Fun and festive Grinch Jello Shots are the perfect addition to your holiday party! These colorful shots capture the mischievous spirit of the Grinch himself – adorable green jello shots with red heart centers! Guaranteed to add a playful twist to your Christmas celebrations and maybe, just maybe, make your heart grow three sizes!
Celebrating Grinch-mas this year? Be sure to check out my other fun Grinch-themed treats too: Grinch Cupcakes and Grinch Cookies!
Grinch Jello Shots Recipe
These Grinch Jello Shots are one of my favorite ways to add a little festive fun to any holiday party! Inspired by everyone’s favorite holiday character, each shot features a bright green apple shot with a sweet red cherry heart in the center giving them that perfect festive, yet Grinchy look. The vodka adds a nice little kick to each shot, making them a fun treat for adult guests. Plus, they’re easy to make and always a hit! Whether I’m hosting a big party or a small gathering, these shots never fail to steal the show. They’re playful, eye-catching and perfect for Christmas parties, Friendsmas, or themed holiday gatherings.
What’s great about these jello shots is how customizable they are. I can use whatever red and green jello flavors I can find. Sometimes, I’ll top them with whipped cream or even a sprinkle of edible glitter to make them extra festive. These jello shots are perfect for a Grinch-themed party or just to bring some holiday cheer to any gathering.
Kid Friendly Variation
Make these jello shots kid-friendly by replacing the vodka with your favorite lemon-lime soda or more water!
Why You’ll Love This Grinch Jello Shots Recipe
What makes these jello shots extra special is the little surprise in the center. The red heart adds a whimsical touch that feels perfectly on theme while still being simple enough to make at home. Best of all, they can be prepared in advance, making holiday entertaining even easier.
- Perfect for Any Party Size: Whether you’re hosting a large holiday bash or a small intimate gathering, these jello shots are the perfect treat! They’re easy to scale up or down based on how many people will be at your party.
- Easy to Make: With just four ingredients and a couple of easy steps, these jello shots are quick to prepare, leaving you with more time to enjoy the festivities instead of stressing over complicated recipes.
- Make Ahead: Check one more of your never-ending to-do list and get these shots done early. Since the jello has to set up anyways, they are a great make-ahead addition to any holiday party.
How to Make Grinch Jello Shots
Add some holiday magic to your celebrations with these Grinch Jello Shots! The vibrant layers of red and green are just as iconic as the Grinch himself, whose heart “was two sizes too small”—until it grew three sizes, of course! With a splash of vodka for an extra kick, these colorful shots are as fun and festive as the holiday season itself!
Let’s take a quick look at how to make these festive jello shots and as always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Whisk red jello and boiling water together until dissolved.
- Whisk in ¼ cup of cold water and ¼ cup of chilled vodka.
- Pour into prepared dish. Refrigerate until completely set up.
- Cut out as many hearts as you can from the slab of jello.
- Place one jello heart in the center of each shot glass.
- Whisk green jello and boiling water together until dissolved.
- Whisk in ¾ cup of cold water and ¾ cup of chilled vodka. Let cool to room temperature but do not let it set up.
- Carefully pour the green jello around the heart, not on the heart.
- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until very firm. Serve chilled.
Storage Information
- Make Ahead: If you’re prepping ahead of time, it’s best to make these jello shots a day or two in advance. Make sure to keep them chilled until you’re ready to serve, as they’ll stay firm and fresh longer when refrigerated.
- Refrigerator: Leftover jello shots can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Variations To Try
Want to switch things up? Here are a few fun variations.
- Different Jello Flavors: Swap cherry for strawberry or raspberry, or try green apple alternatives like lime.
- Non-Alcoholic: Replace vodka with cold water or lemon-lime soda for a kid-friendly version.
Can I make the green layer with a different flavor of Jello?
Absolutely! You can swap the green apple Jello for any green-flavored Jello you prefer, like lime, to suit your taste. Note that the Sonic green apple and lime jello boxes are different sizes. Either use a kitchen scale to get an additional .94 ounces of lime jello or do as follows:
- Dissolve the jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Mix in ½ cup of chilled vodka and ½ cup of cold water. Your yield will be about 15 shots when using 3 ounces of jello.
Can I use a different alcohol?
While vodka works great for these shots, you can try using rum, tequila, or even flavored liqueurs for a unique twist. Just keep in mind that the flavor of the alcohol may alter the taste of the Jello Shots.
Can I make these Jello Shots non-alcoholic?
Yes! Simply replace the vodka with cold water or a flavored soda to keep the festive layers but make them kid-friendly or alcohol-free.
Trish’s Tips
- I like to use 2 ounce plastic condiment cups with lids when making my jello shots. The lids make storing the jello shots easy and also allow them to be stacked.
- To keep the layers from mixing, make sure your vodka is chilled before adding it to the jello. This will help maintain the clear separation between the red and green layers.
- Let the green apple jello cool to room temperature before pouring it into the shot glasses. If it’s too hot, it can melt the red jello hearts or cause them to shift.
- When adding the green jello to the shot glasses, pour slowly around the edges of the heart, aiming to fill the glass without disturbing the heart shape. You want the layers to stay intact for a clean, layered effect.
- Add the green jello just to the top of the heart – do not pour it over the heart. If the green jello goes over the red heart, it will cause it to look murky.
- Before cutting the red jello into hearts, make sure the heart-shaped cookie cutter fits well into the shot glasses you’re using. If the hearts are too big, they might not fit properly in the cups.
- Be patient! Let the jello shots set completely in the fridge for at least 3 hours to ensure both layers are firm before serving. This will help keep the layers from mixing when you serve them.
- The number of jello shots will depend on how many hearts you can cut out. Keep this in mind when you select your container for the red jello as well as the size of cutter you select.
- I like the Sonic green apple jello for this recipe because the color is closer to ‘Grinch’ green than lime jello. If you cannot find the Sonic green apple jello, use a 3-ounce box of lime jello instead. See notes in the recipe card below on what changes to make to the recipe.
- Be sure to follow the recipe instructions – not the instructions on the box.
More Festive Boozy Drinks
- White Christmas Margarita
- Christmas Cocktail
- Snowflake Martini
- Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Vodka Cranberry Cocktail
Grinch Jello Shots
Ingredients
Red Hearts
- 3 ounces cherry jello 1 box, or other red jello
- 1 cup boiling water
- ¼ cup cold water
- ¼ cup vodka chilled
Green Jello
- 3.94 ounces Sonic green apple jello 1 box, or other green jello
- 1 ½ cups boiling water divided
- ¾ cup cold water
- ¾ cup vodka chilled
Instructions
- Prepare a small baking dish or other container (about 5×5 inches to 6×6 inches square)by spraying with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Whisk red jello and 1 cup of boiling water in heatproof bowl or glass measuring cup until the jello has dissolved. Whisk in ¼ cup of cold water and ¼ cup of chilled vodka.3 ounces cherry jello, 1 cup boiling water, ¼ cup cold water, ¼ cup vodka
- Pour into prepared dish. The jello should be about 1 inch deep.
- Refrigerate jello until completely set up, about 2 to 3 hours.
- Remove the red jello from the fridge and run a knife around the edge of the jello edge to loosen it. Turn it onto a cutting board.
- Use a 1 to 1 ½ inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut as many hearts as you can from the slab of jello (I got 20). (Check to make sure your hearts will fit in the shot cups or glasses before cutting.) Return the jello hearts to the fridge while you make the green jello.
- Whisk Sonic green apple jello and 1½ cups of boiling water in heatproof bowl or glass measuring cup until the jello has dissolved. Whisk in ¾ cup of cold water and ¾ cup of chilled vodka.3.94 ounces Sonic green apple jello, 1 ½ cups boiling water, ¾ cup cold water, ¾ cup vodka
- Let cool to room temperature but do not let it set up.
- Arrange 20 (2-ounce) shot glasses (or plastic cups with lids) on a baking sheet or rimmed tray.
- Place one jello heart in the center of each shot glass.
- Carefully pour the green jello into the shot glasses aiming around the heart, not on the heart. Fill the glass or cup until level with the red heart. Repeat with remaining jello.
- Carefully transfer to the refrigerator and let set up for at least 3 hours or until very firm. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Make Ahead: If you’re prepping ahead of time, it’s best to make them a day or two in advance for the best results! Make sure to keep them chilled until you’re ready to serve, as they’ll stay firm and fresh longer when refrigerated.
- Refrigerator: Leftover jello shots can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Kid Friendly Version Simply replace the vodka with cold water or a flavored soda (Sprite, 7up, etc.) to keep the festive layers but make them kid-friendly and alcohol-free.
Can’t find Sonic Green Apple jello? You can swap the green apple Jello for any green-flavored Jello you prefer, like lime, to suit your taste. Note that the Sonic green apple and lime jello boxes are different sizes. Either use a kitchen scale to get an additional .94 ounces of lime jello or do as follows:
- Dissolve the jello in 1 cup of boiling water. Mix in ½ cup of chilled vodka and ½ cup of cold water. Your yield will be about 15 shots when using 3 ounces of jello.
Tools and Equipment (affiliate links): 2 oz Plastic Cups with Lids | Sonic Green Apple Jello | 1 to 1.5 inch Heart Cutters
Please see post above for more information, step-by-step process photos, recipe tips and frequently asked questions.
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