Strawberry Starburst Jell-O Shots

Name: Starburst Jell-O shots
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 245 min
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)

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Strawberry Starburst Jello Shots are the prettiest fruity Jell-O shots fused with alcohol until firm, that create the perfect combination of fun! Only 4 simple ingredients whisked together is all it takes to replicate the sweet pink Starburst flavor with the tastiest boozy twist.

Homemade Starburst Jello Shots

Jello shots are one of my go-to summer party drinks. They are an instant crowd-pleaser and so simple to put together. This recipe makes the ultimate single-serving sized cocktail that’s not just for the college crowd.

All you need is strawberry Jell-O, vodka, cool whip, and some Starbursts to create a delicious, perfectly-portioned shot with a fun party flavor.

Did you know that Starburst makes an all-pink pack? I had no idea! No need to sort through an entire regular bag to make these adorable pink Jell-O shots. Starburst makes it so easy to create this perfectly pink alcohol-spiked treat!

I love that I can make these shots ahead of time, which is the ideal time-saver for party prep. Just leave them to set in the fridge until your guests arrive and you are ready to serve a round or two of this slurpable individual serving of boozy fun.

Everything you need to know on how to make the best jello shots.

Why We Love These Pink Starburst Jello Shots

Easy and quick to prepare
Fun party cocktail favorite
Tastes just like a Starburst candy
Everyone loves them
Sweet taste with a chewy garnish
Alcohol-spiked treat

Other Jell-O Shots Recipe

Dirty Shirley Jello Shots

Butterbeer Jell-O Shots

Red, White and Blue Jello Shots

Pool Party Jello Shots

Ingredients / Shopping List

Pink Starburst Jell-O: tastes just like a Starburst candy
Whipped cream flavored vodka: for a boozy twist
Boiling Water: to dissolve the jello-mix
Cold water
Pink starburst candies: makes a pretty garnish and adds chewy texture

Variations / Options / Add-In’s

Make Them Virgin: If you want to make these pink starburst Jello shots for the under-21 crowd, simply prepare the recipe without the vodka.
Serve: Make jello shots in 2-ounce syringes and serve your guests a “shot” of fun! Or you can pour the Jell-O in a baking pan to cool and then cut out small squares instead of using individual cups.
Jazz Them Up: Because vodka is a neutral spirit and has no flavor, there are so many ways to make a fun cocktail. Some of my favorites include:
- Lime vodka + Cherry gelatin = Cherry Limeade
- Vanilla vodka + Peach gelatin = Peach Cobbler
- Whipped vodka + Lemon gelatin = Lemon Meringue Pie
- Coconut vodka + Pineapple gelatin = Tropical Punch
- Cake vodka + Strawberry gelatin = Strawberry Shortcake
Alcohol: While standard vodka is the classic ingredient, you can use other liquors such as rum, triple-sec, flavored vodka, or champagne to your shots and mix them with different flavors of jello to create your own customized shot.
Candy: Add jolly ranchers, gummy bears, gummy worms, or any of your favorite sweet treats.

starburst jello shots on top of starburst box

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How To Make Strawberry Starburst Jello-Shots

This classic party cocktail is so easy to make and makes a fun and festive addition to any party!

Whisk a packet of starburst all-pink strawberry gelatin powder and boiling water in a large mixing bowl until all the gelatin has dissolved.
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 jello shots for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Garnish each starburst jello shot with an unwrapped light pink starburst (strawberry flavor) just prior to serving.

Tips From Our Recipe Developer

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I put too much alcohol in my jell-o shot?

Ratios vary, but if you put too much alcohol into your Jello Shot, it won’t set.

How far in advance can I make jello-shots?

Jell-o shots can last in the fridge for up to a week, so you can still make them in advance of the party without having to freeze them!

Can I cover my jell-o shots before they set?

You can cover each cup with plastic wrap, but know that it may take it longer to firm up if it’s covered, especially if the jell-o is still warm.

Can I freeze jello-shots?

It is not recommended to freeze these shots because the consistency and texture will change. It is best to keep them covered in the fridge until use.
If you choose to freeze your jell-o shots, they will not freeze solid. The texture may be grainy or icy, but you can eat them straight from the freezer if you don’t mind the cold.

How long do jello-shots last out of the fridge?

You should plan to consume the shots within 30 – 45 minutes after you remove them from the fridge.

Other Homemade Jello Shots Recipes

5 from 9 votes

Starburst Jell-O shots

Author — Jennifer Fishkind

Serves —

Strawberry starburst jell-o shots are the prettiest fruity jell-o cups fused with alcohol until firm, that create the perfect combination of fun and with the tastiest boozy twist!

Print Rate Pin Save

Prep Time 5

Chill Time 4

Total Time 4 5

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

If you are storing these in the refrigerator for longer than the 4 hours required for the jello shots to set up then you can place the lids onto each of the jello shots, once they are set, until ready to serve. This makes storage, and transportation, very easy as they can be stacked to save space. You can make these starburst jello shots up to a week ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator.

Tips:

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.

Nutrition Info

Starburst Jello Shots