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These Pink Starburst Jello Shots are the tray everyone crowds around at a summer party. Lined up in rows with a pink Starburst candy on each one, they look like giant versions of the candy, and people start talking about them the second they hit the table.
I make these all summer long, for Fourth of July cookouts, pool parties, lake weekends, girls’ nights, and bachelorette parties. The bright pink looks great on a serving tray, and I can make them the night before so there is nothing to do once guests show up.
The vodka is what makes mine taste like the candy. I tested plain, strawberry, vanilla, and whipped cream vodka, and whipped cream won every time. Its sweetness matches the pink Starburst flavor. Plain vodka did not come close.
New to this? My guide on how to make jello shots walks through the ratios so they set every time
Key Ingredients
Pink Starburst gelatin: Grab the all-pink Strawberry box. You skip sorting a regular bag for the pink squares, and it gives that exact pink Starburst flavor.
Whipped cream vodka: I tested four kinds and this one won. Its sweetness matches the candy. Strawberry and vanilla vodka both work, but plain vodka falls flat against the Starburst flavor.
Pink Starburst candies: These are the garnish that makes people say it looks like a giant Starburst. Cut them with a sprayed knife and add them right before serving.
How to Make Strawberry Starburst Jello Shots
Step 1: Set Up Your Cups Place 16 two-ounce jello shot cups on a rimmed baking sheet before you fill anything. Moving filled cups to the fridge one at a time is how spills happen.
Step 2: Dissolve the Gelatin Whisk the pink Starburst gelatin into the boiling water until it is fully dissolved, about a minute, with no grains left.
Step 3: Add the Vodka Stir in the chilled whipped cream vodka and the cold water. Cold vodka helps the shots set faster.
Step 4: Fill the Cups Divide the mixture evenly among the cups, leaving a little room at the top so the candy garnish sits neatly later.
Step 5: Chill Refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight. A rushed set leaves them soft in the center.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve Top each shot with a pink Starburst right before serving. Add it too early and the candy softens and gets sticky from the moisture in the jello.
Mix Up the Flavors
- Make them alcohol-free: skip the vodka and add a little more cold water for the under-21 crowd.
- Serve them your way: fill two-ounce cups, use jello shot syringes for a party, or pour into a pan and cut into squares.
- Change the combo: vodka is neutral, so you can match almost any flavor. A few I like are lime vodka with cherry gelatin for cherry limeade, vanilla vodka with peach gelatin for peach cobbler, coconut vodka with pineapple gelatin for tropical punch, and cake vodka with strawberry gelatin for strawberry shortcake.
These are always one of the first things gone at a party, right alongside my pool party jello shots.
Make Ahead and Transport
These are built for making ahead. I make them the night before so they set fully, and they keep in the fridge for up to a week.
Once they are set, snap a lid on each cup and stack them to save room in the fridge or a cooler.
If you are bringing them somewhere, carry the cut candy separately and garnish once you arrive. Keep the shots cold until party time so they hold their shape and look clean.
More Jello Shot Recipes
- Red, White and Blue Jello Shots
- Creamsicle Jello Shots
- Sangria Jello Shots
- Banana Split Jello Shots
- Butterbeer Jello Shots
Pink Starburst Jell-O shots
Ingredients
- 3.93 oz box Starburst All-Pink Strawberry gelatin
- 1½ cups boiling water
- 1 cup whipped cream flavored vodka chilled
- ½ cup cold water
- 16 pink starburst strawberry candies for garnish, unwrapped
Instructions
- Place 16 (2 oz. sized) jello-shot/condiment cups, with lids removed, onto a medium sized rimmed tray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl add the packet of starburst all-pink strawberry gelatin powder and boiling water. Whisk to combine until all the gelatin has dissolved.
- To the dissolved gelatin add the whipped cream flavored vodka and the cold water. Stir to combine.
- Divide the starburst jello shot mixture evenly among the 16 jello shot cups.
- Chill the starburst jello shots for 4 hours or up to overnight.
- Garnish each starburst jello shot with an unwrapped light pink starburst (strawberry flavor) just prior to serving. If you place the starburst candy on too soon before serving the candy will start to get soft from the jello.
Jenn’s Notes
- I found a bag of “FaveReds” starburst candies. It had only shades of pink and red candies (strawberry, cherry, fruit punch & watermelon) so you are not having to buy too many packages of traditional starburst just to pick out the pink ones. Plus these shades of pink and red candies make the decoration of the jello shots very pretty if you use some, or all, of the shades.
- I tested this recipe with plain vodka, strawberry vodka, vanilla vodka and whipped cream vodka. I found that the whipped cream vodka worked best with the flavor of Starburst All-Pink Strawberry jello gelatin due to its additional sweetness. However, the strawberry vodka and the vanilla vodka were tasty as well. I found that the plain vodka did not compliment the jello flavor nearly as much.
- You can chill your vodka in the freezer prior to adding it in your recipe to help the jello shots set up quicker. You can keep your vodka in the freezer all the time as vodka will not freeze due to the alcohol. This is a great tip for all your vodka/cocktail needs.
- A quick and easy way to boil your water is to place the 1 ½ cups of water into a microwave safe spouted glass 2 cup measuring cup. Microwave on high for 3 ½ – 4 minutes to boil the water.
Great
Question.. If I wanted to increase the alcohol can I reduce the cold water and add more alcohol ??