These cranberry Jello shots are perfect for the holidays! Made with cranberry Jello and cranberry juice, they have a festive flavor and the ideal Jello shot texture. Serve them in small shot glasses with a mini gold spoon to make them even more elegant. It makes for a classier way to enjoy a Jello shot.
Gone are the days of cheap, college Jello shots! These are sophisticated and classy Jello shots for adults. They’re fun to make, fall off flavor, and can be made the day before!
I love this holiday Jello shot recipe because it’s also made with cranberry juice and cranberry Jello, giving them the ultimate flavor. I’ve also given them more elegant with orange zest and sugared cranberries.
If you’re looking for more shot recipes, try my Jolly Rancher shots, birthday cake shots, gummy bear shots, green tea shots, and lemon drop shots.
What is a Jello Shot?
A Jello shot is made with JELL-O brand gelatin and alcohol and served as a “shot” in shot glasses or cut into cubes. If you’re taking them to a party, you can make them in these jello cups with lids. They’re perfect for parties!
How to Make Cranberry Jello Shots
These holiday Jello shots are super easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need:
Supplies
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Mixing Bowl
- Small Saucepan
- Shot Glasses
Ingredients
Full Recipe in Recipe Card Below
- Vodka – You can also use gin for this recipe if you prefer.
- Gelatin – Unflavored gelatin is a key ingredient in this recipe, providing a firm and bouncy texture. It also ensures that the shots will set with the addition of alcohol.
- Cranberry Jello – This mix of unflavored gelatin and flavored cranberry mix makes it easy to create a consistent and tasty shot every time.
- Cranberry Juice – Use 100% cranberry juice with no sugar added.
- Water
- Orange Zest (Optional) – I love how the orange flavors add a fragrance to these shots.
- Fresh Cranberries (Optional) – You can use sugared cranberries or fresh berries to garnsih.
Directions
- In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add vodka and sprinkle gelatin over the vodka. Let it sit for 1 minute.
- Add the cranberry jello over the top and pour in the boiling water.
- Stir until the jello completely dissolves.
- Add in the cranberry juice and stir.
- Pour the mixture into a liquid measuring cup with a spout and then into small shot glasses or Jello shot cups with lids.
- Place the shot glasses in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until the shots are firm.
- Add sugared berries and orange zest over the top.
Tips for Making Cranberry Jello Shots
- Don’t add more alcohol, as they won’t set properly.
- Use good quality vodka to make them more sophisticated.
- You can use pomegranate juice instead of cranberry juice for a more complex Jello shot.
- Add orange zest for the most beautiful orange cranberry flavor and scent.
- Serve them within one day of making them. I like serving them the same day when they’re at their best!
- Depending on the size of the shot glass or cups you’re using, these can take 8-14 shots. A shot is typically 1.5 ounces, but this will vary depending on what you use to serve them.
Recipe Variations
You can easily create your flavor variations! Here are some of our favorite ideas:
Cranberry Lime Jello Shots – Use 1/2 Cranberry Jello and 1/2 Lime Jello.
Cranberry Apple Jello Shots – Use apple juice instead of cranberry juice.
Orange Cranberry Jello Shots – Use orange juice OR use orange Jello and cranberry juice. Add orange zest over the top.
Cranberry Mule Jello Shots – Add ginger vodka to the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
The gelatin will continue to set when in the refrigerator and eventually become hard. It’s important that they are served within one day of making them as they don’t last long. Some say that you can wait 5 days to serve them, however, in our experience, they are not good after a few days.
If you use a plastic cup with a lid to store them, you can get an extra day.
It takes about 1 hour for Jello shots to set in the refrigerator fully.
Vodka is the best alcohol to use for Jello shots. It has a mild flavor so it won’t compete with the primary flavors in the shots.
Yes, the amount of alcohol used to make Jello shots does matter. If you add too much alcohol, the shots won’t set properly, giving you a very runny jello shot!
More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love
The Best Cranberry Moscow Mule Recipe
How to Make Cranberry Sauce Step by Step
Cranberry and Thyme Gin and Tonic
Jameson Whiskey Jello Shots – These are green and would pair perfectly with these festive red Jello shots for Christmas!
Let me know if you make these holiday Jello shots by leaving a comment and review below!
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Cranberry Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/4 ounce gelatin, 1 packet
- 3 ounces cranberry Jello
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- sugared cranberries, optional
- orange zest , optional
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil.Â
- Add vodka in a medium mixing bowl and sprinkle gelatin over the vodka. Let it sit for 1 minute.
- Add the cranberry jello over the top and pour in the boiling water.
- Stir until the jello completely dissolves.Â
- Add in the cranberry juice and stir.
- Pour the mixture into a liquid measuring cup with a spout and then into small shot glasses.
- Place the shot glasses in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until the shots are firm.
- Add sugared berries and orange zest over the top.Â
