Does anyone else out there associate the 4th of July VERY strongly with jello? Pretty sure I’ve been served (or at least spotted) red, white, and blue jello in some shape or form every 4th of my lifetime. If you want to go jello this year, I, Colleen, strongly recommend this adult version: a token All-American Jello Shots recipe!

There’s just something about celebrating our independence that screams pure, unadorned fun. I mean, it’s a holiday that comes with fireworks, so I can’t be alone on this one! Every year, even if I’m not hosting the party, I’m bringing something with me. Since it’s pretty hard to bring a liquid cocktail for a whole party (serving temperature and ice dilution are always issues), I love to come with boozy jello. Plus I’m ALL about recipes you can make ahead!

Even better, these jello shots taste like an actual cocktail (not just throwing some vodka into jello mix, eek!): a creamy, citrus-y summer refresher, almost like sherbet or an ice cream float. If you want to bring your A-game to your 4th of July party, these jello shots are definitely for you!

All-American Jello Shots Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

12 ounces gin
3 ounces resh squeezed/strained lemon juice
3 ounces fresh squeezed/strained lime juice
3 ounces simple syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
5 envelopes Knox gelatin
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
red and blue food coloring

Instructions

Combine the simple syrup, salt, lime, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, then pour into a medium saucepan and sprinkle with three envelopes of gelatin. Allow the gelatin to soak for two minutes, then heat over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).
Remove from heat and add the gin, stirring well to blend. Divide into two bowls, then color each with red and blue dye (I use the natural food dyes available online and at specialty stores like Whole Foods). Pour into two very lightly greased loaf pans and chill until fully set, several hours or overnight.
Slice the red and blue jello loaves into small squares, then carefully mix them in a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan OR lightly greased silicone ice cube trays (my preference!) by spooning some of each color into each square.
In a separate bowl, sprinkle remaining 2 envelopes gelatin into 1/2 cup cold water. Allow the gelatin to soak for two minutes, then add 1 1/2 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add the can of condensed milk. Stir and allow to cool to room temperature but NOT set.
Pour cooled milk mixture over jello and chill overnight. If you used a baking pan, carefully turn out the jello, cut into blocks, and serve. If you used ice trays, carefully turn out the jello but skip the cutting part!

Rining in the 4th of July with this All-American Jello Shots Recipe! - sugar and cloth

I also love the “broken glass” style of jello. It’s retro for sure, but something about pops of color floating on a sea of white always looks enticing to me. The colors can easily be switched up for any other occasion — wouldn’t pink and blue be fun for a baby shower, or red and green for Christmas?

colleen jeffers - contributor - the good drink - sugar and cloth

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All-American Jello Shots Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

12 ounces gin
3 ounces resh squeezed/strained lemon juice
3 ounces fresh squeezed/strained lime juice
3 ounces simple syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
5 envelopes Knox gelatin
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
red and blue food coloring

Instructions

Combine the simple syrup, salt, lime, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, then pour into a medium saucepan and sprinkle with three envelopes of gelatin. Allow the gelatin to soak for two minutes, then heat over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).
Remove from heat and add the gin, stirring well to blend. Divide into two bowls, then color each with red and blue dye (I use the natural food dyes available online and at specialty stores like Whole Foods). Pour into two very lightly greased loaf pans and chill until fully set, several hours or overnight.
Slice the red and blue jello loaves into small squares, then carefully mix them in a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan OR lightly greased silicone ice cube trays (my preference!) by spooning some of each color into each square.
In a separate bowl, sprinkle remaining 2 envelopes gelatin into 1/2 cup cold water. Allow the gelatin to soak for two minutes, then add 1 1/2 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add the can of condensed milk. Stir and allow to cool to room temperature but NOT set.
Pour cooled milk mixture over jello and chill overnight. If you used a baking pan, carefully turn out the jello, cut into blocks, and serve. If you used ice trays, carefully turn out the jello but skip the cutting part!

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