Star-Studded Jello Shots
Most likely, you’ve heard of Jello shots. You’ve also probably heard of vodka-soaked gummy bears. But we’d bet money you haven’t tried vodka-soaked gummies INSIDE of a jello shot. Yup. We went there. The ultimate Jello shot. These are perfect for your Oscar party, and Jaymee Sire from eisforeat.com is here to show you how to make them. Jaymee writes an alphabet-themed food blog, and Jello shots just so happen to be one of her specialties.
Ingredients:
– 24 gummies
– 1 cup vodka
– 1 small (3 ounce) box Jello (sugar free works best)
– 1/2 package of Knox unflavored gelatin (1 teaspoon)
– 1 cup water
– 3/4 cup vodka
– 1/4 cup cold water
– cooking spray
Special equipment: small silicone star molds (we got ours on Amazon)
Since the Academy Awards are all about the stars, how about adding a walk of stars theme to your boozy bites? To do this, you’ll need some star-shaped gummies. But if you can’t find stars, any gummy will do. I found these at Whole Foods, and they are colored with all-natural ingredients like beet juice. Sounds great until you actually start soaking them in vodka. They sort of turned a pastel color. They still worked (and tasted great) so I went with it. But personally, I would look for a more traditional gummy (Haribo Gold Bears, anyone?) when selecting your candy.
Put the gummies in a bowl, and add enough vodka to cover them completely. Cover with plastic wrap and let them sit for 24-48 hours, or until they become soft. (I kept mine in the refrigerator, but I’m not sure this is necessary).
The night before your party is when you want to make the jello shots. To do this, you’ll need star-shaped silicone molds. These ones are made for ice cubes, but they also double great for jello shots. Lightly spray each cavity with a little cooking spray, and then wipe with a clean paper towel. This will leave just enough residue to help loosen the Jello later on.
To make the Jello, combine 1 cup of water, 1 box of jello, and half of a package of unflavored gelatin. (This will help make a slightly firmer Jello shot, which is important when using molds or in cases where the Jello will be sitting out). Let it soak for a minute or two and then heat over medium until gelatin has dissolved (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup vodka and 1/4 cup of cold water. Let cool to room temperature and then pour into molds with gummies placed inside. (You might have Jello left over). Refrigerate several hours, preferably overnight.
To serve, pop the stars out of the molds and arrange on a platter. To avoid sticky fingers, you can insert a toothpick into each gummy. Enjoy! (And always drink responsibly.)
Jaymee Sire is an Emmy-award winning sports reporter and anchor at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in San Francisco. During baseball season, she covers the San Francisco Giants for CSN, and often anchors the network’s flagship show, SportsNet Central in the offseason. When she isn’t covering a sporting event, her true passion is food…whether it’s eating out or cooking at home. She writes a blog called E is for Eat, posting alphabet-themed recipes and restaurant reviews several times per week. She also contributes a weekly tailgate blog on csnbayarea.com called Authentic Eats.
