Description
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Santa Hat Jello Shots featuring a layered strawberry gelatin base topped with a creamy white gelatin layer, crowned with fresh strawberries and fluffy buttercream to resemble Santa hats. Perfect for Christmas parties and gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
Jello Layers
- 3 ounces strawberry flavored gelatin mix
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 1/2 cups water (divided)
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 cup vodka (divided)
- 2 1/4 ounce packets unflavored gelatin
Buttercream Topping
- 1 stick butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Garnish
- Strawberries (with the leaves cut off)
- Christmas sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace. Arrange your shot cups on a tray and ensure you have sufficient space in your refrigerator for chilling the jello shots later.
- Dissolve strawberry gelatin. In a large measuring cup or mixing bowl with a spout, combine 1 cup of boiling water with the strawberry gelatin mix and whisk until fully dissolved.
- Add cold liquid to strawberry gelatin. Mix in 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 cup vodka to the strawberry gelatin mixture. Whisk to combine thoroughly.
- Pour first layer. Carefully pour the strawberry gelatin mixture into each shot cup until they are half full. Place the tray in the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes or until this layer is set.
- Prepare white gelatin layer. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine unflavored gelatin with 1 cup of water. Stir continuously until the gelatin dissolves completely.
- Mix white gelatin. Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and remaining 1/2 cup vodka. Let it cool slightly but do not let it set.
- Add second layer. Spoon the white gelatin mixture gently over the set strawberry layer in each cup, filling them nearly to the top. Refrigerate again for 30 minutes or until fully set.
- Make buttercream frosting. Using an electric mixer, whip softened butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar and continue mixing until smooth and fluffy.
- Prepare piping bag. Transfer the buttercream into a resealable plastic bag and snip off a small corner to create a piping nozzle.
- Decorate jello shots. Place a strawberry on top of each jello shot. Pipe the buttercream around the edges of the strawberry and finish with a dollop on top to simulate the appearance of Santa hats. Optionally, sprinkle Christmas sprinkles on top.
- Serve. Keep the jello shots refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy your festive holiday treat!
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries with leaves removed for the best visual effect mimicking Santa hats.
- Be careful when pouring the white gelatin layer to avoid mixing with the layer below.
- Adjust vodka quantity as desired for stronger or lighter alcohol content, but do not exceed 1 cup in total to maintain proper gelatin setting.
- If you do not consume alcohol, substitute vodka with cold water or flavored water, but gelatin may set firmer.
- For a smoother buttercream, ensure the butter is at room temperature before whipping.
- Keep jello shots refrigerated until serving to maintain firmness.
