These Tequila Sunrise Jello Shots are easy to make, sweet, tropical, and perfect for a party! They're inspired by the Tequila Sunrise cocktail and great for anything from a big pool party to a small backyard BBQ. Easy to make into mocktail shots!
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Why You'll Love These Jello Shots
Just like your favorite cocktail - These shots are inspired by the classic Tequila Sunrise cocktail we all know and love. They're tropical, sweet, and perfect for summer!
Perfect for a party - Jello shots are always fun to serve to a big crowd because they're often served in plastic cups so you won't have to wash any dishes after the party. They're easy to make in big batches and even easier to serve (and enjoy)!
No jello packs - These jello shots are made with gelatin sheets instead of powdered jello packs to make them healthier and with less sugar. They're just as jiggly as the ones made with the old-fashioned jello packs and so delicious!
Easy and simple - You only need 4 ingredients to make these jello shots (5 if you count water) and they're incredibly easy to make and really simple to make as a big batch for a party.
Ingredients
- Orange juice - Freshly squeezed is always the best if possible.
- Tequila - You can use silver or reposado tequila here based on your preference. I always use reposado.
- Grenadine - Try using one that's made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup and has no artificial colors.
- Gelatin - Instead of jello powder, this recipe uses gelatin. Keep in mind that gelatin is made from bones so this recipe isn't vegetarian. To keep it vegetarian or vegan, you can use agar agar instead.
Variations and Substitutions
Agar agar - As I mentioned above, you can use agar agar instead of gelatin for vegan jello cups. Agar agar is made from seaweed which makes it a great healthy vegan option.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Lay out your plastic cups on a baking sheet.
- Soak gelatin sheets in cold water.
- Remove the gelatin and squeeze the water out gently.
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- Stir the gelatin into ½ cup of hot water until completely dissolved.
- Stir in orange juice and tequila.
- Fill your plastic cups with the mixture about ½-¾ of the way up. You’ll need a little room in each cup if you want to put the lids on.
- Use a small spoon to slowly pour grenadine into each cup. Do it on the side of the cup so that the layers stay separate for a layered effect. Use about 1 teaspoon per shot.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the fridge and allow the jello to set for at least 4 hours or ideally overnight.
- Don’t close the lids right away to avoid messing up the layers.
- When the jello shots are set, close them with the lids and store them in the fridge until ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the jello shots garnished with cocktail cherries and small slices of orange if desired just as you would a classic Tequila Sunrise cocktail.
If you're serving them for a group you can put them all on a platter or in a bowl filled with ice to make sure they stay cool and solid.
Storing
- Store the jello shots in the little plastic cups (closed with a lid) in the fridge for up to a week. The alcohol preserves the juice from going bad but the shots taste the best for just a few days after you make them. I wouldn't store them for longer than a week.
- Only store these in the fridge, do not freeze them.
- I recommend always storing them in the fridge or on ice till right when you're ready to enjoy them.
- Keep them in a cooler or a freezer bag with a cold pack when transporting them to a different location. They may get soft and lose their "jello" texture if they're kept out of the fridge for too long.
FAQs
Yes, totally! Just swap the tequila for water or more orange juice and you're all set! Alternatively you could also use lemonade or any other fruit juice.
You can make them 2-3 days ahead to keep them tasting the best. I wouldn't make them ahead longer than that though they can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
More Cocktails With Tequila
I don't have any other jellow shots on my site currently but I do have lots of other tequila cocktails to choose from! If you want to see all the latest ones and all of my favorite margaritas, head over to Cocktails.
- Tequila Sunset - Similar to a Tequila Sunrise but with grapefruit!
- Campari Orange Blossom Cocktail - A delicious tequila Campari cocktail orange blossom and almond syrup.
- Tequila Espresso Martini - A classic espresso martini with a twist!
- Strawberry Margarita - A margarita with homemade strawberry syrup.
📖 Recipe
Tequila Sunrise Jello Shots
These Tequila Sunrise Jello Shots taste just like the popular summer cocktail! These are really easy to make and perfect for a party and a big crowd.
- Total Time4 hours 30 minutes
- Yield18 1x
- DietGluten Free
Ingredients
- 18-20 2 oz plastic cups
- 6 sheets gelatin (equals 10g powder, enough gelatin to set 2 cups of liquid)
- Cold water (enough to cover the gelatin)
- 4 oz hot water (½ cup)
- 8 oz orange juice (1 cup)
- 4 oz tequila (blanco or reposado) (½ cup)
- 3 oz grenadine (⅓ cup or more if needed)
- For serving (optional): cocktail cherries, sliced orange
Instructions
- Lay out your plastic cups on a baking sheet.
- Soak gelatin sheets in cold water.
- Remove the gelatin and squeeze the water out gently.
- Stir the gelatin into ½ cup of hot water until completely dissolved.
- Stir in orange juice and tequila.
- Fill your plastic cups with the mixture about ½-¾ of the way up. You’ll need a little room in each cup if you want to put the lids on.
- Use a small spoon to slowly pour grenadine into each cup. Do it on the side of the cup so that the layers stay separate for a layered effect. Use about 1 teaspoon per shot.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the fridge and allow the jello to set for at least 4 hours or ideally overnight. Don’t close the lids right away to avoid messing up the layers.
- When the jello shots are set, close them with the lids and store them in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Serve garnished with cocktail cherries and small slices of orange if desired.
Notes
Storing: The jello shots are best the next day but you can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Vegan version: Use agar agar instead of gelatin to make these vegan.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Fridge Time: 4 hours
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
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Gloria says
What a super fun adult treat. Perfect for summer parties. Great on Mexican-themed dinner nights too.