Whether you’re hosting friends for a Galentine’s party, or planning a romantic date night for two, Valentine’s Day Jello Shots are the a delicious way to get your party started.
Made with layers of cherry and pink starburst gelatin, and then topped with a bit of whipped cream and sprinkles, you’re going to fall in love with this adorable drink and dessert combo.
Why we love these Homemade Layered Valentine’s Day Jello Shots
There’s so much to love about these jello shots. Here are just a few of our favorite reasons:
- You only need 6 simple ingredients – and one of those is water – which means they’re an easy and inexpensive treat for a crowd.
- The layers of gelatin topped with whipped cream are so pretty and definitely take your jello shots to the next level.
- Jello shots are a fantastic make-ahead party treat, which saves you so much time on party day.
- Who doesn’t love a tasty drink and dessert combo?
What You’ll Need:
Layered Jello Shots Ingredients:
- 6 ounce box Pink Starburst Jello
- Cold water
- Chilled vodka
- Boiling water
- Whipped cream
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Tools:
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Whisk
- Shot glasses
- Baking sheet
How to Make Layered Valentine’s Day Jello Shots:
To make things even easier for you, I created a simple photo guide below. For all measurements and more detailed information, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
If you make this recipe, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. This provides helpful feedback for me and to other readers. And if you want more fun party ideas, subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Step 1 – In a large bowl, combine 1 cup cold water and 1 cup chilled vodka. Whisk in pink starburst jello, until dissolved.
Step 2 – Pour in 2 cups of boiling water and whisk again. Set the bowl aside to cool for 5 minutes.
Step 3 – Arrange your shot glasses on a baking sheet. Pour the pink Starburst jello mixture about halfway up the shot glass.
Step 4 – Move your shot glasses to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
Step 5 – Once the pink starburst layer is set, combine 1 cup cold water and 1 cup chilled vodka in a large bowl. Whisk in the cherry jello, stirring until the jello has dissolved. Pour in 2 cups boiling water and whisk again.
Step 6 – Allow the cherry jello to cool for at least 20 minutes before pouring over the pink layer. Move the shot glasses to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Once it is time to serve, top with whipped cream and Valentine’s day sprinkles. Enjoy!
Essential Tips:
Don’t skip these tips – read them before baking to avoid any potential mistakes.
Prepare your fridge before getting started
You’re going to need plenty of space to store the jello shots as they set. So make sure you clear off a large shelf in your fridge.
Don’t rush layering your jello shots
Your first layer should be well set before you add the next layer on top, and the second layer should be almost cool, but not set.
If you rush it, your layers will bleed into one another, and won’t look nearly as pretty as they could.
Make your Jello shots the day before your party.
These cute treats take at least 4 hours to pull together, so making them one or two days in advance will give them plenty of time to set and will make life much less stressful.
Use a baking sheet and silicone baking mat
The baking sheet will make it so much easier to move the Valentine’s Day jello shots in and out of your refrigerator, and the silicone mat helps to prevent the shot glasses from sliding around.
Use a liquid measuring cup to pour your jello mixture
Some people recommend using eyedroppers or turkey basters to measure out the liquid into the shot glasses, but I find that the liquid ends up spilling everywhere.
The key is to find a liquid measuring cup with a good pour spout.
Traditional glass measuring cups never worked well for us when pouring small quantities. The liquid just runs down the side of the glass and makes a huge mess.
Our favorites are this measuring cup from OXO, and these flexible measuring cups. Out of the gajillion measuring cups we have, those are definitely my favorite.
Let the Jello shots sit out for 30 minutes before ‘drinking’ them
This will help the jello loosen up so they are easier to eat. You may also want to serve your layered jello shots with mini wooden spoons so guests don’t have to struggle to separate the jello from the shot glass.
Adaptations and Substitutions:
- Make the Jello Shots Virgin: These layered jello treats would be adorable for a kids party. You can just as easily prepare the gelatin according to package directions (without vodka) and use the tips here for layering your jello treats.
- Layered Jello Shot Cubes: If you really want to make it easy for yourself. Prepare your Valentine’s Day jello shots in a 13×9 inch pan and cut them into cubes. Just remember to grease your pan well so the jello doesn’t stick.
- Champagne Valentine’s Day Jello Shots: Pink Starburst Jello is the only jello that I know of that is a true pink. BUT you could also make your first layer out of Champagne jello shots made with pink champagne, and add a layer of strawberry jello on top. (Yum!)
- Switch Up the Jello Flavors: We used cherry jello for a bright red layer, but you could also substitute watermelon, strawberry, raspberry, or black cherry. Just make sure you use 6 ounce packages so the proportions are still the same.
FAQs:
What kind of alcohol can you use for Jello shots?
I like to use vodka because it has the cleanest taste. but you could also try white rum or silver tequila.
If you opt for a flavored liquor, make sure it won’t compete with the flavors of jello you use. For example, whipped cream vodka would pair well with both layers, and cherry vodka would work well with the cherry jello shot layer.
Can you put too much vodka in Jello shots?
Yes. If you put too much vodka in jello shots, they will take much longer to set up and may not set up at all. I don’t recommend using any more than the amount recommended in the recipe.
Can I use plastic jello shot cups?
Yes, you can! I love using plastic cups for jello shots. The lids make it so easy to store them in the fridge before a party and since they’re disposable, clean up is super easy.
I even tested a batch with some leftover cups just to be sure. The layers were pretty thin, but no one complained.
Note: If you do use plastic jello shot cups, it’s even more important to make sure the first layer is completely set, and wait until the cherry jello is almost soft set before adding it on top. If you add it too soon, it will mix with the pink starburst jello and you won’t have those pretty layers.
How many Jello shots does this make?
If you’re using tall shot glasses like the ones shown here, you’ll get 12 to 18 shots from this recipe. If you use 2 ounce plastic shot glass cups, you’ll get 24 to 30 shots from this recipe.
Can I cover my Jello shots before they set?
Yes, you can cover your jello with plastic wrap or with plastic lids (if you’re using plastic jello shot cups) However, the covering will hold the heat in, which means your layers will take longer to set, so please plan accordingly.
Making these Jello Shots for a party?
Don’t forget to grab some wild and fun party decorations to make everything even more festive.
How do you Store Layered Jello Shots?
Once set, keep your Valentine’s Day jello shots in the refrigerator covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to 5 days.
If you liked these Valentine’s Day jello shots, then you’re going to love my pink champagne floats. Made with tart raspberry sorbet, bubbly champagne or sparkling wine, and topped with fresh raspberries; these pretty pink champagne floats are a pretty all in one drink and dessert.
Or you can check out my other Valentine’s Day ideas right here.
Layered Valentine's Day Jello Shots
Layered Valentine's Day jello shots are made with red and pink jello, then topped with whipped cream and sprinkles for an easy and pretty treat.
Ingredients
Pink Layer:
- 1 box (6 ounces) Pink Starburst Gelatin
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup vodka, chilled
- 2 cups boiling water
Red Layer:
- 1 box (6 ounces) Cherry Gelatin
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 cups boiling water, divided
- 1 cup vodka, chilled
Topping:
- 1.5 cups whipped cream
- 4 tablespoons Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine 1 cup cold water and 1 cup chilled vodka. Whisk in pink starburst jello, until dissolved.
- Pour in 2 cups of boiling water and whisk again. Set the bowl aside to cool for 5 minutes.
- Arrange your shot glasses on a baking sheet. Pour the pink Starburst jello mixture about halfway up the shot glass.
- Move your shot glasses to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours.
- Once the pink starburst layer is set, combine 1 cup cold water and 1 cup chilled vodka in a large bowl. Whisk in the cherry jello, stirring until the jello has dissolved. Pour in 2 cups boiling water and whisk again.
- Allow the cherry jello to cool for at least 20 minutes before pouring over the pink layer. Move the shot glasses to the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Once it is time to serve, top with whipped cream and Valentine’s day sprinkles. Enjoy!
Notes
Remember, the step-by-step photos and FAQ in the recipe post are there to help you if you feel stuck at any point.
- Don't rush layering your jello shots. Make sure your first layer is well set or the colors might bleed into one another.
- Jello shots are best made 1-2 days before your party.
- Use a baking sheet and silicone baking matto make moving the shot glasses in and out of the refrigerator easier.
- Make the Jello Shots Virgin: These layered jello treats would be adorable for a kids party. You can just as easily prepare the jello according to the package ingredients (without vodka) and use the tips here for layering your treats.
- Keep your Valentine's Day jello shots in the refrigerator covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to 5 days.
- If you use tall shot glasses like the ones shown here, you'll get 12 to 18 shots from this recipe. If you use 2 ounce plastic shot glass cups, you'll get 24 to 30 shots from this recipe.
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