Pool Party Jell-O Shots (2024)

Having a pool party and need a fun summer treat? These easy Pool Party Jell-O Shots are perfect. You can make these alcoholic for the adults or a non-alcoholic version for the kids! They are a cool, refreshing treat on a hot summer day.

These Jell-O Shots are made with blue raspberry jello, gummi rings and gummi bears. They are so cute and festive for your next summer party. Serve them with some ranch pretzels or our favorite snack mix!

Super Fun and Easy Jell-O Shots!

These jello shots are the best treat for all the summer parties – enjoy them poolside, at the lake, for a BBQ, or make a batch to share at the annual block party!

You can make them with vodka OR make non-alcoholic jello shots – or, make a batch of each so everyone has a choice.

This recipe is easy to double or triple so if you’re hosting a big crowd there’s plenty to go around!

I’m sharing exactly what you need to make them plus all the tips so they turn out perfectly. This pool party jell-o shots recipe will be a hit when you make them.

Ingredients

• Blue raspberry Jello – this is the blue part that looks like water!
• Boiling water – this dissolves the gelatin mixture so your jello shots set up right.
• Vodka OR cold water if you want to make alcohol-free jello shots
• Peach ring gummies – these look like a little floatie for the bear to sit in.
• Gummi bears – each shot has it’s own sweet bear for decoration.

How to Make Jello Shots (With and Without Vodka)

It’s easy to make boozy or non-alcoholic jello shots! Before you start, place the cups on a sheet pan or tray. This will make it easy to fill them and then transfer them to the refrigerator.

Make the Jello: Combine the jello mix with boiling water and stir until the powdered mix is completely dissolved.

• For Vodka Jell-O Shots: Add vodka to the jello mixture and stir until combined.
• For Non-Alcoholic Jell-O Shots: Add cold water to the jello mixture and stir until combined.

Pour and Chill: Divide the jello mixture evenly among the disposable cups and refrigerate them until set.

Decorate! Once the jello is set, top each one with a gummi ring. Trim the bottoms of the gummi bears and place one in each ring.

TIP: You can make bigger 2-ounce shots but you will get fewer shots.

How much alcohol can you put in jello shots?

For this recipe, you will need one cup of vodka to make 20 jello shots. This is the right amount so the jello sets up correctly. If you add too much alcohol, the jello will not set.

That said, you can make them less strong and add 1/2 cup vodka and 1/2 cup water or a little stronger with 3/4 cup vodka and 1/4 cup water. Just as long as you don’t exceed once cup total.

What alcohol is best for jello shots?

It depends on what you like! Vodka is great because it pairs well with pretty much any jello flavor but you can use other kinds of alcohol like rum and tequila.

Do you have to keep jello shots refrigerated?

It’s better to keep them cool so the jello stays firm. So, keep them in the fridge until you are ready to serve them.

If you are serving them outside, keep them in a cooler on ice to keep them cold!

Can you use a different jello flavor?

Any flavor of jello you like will work with these jello shots. I like the berry blue flavor because the color makes it look like the little bear is floating on water. But have fun and mix up the flavor if you like!

Variations

You can make so many variations of jello shots!

• Margarita jello shots: Use lime jello and swap the vodka with tequila.
• Orange Rum: Use orange jello and and a white rum!
• Watermelon: Use vodka, rum, or tequila and mix it with watermelon jello.
• Flavored vodka: Use plain or your favorite vodka flavor to customize your jello shots!

These are just a few ideas – let me know in the comments what flavors you like to make!

These are the best jello shots for parties and I know everyone will love them! They’re so cute and summery – perfect for all of your summer celebrations.

More Fun Drinks and Shot Recipes to Try!

• Birthday Cake Shots are a fun and easy shot recipe for birthday parties!
• Another fun pool drink to make is a Drunken Mermaid co*cktail!
• Ocean Breeze co*cktail is a refreshing drink to make for a crowd or to sip on for a warm summer night!
• Pudding Shots are another fun summer treat made with spiked pudding!