Pool Party Jello Shots

There’s nothing like a pool party to celebrate summer, and my pool party jello shots are the perfect treat to make your gathering extra special! With refreshing blue raspberry flavor (that looks like the ocean) and decorations like gummy bears and sour belts (for towels or rafts), they just look great on a party platter.

You can choose to make alcoholic or non-alcoholic versions, so these jell-o shots are suitable for any type of party.

Non-Alcoholic Jello Shot Ingredients:

• 1 oz. disposable shot glasses – you can get them on amazon here if planning ahead, but we picked ours up from the dollar store
• 1 small package (3 oz) blue raspberry jello
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup cold water
• Candy: Watermelon rings, Sour belts, Gummy bears
• Umbrella parasol picks (4″ Parasol Picks) There are some here and here
• 1 graham cracker, finely crushed to be sand
• Light corn syrup

Easy to prep ahead: Make your jello shots the night before the party to ensure they’re fully set and decorate day of.

How to make pool Party Jello Shots

• (Optional) Prevent Sticking: Lightly coat the inside of the cups with cooking spray. I personally never have that issue, but I have been asked that before so just sharing if you need it.

Prep Your Space: Line a small baking sheet pan with 18 one-ounce cups and clear some space in your fridge for them. Set it aside.

Make the Jello: In a microwave-safe bowl, heat 1 cup of water for about 2 minutes until boiling. Carefully pour in the jello powder and stir for 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add 1 cup of cold water and mix well.

Pour and Chill: Pour the jello mixture into each one-ounce cup in the pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour to let the jello set.

Sour Belts: Cut sour belts into 2-inch strips and fold them in half. Use a small weight like a knife or spoon to keep them folded until ready to use.

Graham Cracker Rims: Once the jello is set, rim the top of each cup with light corn syrup. Using your finger works well for this step. Place the crushed graham cracker crumbs into a shallow bowl, and at an angle, press each cup into the crumbs so they stick to the rim.

How to Decorate Pool Party Jello Shots

Pool Floats: Tuck a gummy bear into a watermelon ring and place it on top of the jello.

Umbrella Picks: Insert an umbrella pick into each cup for that fun poolside feel.

Pool Rafts: Add the folded sour belts to the jello cups and place a gummy bear on top as if it’s lounging on a raft or beach towel.

Serve and Enjoy: Serve immediately or loosely cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Tips and Tricks to turn these into Alcoholic Shots:

• Best Alcohol for Jell-O Shots: Vodka is a popular choice due to its neutral flavor, but rum and tequila work well too. If turning these into alcoholic shots and there will be kids present, be sure to label them well and keep them out of reach. The cute pool decorations could make kids thing they are for them.
• Bonus Treat: For an extra treat, soak gummy bears in vodka overnight to make alcoholic gummy bears. My neighborhood passes those out for Halloween in little cups and they are so good. While I have never made them myself, they would be a good fit for this recipe.
• This red, white, and blue jello shots recipe is perfect for July 4th.