Red and White Strawberry Shortcake Jello Shots Recipe

4.67 from 3 votes

Part cocktail and part dessert, this strawberry shortcake jello shots recipe made with Cake Vodka and Strawberry Pucker looks beautiful, is easy to make and tastes delicious. The only problem with them is how fast they disappear.

Strawberry Shortcake Jello Shots Recipe

Lately, I’ve been making a lot of layered jello shots, like these Pina Colada jello shots and this purple hooter jello shot recipe.

Using layers is an easy way to mix flavors and combine colors which results in a great tasting jello shot that matches your party decor.

This red and white layered strawberry shortcake jello shots recipe is my newest creation.

They are faster to make than most layered jello shot recipes because they use instant pudding for one of the layers which only takes a few minutes to set.

Ingredients

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strawberry shortcake jello shots ingredients

To make these layered strawberry shortcake jello shots you’ll need 1 small (3-ounce) box of Strawberry jello, 2 small (3.4 ounce) boxes of Vanilla instant pudding mix (you can also use the heat & serve pudding mix but it will take a little longer), milk, UV Cake vodka and Strawberry pucker.

I added some whipped cream and strawberries as garnishes, but these are optional. The jello shots taste really good all on their own if you can’t be bothered with the extra work.

Supplies And Utensils

You’ll need the following supplies and utensils to make this jello shots recipe:

  • Approximately 32 jello shot cups (depending on how full you fill them)
Tips

For layered jello shots, taller jello shot cups like these* are better than wider ones. The extra height makes it easier to create layers without over-filling.

Also, they should be at least 2 ounces in size. The 1-ounce shot glasses are too small to make good layers.

  • cookie sheet – this is optional but it makes transporting the jello shots to the fridge much easier. And helps to catch the drips that always seem to happen when you’re pouring the jello in.
  • mixing bowl – using a bowl with a handle and spout* will make your life easier when it comes to pouring the liquid into the jello shot cups.
  • kettle or pot for boiling the water
  • measuring cup
  • whisk
  • ladle – also optional, but it makes pouring the jello on top of the pudding easier.

How To Make Strawberry Shortcake Jello Shots

The “Shortcake” Layer

To start, lay out your jello shot cups on the cookie sheet.

The strawberry shortcake jello shot layer in jello shot cups

The first layer is the Vanilla pudding combined with the UV Cake vodka.

Combine 2 3.4-oz boxes of Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix with 3 cups of milk and 1/2 cup UV Cake Vodka.

Spoon the pudding into the jello shot cups so they are about half full.

I use less milk than the recipe on the box calls for so that the pudding sets a little stiffer.

You can’t put too much alcohol in this layer or it won’t set at all…which makes for very messy jello shots!

Also, you can substitute Heat & Serve Vanilla pudding instead of Instant Pudding mix. Just make sure to wait until it has cooled before adding the alcohol.

The Strawberry Layer

red jello being poured on top of the strawberry shortcake jello shot pudding layer

The second layer is strawberry jello combined with Strawberry Pucker.

Mix 1 cup boiling water with a small (3-oz) box of Strawberry Jello.

Then mix in 3/4 cup Strawberry Pucker (or Schnapps) and 1/4 cup cold water.

Let the jello cool for 15 or 20 minutes before spooning it on top of the pudding layer or you’ll end up with a pudding-jello mix rather than layers.

Also, the pudding layer is pretty soft so you can’t just pour the jello in from the bowl. Doing that will create a big hole in the pudding layer. Use a gravy ladle or cupcake scoop to spoon the jello onto the top of the pudding.

Then chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours until set.

These jello shots can stay in the refrigerator for a day or two so making them ahead of time is definitely an option. However, don’t leave them long enough for the milk in the pudding to go bad 🙂

The Garnishes

strawberries and whipping cream on top of strawberry shortcake jello shots

If you want to use garnishes, add them just before serving.

I like to use some whipped cream with half of a strawberry on top.

Since the pudding is a little softer than regular jello, serving them with a mini tasting spoons* makes them a little easier to eat.

strawberry shortcake jello shots that look like Santa hats

For Christmas, you can even make them look like little Santa hats.

They taste so good, you could even serve them as dessert!

Red and white layered strawberry shortcake jello shots with whipped cream and strawberries

Other Jello Shot Recipes You Might Like

Or browse through all of our jello shot recipes for more ideas.

Layered Strawberry Shortcake Jello Shots

These layered strawberry shortcake jello shots are part cocktail and part dessert. They are easy to make and taste great. The only problem with them is how fast they disappear!
4.67 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Cooling Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings 32 jello shots
Calories 80 kcal

Ingredients
  

Shortcake Layer

  • 2 3-ounce packages Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix You can also use Cook & Serve pudding
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ cup UV Cake Vodka

Strawberry Layer

  • 1 3-ounce package Strawberry Jello
  • 1 cup hot water
  • ¾ cup Strawberry Pucker
  • ¼ cup cold water

Garnishes

  • whipping cream optional
  • 16 strawberries optional

Instructions
 

Shortcake Layer

  • Set out the jello shot cups on the cookie sheet.
  • Pour the vanilla pudding mix to the mixing bowl.
  • Add the milk and UV Cake Vodka to the vanilla pudding mix in the bowl. Stir it constantly for 2 minutes using the whisk.
  • Pour (or spoon) the pudding into the jello shot cups so they are about half full. 

Strawberry Jello Layer

  • Bring some water to a boil.
  • Pour the strawberry jello crystals into a mixing bowl.
  • Add 1 cup of the boiling water to the strawberry jello and mix well.
  • Add the Strawberry Pucker and cold water to the jello mix and stir again. 
  • Wait at least 15 minutes for the jello to cool to room temperature.
  • Spoon the jello mixture on to the pudding in the jello shot cups. Be careful not to pour it in too fast or you will make a hole in the pudding layer.
  • Chill for 2 to 4 hours, until the jello has set. If required, the jello shots can stay in the refrigerator for a day or two before serving.

Garnishes

  • (Optional) Just before serving, add the whipped cream and half a strawberry to the top of each jello shot.

Notes

  • Taller jello shot cups work better than wider ones for layered jello shots. 
  • Placing the jello shot cups on a cookie sheet makes it easier to transport them to the refrigerator.
  • For the pudding layer, the pudding won’t set if you add too much alcohol. The amount we used is about the maximum you can put in. (Of course, you can always use less if you prefer weaker shots).
  • For the strawberry jello layer, you can add more or less alcohol depending on how strong you want the jello shot to be. Just make sure that the total amount of liquid added comes to 1 cup (if you add 1 cup of Strawberry Pucker then no water is required).

Nutrition

Serving: 1 jello shot | Calories: 80 kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.5 g | Protein: 1.7 g | Fat: 1.7 g | Cholesterol: 4.7 mg | Sodium: 68 mg | Sugar: 8 g

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

authorWanda Simone
courseDrinks
cuisineAmerican
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how to make strawberry shortcake jello shots

This post was originally published on September 25, 2018 but was updated with new content on March 19, 2024.


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6 Comments

  1. Your instructions in the first part says to add water, not milk?

    1. Sorry, Nikki…that’s a typo. I have fixed it. Thanks for letting me know!

  2. Hi, above it says apple pucker and strawberry jello.
    …can you use apple?…
    Everyone loves loves these…..I make them all the time

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Sorry Theresa…that was a typo (I fixed it). I haven’t tried them with Apple Pucker, although I think it would probably work fine. It might add a little kick to them 🙂

  3. Why will it not let me print these recipes? I can print anything else but not these???????

    1. Wanda Simone says:

      Hi Nina…I’m not sure why printing isn’t working for you. (I just tested it and didn’t have any problems). Could you maybe try it from a different browser or different computer to see if it works there?