As a self-identified domestically challenged college student, I tend to rely on Seamless and the wide variety of restaurants around campus for my meals and stick to wine or easy-to-mix drinks on the weekend.
I also spend a good portion of time on Buzzfeed (it’s the best way to waste time besides Spoon) and always see articles listing cool jello shot recipes. I decided it was time to see if I had the capabilities to make more than the simple water-vodka-Jell-O jello shots we’re all familiar with from high school house parties.
John Daly Jello Shots
Photo courtesy of eisforeat.com
Most people are familiar with an Arnold Palmer – the wonderful mix of ice tea and lemonade – well, add liquor and you’ve got a Tom Daly! This super simple recipe was a total hit, but based on taste, I’d suggest potentially adding more lemonade or vodka.
Lemon Drop Jello Shots
Photo by Allison Malin
If you like sour you’ll LOVE these shots. The recipe is a bit more involved (you have to make your own lemon-flavored simple syrup) but the extra time is more than worth it.
Caramel Apple Pie Moonshine Jello Shots
Photo courtesy of thatssomichelle.com
These shots sound intimidating at first as moonshine comes with a lot of negative connotations, but they are AMAZING. The final product tastes exactly like apple pie, and the flavored moonshine used is only 35 percent ABV, which is about the same as or less than your average hard liquor.
Margarita Jello Shots
Photo courtesy of kirtsy.com
I’ve always loved margaritas and this recipe was true to the drink it was named after. You also can adjust the ratio of Tequila, Grand Marnier and lemon juice to taste, so if you like your margs strong, you can make a strong shot, and if you prefer a sour marg, you can up the amount of lemon juice.
Blackberry Cosmo Jello Shots
Photo courtesy of jello-nation.blogspot.com
Of the six recipes I tried, this one was once again super easy to make, but probably my least favorite that I tasted. I think this was more due to some corners I cut (changing the juice, too much liquor…) and not a bad recipe; after all, I’m not a professional bartender.
Champagne Jello Shots
Photo courtesy of thatssomichelle.com
This was without a doubt the simplest recipe I tried. It’s pretty much the traditional Jell-O + water + vodka shot, but the vodka is swapped for champagne. The recipe suggests watermelon Jell-O, which when combined with the sweeter champagne I used, made a shot that tasted a lot like a watermelon Jolly Rancher – yum.
Jello shots are way easier to make than the recipes make them sound and the process is super quick and fun, so if you’re looking for something fun to mix up your traditional pre-game or party options, definitely try out some of these recipes. If you’re looking for me, I’ll be the girl carrying trays of yummy jello shots to a local pregame near you.