One taste of these bright and citrusy Grinch Jello Shots will have your heart growing three sizes this holiday season.

Table of Contents

Grinch Jello Shots
Why You’ll Love These Grinch Jello Shots
Ingredients
Substitutions
Recommended Tools
How To Make Grinch Jello Shots
Tips & Tricks
Recipe FAQs
Grinch Jello Shots Recipe

One taste of these bright and citrusy Grinch Jello Shots will have your heart growing three sizes this holiday season. These bright, festive, and boozy shots taste like the classic lime jello you loved as a kid, with a kick. All your guests will be dying to steal this recipe!

Grinch Jello Shots

These Grinch-themed jello shots are easy to make and look great. The recipe calls for only 4 ingredients: jello, vodka, water, and whipped cream. They’re perfect for any Christmas party or holiday gathering, and the lime flavor goes great with the Grinch theme.

One thing I love about Grinch Shots is that they’re so simple to make ahead of time. In the clamor of the holidays, that means one less thing on your plate before company arrives. As soon as the shots land in the fridge to set, they’re hands off until right before you serve!

Why You’ll Love These Grinch Jello Shots

Grinch Jello Shots give an impressive payoff for how simple they are to create.
They’ll add a new dimension of playful mischief to your gathering. After all, everyone knows the grinch! And adults deserve some fun and whimsy too.
Try decorating with grinch-themed toothpicks for no-effort professional flair.
It’s easy to scale up the recipe for any size party.

Ingredients

Lime Jello – Reach for a single box of Lime Jello for the best flavor and Grinch-Green color we’re after.
Vodka – For this recipe, I used vodka, but any clear liquor will do. I’d encourage experimentation here. There’s no reason not to.
Water – You’ll need boiling water to dissolve the gelatin and then cold water to incorporate with the liquor.
Sprinkles – Try classic Christmas Jimmies, but any sprinkles will do. Using sprinkles makes decorating these shots a breeze and really drives home the over-the-top festive.
Whipped Cream – The sweet and creamy whipped topping on these jello shots cuts through the burn of alcohol. Seriously, these are so good they’re dangerous.

Substitutions

Jello: You can use other flavors of jello if you’d like to switch up the recipe, or serve a variety. I went with lime on the philosophy that you should never estimate the power of a good theme. If green alone doesn’t work for you, split between Lime and Cherry for a different take on “seasonal” presentation.
Alcohol: Any clear alcohol will work in these shots so that the color of the jello isn’t affected. Vodka and white rum are my favorites, but you could use tequila or gin.

Recommended Tools

Disposable Shot Glasses – Who wants to keep track of and then wash a bunch of shot glasses after the party is over? Save yourself time, energy, and a headache, and opt for disposable shot glasses. Grab clear ones to highlight the color and design of these Grinch Jello Shots. If you want to use dark liquor, you could buy red and green disposable shot glasses so the color that the jello shot turns out won’t matter much.
Injector or Pourable Measuring Cup – There’s no better tool for the job than an injector. It makes sizing each shot perfectly a fast and mess-free endeavor.
A pourable measuring cup will also do the job. Just remember to pour slowly, so you don’t cover the sides of the cups in a thin layer of jello.
Grinch-Themed Decorative Toothpicks – The simple step of adding themed toothpicks will take your presentation over the top. Honestly, it couldn’t be easier and will leave you looking like a seasoned pro.
Heart Toothpicks

How To Make Grinch Jello Shots

Dissolve Jello – Stir the jello packet into boiling water and mix until fully dissolved.
Incorporate Alcohol – Next, you’ll stir in the alcohol and cold water to combine.
Pour Into Shot Glasses – Using an injector, baster, or pourable measuring cup, divide and pour the jello mixture into your shot glasses. Leave a shallow rim of room at the top of each glass to hold the whipped cream.
PRO-TIP: Line the shot glasses up on a rimmed sheet pan or deep aluminum pan to avoid knocking them over or spilling them before they’re set.
Chill – Place the shot glasses in the fridge and let set for at least 2 hours. You want the jello shots to set entirely before trying to decorate them.
Decorate and Serve – Top each shot with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a Grinch-Themed toothpick to finish these jolly jello shots. Cheers!

Tips & Tricks

You might need to remove about ½ inch from the bottom of the heart toothpicks for them to sit perfectly, just on the very top of the whipped cream.
If you don’t want the toothpicks to show up in the jello, you can snip them down, so they only stick into the very top of the jello layer for stability.
If you can’t find the jimmies, use whatever other sprinkles you like in shades of red, green, or white.
Stir the jello thoroughly after incorporating boiling water to achieve crystal clear shots without clumps of powder floating inside.
Don’t go beyond the suggested amount of alcohol; otherwise, the shots won’t fully set.
You can use other types of clear alcohol if you prefer. Rum is another excellent option.
To achieve the exact look I’ve gone for, use a frosting bag with a 1M frosting tip for the whipped cream garnish.

Recipe FAQs

Can jello shots get you drunk?
Jello shots include alcohol, so you can absolutely get drunk if you consume enough. However, each jello shot contains less alcohol than a full shot of plain liquor, so they aren’t as strong.
Can you taste the alcohol in jello shots?
Yes, you’ll still taste the alcohol in these shots, but the whipped cream on the top will disguise the burn, so they aren’t unbearable. You won’t need a chaser.
Can I make kid-friendly jello shots?
You can easily alter these Grinch Jello Shots for kids to consume. Just make the jello according to the box instructions, leave out the alcohol, and decorate them the same way you would originally.

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Grinch Jello Shots

Author — Jennifer

Serves —

One taste of these bright and citrusy Grinch Jello Shots will have your heart growing three sizes this holiday season.

Print Rate PinSave

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 15

Ingredients

Instructions

Add the jello to a medium mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over the top of it.
Stir until there is no graininess left.
Add the vodka and cold water. Stir well.
Using an injector or pourable measuring cup, fill each shot glass until just under the top.
Place in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
Using a frosting bag or spoon, add a dollop of whipped cream to the top of each shot and add the sprinkles to the top of the whipped cream.
Place the toothpicks in the middle of each shot. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

I had to remove about ½ inch from the bottom of the heart toothpicks for them to fit right. You want the bottom of each toothpick decor to barely sit into the whipped cream for the best look.
If you don’t want the toothpicks to show up in the jello, you can snip them down so they just sit right into the very tip of where the jello starts.
You can use other sprinkles that match the theme, if you can’t find the jimmies.
Be sure you stir the jello thoroughly after adding the boiling water. You don’t want anything floating in your shots.
I wouldn’t go beyond the suggested amount of alcohol. The shots don’t set up well at all if you do. If you’re ok with watery shots, go for it.
You can use other types of alcohol if you prefer, as long as it’s clear and doesn’t change the color of the jello.
I used a frosting bag with a 1M frosting tip for the whipped cream garnish.