Sparkling Christmas Tree Jello Shots Recipe

Christmas Jello Shots are a crowd favorite, combining creativity and fun in a shot glass. These sparkling Christmas Tree Jello Shots are the perfect addition to holiday parties, offering a festive twist on the classic Jello shot. Whether hosting a Christmas gathering or simply looking to add holiday cheer to your table, these Jello shots will impress. 

christmas jello shots in the shape of a christmas tree

Christmas Jello Shots

With a few simple ingredients, you can make a festive display of Christmas Tree Jello shots to serve at your next holiday party. This festive treat is fun and pretty and will, of course, be a hit at Christmas parties!

I love to make food that tastes good and looks good, so serving these fun Jello shots in the shape of a Christmas tree lifts my holiday spirit. They are festive jello shots while not being complicated.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Tree Jello Shots

This Jello Shot Christmas Tree adds a festive and fun twist to any adult holiday gathering.

Simple to Make. These simple to make and assemble and perfect for any skill level.

Budget-friendly. These are easy on your budget, making holiday entertaining a little easier on the wallet!

Versatile. Change up the flavor of vodka, the decorations for the Christmas “ornaments”, or even make alcohol-free Jello cups for the kids with this same Christmas-themed Jello shots design.

Make More. This holiday jello shot recipe could also be doubled or tripled to make a larger display or centerpiece. It will be a huge hit! You could make both red and green jello shots for a huge display!

christmas shots in a christmas tree shape

Supplies Needed

Ingredients

These simple ingredients for easy Christmas Jello shots with vodka can be found at your local grocery store.

christmas jello shots ingredients
  • Green Jello Mix – Lime Jello or Sonic Green Apple Jello
  • Boiling Water
  • Vodka – plain vodka or a fun-flavored vodka
  • Brown Gel Food Color – order online or find it in the cake decorating section of Walmart or a hobby store.
  • Gold Star Sprinkles—During the holiday season, you can usually find these festive sprinkles near other Christmas sprinkles in Walmart or the grocery store. Of course, you can always order them online!
  • Red Sanding Sugar or Red Sprinkles – this can usually be found year-round in the grocery store cake decorating section or you could also check the section of your store that carries holiday sprinkles.

Find the complete recipe with ingredients measurements in the full recipe card below.

christmas shots

How to Make Christmas Jello Shots

This Christmas Jello shot recipe is easy to make, and I have step-by-step photos for you too!

  1. Place the jello and the boiling water in a medium or large mixing bowl. Stir until the jello is dissolved, being careful not to splash the hot water.
  2. Add the vodka and stir again.
  3. Pour 2 ounces of the jello into a separate glass or small bowl. Add the drop of brown dye and stir. Add more brown dye if needed, but one drop should be plenty.
  4. Pour the brown jello into one of the jello shot cups.
  5. Fill the rest of the 19 plastic cups with the green jello.
  6. Chill in the fridge for 2-4 hours or until set.
  7. Assemble the Jello Shots Christmas Tree starting with one cup, the second line has one cup, the third line will have two cups, fourth line three cups, lines five through seven will have four cups each, and the last line will be the one brown cup that goes in the bottom middle. 
  8. Place the star sprinkles in the top first cup, then sprinkle 5 random green cups with the red sanding sugar to signify ornaments on the tree. 
  9. Serve and enjoy!
pouring green jello powder into clear bowl
pouring boiling water into green jello powder
mixed up jello in clear bowl
adding vodka to jello mixture
adding brown food coloring to a small amount of green jello mixture for stump jello shot
pouring brown jello into condiment cup
green jello cups
green jello cups shaped like a tree, some with red shanding sugar one with stars on top
finished christmas tree jello shots

Pro Tips

  • Do not garnish if stored in the fridge. Only garnish when ready to serve. 
  • Do not fill these to the top if you are planning on storing them in the fridge, as the lid will make little divots in the top of the jello, which makes them look bad. 
  • You can use flavored vodka if you prefer – a vanilla vodka would really elevate these to delicious jello shots.
  • You can change up the garnish and use fresh cranberries or sugared cranberries.
  • Place them on a cookie sheet in the fridge and use it to move them from the fridge to table for platter for easy transportation and display.
a hand reaching for a christmas jello shot

Serving Suggestions

Serve Chilled: Jell-o shots taste best when they are cold. Ensure they are served straight from the refrigerator at your Christmas gatherings to maintain their refreshing texture and flavor.

Presentation: Arrange your Christmas shots on a beautiful large tray with holiday-themed napkins or decorative paper. Maybe add some string lights for fun. For a little extra pizazz, consider using holiday-themed shot glass charms; these not only personalize each shot but also help guests keep track of their drinks.

the top of the christmas tree jello shots display

Storage Directions for Christmas Shots

Refrigeration: Keep your jello shots in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve. You can prepare them a day in advance, which allows you to focus on other party preparations on the day of the event.

Cover the Shots: Use plastic wrap or lids to cover the shots while they are in the fridge. This helps prevent them from absorbing any unwanted odors and keeps them tasting their best. You could also use the small condiment cups with lids or place them on a cookie sheet that has a tight-fitting lid. These NordicWare pans are my fave!

Following these tips, your sparkling holiday Jello shots will be perfect at your holiday event looking and tasting perfect, ready to impress your guests.

the top few rows of the christmas tree jello shots

FAQ

Can I make jello shots ahead of time?


If you would like to make these ahead of time, you’ll want to place the lids on them and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days in advance. Do not freeze.

How long do jello shots last?

Jello shots typically last at least one week (or more) when stored in the refrigerator. To ensure their longevity, keep them covered in an airtight container.

However, the best quality is usually within the first 3 days after making them, as the texture and flavor can deteriorate over time.

christmas jello shots

Non-Alcoholic Christmas Shots

If you want to make Christmas Tree Jello Shots for kids or a family-friendly crowd, creating delicious non-alcoholic versions is easy. Note… you might call them Jello “Cups” for kids… “shots for kids” sounds kind of questionable. 😜

Substitute the vodka with apple juice, clear soda, or even water to maintain the festive green color and delightful flavor. This ensures everyone can enjoy the fun treat without the alcohol.

For an extra burst of flavor, try using different Jello varieties. Cherry Jello, Berry Jello, or even Lemon Jello can add vibrant colors to your design (they can be red or yellow ornaments on the Christmas tree). Mixing and matching Jello flavors can make for a really bright, pretty, and tasty presentation that appeals to all ages.

Kids can help make non-alcoholic jello cups! They can stir the jello mixture, pour it into the condiment cups, and decorate the set shots with sprinkles.

Christmas Cookies Recipes

More Fun Recipes for Your Next Christmas Party

Here are some of the jello shot recipes I already have and plan to have on the blog soon:

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christmas shots

Sparkling Christmas Tree Jello Shots Recipe


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  • Author: Rose Atwater
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 20 1x

Description

This Jello Shot Christmas Tree adds a festive and fun twist to any adult holiday gathering. It’s simple to make and assemble, perfect for any skill level, and budget-friendly too—making holiday entertaining a little easier on the wallet!


Ingredients

Scale

Items Needed:


Instructions

  1. Place the jello and the boiling water in a medium or large mixing bowl. Stir until the jello is dissolved.
  2. Add the vodka and stir again.
  3. Pour 2 ounces of the jello into a separate glass or small bowl. Add the drop of brown dye and stir. Add more brown dye if needed, but one drop should be plenty.
  4. Pour the brown jello into one of the jello shot cups.
  5. Fill the rest of the 19 cups with the green jello.
  6. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours or until set.
  7. Assemble in the shape of a Christmas tree starting with one cup, the second line has one cup, the third line will have two cups, fourth line three cups, lines five through seven will have four cups each, and the last line will be the one brown cup that goes in the bottom middle.
  8. Place the star sprinkles in the top, first cup, then sprinkle 5 random green cups with the red sanding sugar to signify ornaments on the tree.
  9. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Do not garnish if storing in the fridge. Only garnish when ready to serve.
  • If you would like to make these ahead of time, you’ll want to place the lids on them and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days in advance. Do not freeze.
  • Do not fill these all the way to the top if you are planning on storing them in the fridge as the lid will make little divots in the top of the jello, which makes it look bad.
  • You can use flavored vodka, if you prefer.
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Rest Time: 2 hours
  • Category: Drinks
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christmas jello shots

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