Santa Hat Jello Shots

5 from 1 vote

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Deck the halls and check out these Santa hat Jello shots! Start with your favorite red gelatin flavor and add vodka to make a festive adult treat that is topped with a fresh strawberry and whipped cream.

These are a fun Christmas jello shots recipe that are great for a grown-up Christmas party.

Strawberry Santa Hat Jello Shots

These Santa hat jello shots are served in plastic shot glasses to hand out to all your friends and guests. If you ask me, Santa shooters are a must for holiday parties this time of year. They are oh so jolly!

Serve up this Christmas snack board at your holiday part next to the Christmas shooters. They would be great served with these Bugles Santa hat snacks.

These Santa Hat Jello Shots Are…

  • Simple Ingredients
  • Use Strawberry Jello or Cherry Jello
  • Topped with Fresh Strawberries
  • Great for Christmas Time

Ingredients

These are quick and easy to make so you’ll be party ready in no time.

Santa Hat Jello Shot ingredients

Jello Mix – Use any red colored Jello you like.

Vodka – To make these with alcohol, vodka is a great choice for this strawberry jello shots recipe. You can also replace the vodka with more water to make them kid-friendly.

Whipped Cream – Use whipped cream and a piping bag to decorate the jello shots. Or just grab a can of Reddi-wip. My favorite is the extra creamy version in the blue can.

Strawberries – Top with the perfect fresh strawberry Santa hats.

How to Make Santa Hat Holiday Jello Shots

The full directions are in the printable recipe card.

This is a quick walk through on how to make these fun themed shots for Christmas.

First, boil the measured water and stir in the Jell-O mixture. Make sure it all dissolves in the water.

mix gelatin with water and vodka

Then add the cold water and vodka in. Mix until it is no longer steaming.

Pour the jello into 2oz shot glasses and refrigerate until the gelatin sets. Place cups on a cookie sheet to help transfer to the refrigerator.

pour red jello mixture into shot cups

For the hat, add whipped cream to the top of each cup followed by an upside down strawberry.

Finish with a dab of whipped cream on top of the strawberry to mimic a Santa hat and enjoy!

top with whipped cream and a strawberry

Variations and Tips for Success

  • Skip the alcohol to make a kid-friendly treat for the holiday season. Just replace the amount of vodka with cold water.
  • Use a cookie sheet that is rimmed for a flat surface for the jello shots. This will make moving from the counter to the fridge easy.
  • Try champagne to make a champagne jello shots instead of vodka.
  • Use a vanilla vodka or other flavored alcohol to enhance the flavor.
  • Make these low-sugar using sugar-free gelatin and whipped cream.

Storing Tips

Refrigerate – Store Jell-O shots in the fridge in an airtight container without the toppings.

Add the strawberries and whipped cream right before serving for best results. This will keep the cream fresh and keep the strawberry juices from spreading.

Santa Hat Jello Shots on a serving tray

Common Questions Asked


Can you freeze jello shots?

You will find that jello does not freeze and thaw properly. So it is best to not freeze your jello shots. You can place them in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to help the gelatin set faster. Just don’t leave them in there for too long.

Can I double this jello shots recipe?

Go right ahead and double the recipe if you want. This is a great recipe to double or even triple in size. So make as many or few as you want for your holiday party needs.

Print the Recipe

Share or print the recipe below for all your holiday festivities.

Santa Hat Jello Shots

5 from 1 vote
So festive and fun for the Christmas holiday! These grown up Jell-O cups are made with vodka and decorated to look like Santa's hat.
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 4 hours 15 minutes
Yield: 12 Shots

Ingredients 

  • 1 3 oz. box of cherry or strawberry gelatin mix
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • ½ cup vodka, if not using vodka use 1 ½ cup of boiling water
  • ½ cup cold water
  • whipped cream topping
  • 12 strawberries with tops removed

Instructions 

  • Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
  • Once water is boiling whisk in gelatin until fully dissolved.
  • Allow the mix to cool slightly and then add in the cold water and vodka (if using), whisk to combine.
  • Allow the mixture to further cool until it is no longer steaming.
  • Place the shot cups on a tray and pour the jello mixture into the cups.
  • Refrigerate until fully set. (2-4 hours)
  • Before serving, pipe a layer of whipped cream on the top to make the brim of Santa’s hat. Then add an upside down strawberry.
  • Finish with a dab of whipped cream on top of the strawberry.

Notes

To make ahead, prepare the Jell-O cups and refrigerate in an airtight container. Don’t add whipped cream and strawberries until ready to serve. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1shot, Calories: 27kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.04g, Saturated Fat: 0.002g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 18mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.05mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert, Drinks
Cuisine: American


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About Andrea Updyke

Andrea Updyke is a married mom of two boys living in Raleigh, NC. She is a published author and blogger of more than 18 years and loves to celebrate the little things that make life awesome.

Whether she's sharing tasty recipes, traveling or hanging with the family, Andrea's goal is to help make your days a little easier and a lot more fun! Email inquiries to andreaupdyke@gmail.com.


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