot cups.

If you take a look at my jello shots, you’ll notice that the purple and yellow layers have a hazy border, but the line between the yellow and green jello is quite clear.

That’s because the lemon jello wasn’t all the way cool when I poured it on top of the grape jello.

However, when I did the green layer, I made sure that it had cooled completely before I poured it in the jello cup.

I’d like to say I did that on purpose to show you the difference…but that’s not true. I was just in too much of a hurry 🙂

Once it is cool, pour it carefully on top of the purple jello until the jello shot cups are about 2/3 full.

Then put it back in the fridge to cool for another 2 to 4 hours.

The Green Jello Layer

When the yellow jello layer has gelled, it’s time to make the green jello.

Mix 1 cup of hot water with Lime jello.

Then add 1/4 cup lime juice and 3/4 cup vodka. Once again, you can vary the amounts of each as long as the total amount comes to 1 cup.

Let the lime jello sit in the bowl until it is cool, about 20 minutes.

Then pour it carefully on top of the lemon jello in the jello shot cups.

Put it back in the fridge to cool for another 2 to 4 hours and you’re done.

How Long Do Jello Shots Last?

Jello shots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week (probably even longer). However, I think they start to lose their flavor after a few days.

I usually make them a day or two before the party to get the best compromise between getting them ready early and still tasting good.

How Do You Serve Jello Shots?

I like to serve my jello shots with a mini tasting spoon*.

Most of my friends prefer that to trying to down them straight from the shot cup.

Other Jello Shots Recipes You Might Like

• Lime Margarita Jello Shots
• Best Jello Shot Recipes By Color
• Layered Purple Hooter Jello Shots

Mardi Gras Jello Shots Recipe

This vodka jello shots is made of 3 layers in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, yellow and green. It looks and tastes like a party! 

4.50 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cooling Time 12 hours hrs

Total Time 12 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 30 jello shots

Calories 55 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• 1 kettle or pot for boiling water
• 30 tall 2-ounce jello shot cups with lids
• 1 Baking sheet (optional)
• 1 mixing bowl with a pour spout
• 1 mixing spoon

Ingredients

  

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Purple Jello Layer

• 1 3-ounce package grape Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• ¼ cup Chambord raspberry liquor
• ½ cup vodka

Yellow Jello Layer

• 1 3-ounce package lemon Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ cup Limoncello
• ½ cup vodka

Green Jello Layer

• 1 3-ounce package lime Jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• ¾ cup vodka

Instructions

 

Purple Jello Layer

• Put the water on to boil
• While you’re waiting, lay out about 30 tall jello shot cups on a cookie sheet.
• Mix 1 cup of the boiling water with the lime jello in a mixing bowl with a spout. Make sure all of the sugar crystals have dissolved before going to the next step.
• Add in 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice, 1/4 cup Chambord or other raspberry liquor and 1/2 cup vodka.
• Fill the jello shot cups about 1/3 full.
• Put on the lids and refrigerate until set, about 2 to 4 hours

Yellow Jello Layer

• In a mixing bowl with a spout, dissolve the package of lemon jello in 1 cup of boiling water .
• Mix in 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1/4 cup Limoncello and 1/2 cup vodka.
• Let the jello sit until it has cooled down to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• After removing the lids, carefully pour the lemon jello on top of the purple jello in the jello shot cups until they are about 2/3 full.
• Put the lids back on the jello shot cups and refrigerate until the lemon jello has set, usually 2 to 4 hours.

Green Jello Layer

• In a mixing bowl with a spout, dissolve the package of lime jello in 1 cup of boiling water.
• Add in 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice and 3/4 cup vodka.
• Let the jello cool until it has reached room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• After removing the lids, carefully pour the green jello on top of the yellow jello in the jello shot cups until they are almost full.
• Put the lids back on the jello shot cups and refrigerate until the lime jello has set, usually 2 to 4 hours

Notes

• While not absolutely necessary, putting jello shot cups on a cookie sheet makes transporting them back and forth to the refrigerator much easier. And the cookie sheet also catches any jello that might spill while you are filling them.
• Using a mixing bowl with a spout will make filling the jello shot cups easier.
• To make sure that you don’t make holes in the previous jello layers while pouring, you can either pour the jello over a spoon or pour it slowly down the side of the jello shot cup.
• The amount of alcohol in the jello shots can be adjusted to taste as long as all of the cold liquids combined together come out to 1 cup.
• Jello shots can be made a few days in advance and stored in the refrigerator until needed.
• A non-alcoholic version of these jello shots can be made by replacing all of the alcohol with water.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 jello shotCalories: 55 kcalCarbohydrates: 8.1 gProtein: 0.9 gSodium: 33.4 mgSugar: 7.7 g

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

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