strong jello shots

Strong Jello Shots Recipe!

Originally Posted On March 28, 2023 and Last Updated On

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How to Make Strong Jello Shots?

The easiest way to make strong jello shots is to use either Everclear or Spirytus 190 Proof as you alcohol o choice. You could even go as so far as to add something like moonshine if you’re able to get it. Or any other super concentrated alcohol.

But one thing to remember, the higher the alcohol content, the less water you’ll need or else the jello won’t ever set up correctly and they’ll be more like jello shooters than a fun jiggly shot.

Also, the more alcohol you add, the less Jell-O flavor. So you shots might just turn out to be a gelatin shot of nastiness rather than something fun and fruity. And actually, if you’re going to use any of these crazy proof alcohols to make your jello shot recipe strong, I can tell you now your shots aren’t going to taste all that great. Not nasty, but not really “fun” either.

Personally I suggest you just stick with this recipe and use either 40% vodka or rum. But it’s your body!

How Much Alcohol Can You Put in Jello Shots?

30 Proof – 15% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 3 Parts Water
40 Proof – 20% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 4 Parts Water
50 Proof – 25% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 5 Parts Water
80 Proof – 40% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 8 Parts Water
90 Proof – 45% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 9 Parts Water
100 Proof – 50% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 10 Parts Water
150 Proof – 75% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 15 Parts Water
190 Proof – 95% Alcohol – 1 Part Liq. 20 Parts Water

jello shot ingredients

Jello Shots Recipe

The step-by-step guide on how to make the best jello shots from scratch. They're easy and fun!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
5 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Drinks
Servings 12 Jello Shots
Calories 50 kcal

Equipment

  • Bowl – to mix ingredients
  • Whisk
  • Sauce Pan
  • Vegetable cooking oil spray
  • Small plastic cups
  • Measuring Cup
  • Ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Box Jello brand Jell-o use your favorite flavor!
  • 1 1/2 Cups water divided use
  • 1/2 Cup Vodka or your choice of alcohol

Instructions
 

  • Line up your small plastic cups on a tray. The plastic cups restaurants use for condiments are ideal, but normal picnic cups should be good, too. Paper cups can also work.
  • Spray vegetable cooking oil inside the cups. A quick blast will do. You don’t have to worry about the oil affecting the jello’s taste—it won’t.
  • Put a cup of water to boil. Nope, a water heater won’t do—you really need to boil the water to ensure the jello powder dissolves completely.
  • Once boiled, pour the water into a mixing bowl. Put in a single of packet of jello. Use a whisk to dissolve all the jello powder so it won’t leave any sediments.
  • Mix in ¾ cup of your alcohol and ¼ cup of cold water. Vodka is usually the alcohol of choice when it comes to jello shots, but there are alternatives. To recall favorite cocktails, you can try using tequila for lime jello (margarita), coconut rum and pineapple jello (piña colada) and rum with strawberry jello (strawberry daiquiri). You can also use flavored vodka to go along with its corresponding jello flavor.
  • If you want an even more potent jell-o shots, you can make it 1 cup of alcohol with no cold water.
  • Use a ladle to put the jello into the cups or let cool a bit and use your measuring cup.
    jello shot recipe
  • If you want to make several batches of different jello flavors in one go and boil all the water you need, you will need assistance, since jello requires boiling hot water to dissolve properly. You can try making one batch of the same flavor at the same time instead of doing different flavors instead.
  • Put the jello shots in the refrigerator. Do not put them in the freezer! Give them four hours to gel completely.
  • If you find that your refrigerator won’t’ be able to hold trays of cups or a bunch of plastic cups inside, here’s an alternative: Ladle the liquid jello shots into a shallow baking pan, preferably the pans that can be stacked up on each other. Pop them all carefully in the refrigerator, and wait for four hours. Once they’ve gelled, take them out and use a bread knife or even a plastic knife to cut them into small squares. Empty the baking pans into punch bowls and leave a ladle ready. People can then just ladle the jell o shots into their cups like any drink.
  • You can try experimenting with the amounts of water and what you mix in your jello. For example, some people use two cups of boiling hot water added with a little less of a cup of fruit juice, and another less of a cup of flavored vodka. Just remember that the more liquids you put in, whether they are alcohol, water or juice, the greater the chance of your jello shots not gelling properly.
  • Keep in mind that jello shots may pack a punch, so you might want to keep yourself from knocking back one too many.
Keyword Jello Shots

What Alcohol for the Strongest Jell-O Shots Possible?

  • Everclear
  • Spirytus 190 Proof
  • Balkan 176° Vodka 176 Proof
  • Stroh Rum 160 Proof
  • St. Vincent Rum 169 Proof

Everclear

everclear for jello shots

Everclear is a grain alcohol that although harsh, is basically tasteless. This makes it great for making really strong Jello shots as the flavor of the alcohol won’t get in the way of the actual Jello flavor you use.

For the strongest shots possible make sure you get the highest alcohol by volume which for Everclear is 95%. They make a few different ABV types including 60%, 75.5%, 94.5% and 95%.

If you are confused, here are the same measurements but with proofs, 120, 151, 189, and 190 U.S. proof. Obviously 190 proof being the strongest.

  • 120 Proof – 60% Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
  • 151 Proof – 75.5% ABV
  • 189 Proof – 94.5% ABV
  • 190 Proof – 95% ABV

WARNING!!! High proof alcohol is highly flammable! Please be careful if you’re going to be using these. It is also dangerous to consume straight alcohol at these levels. Please use these sparingly.

Spirytus 190 Proof

Pretty much the same as Everclear although perhaps not as “famous”. This stuff is 95% alcohol and is super flammable. Two shots and you’re done for the night and possibly even wind up in the hospital.

More Jello Shot Articles…

About the Author

  • Bill Allen

    I'm Bill Allen, the guy behind this site. I've been a bartender, bar owner and sitting on both sides of a bar for almost 35 years, so I have some experience in the whole mixology scene. And now I'm just building out my site with as much helpful content as I can share with you.

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