Perfect Candy Corn Layered Jello Shots for Halloween
These layered Jello shots mimic the iconic candy corn look with a creamy white bottom, orange middle, and yellow top. They’re a fun, festive party trick that tastes like childhood nostalgia with a grown-up kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes (includes setting time)
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 boxes (3 oz each) Jello gelatin (1 orange, 1 lemon, 1 unflavored)
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup boiling water, divided into 3 portions
- 1 cup cold water, divided into 3 portions
- 1 ½ cups vodka or unflavored alcohol, divided into 3 portions
- Cooking spray or vegetable oil (for greasing cups)
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace: Arrange 24 plastic shot cups (2 oz size) on a baking sheet. Lightly spray the inside of each cup with cooking spray if you plan to pop them out later. Clear a shelf in your refrigerator.
- Make the white bottom layer: In a small bowl, combine 1 packet unflavored gelatin with ⅓ cup cold water. Let sit for 2 minutes to bloom. Add ⅓ cup boiling water and stir until dissolved. Pour in ½ cup sweetened condensed milk and ½ cup vodka. Stir until smooth. Pour about 1 tablespoon into each cup (fill about one-third full). Refrigerate for 30-40 minutes until firm to the touch.
- Make the orange middle layer: In a second bowl, combine orange Jello powder with ⅓ cup boiling water. Stir for 2 minutes until dissolved. Add ⅓ cup cold water and ½ cup vodka. Stir well and let cool to room temperature (about 10 minutes). Once the white layer is firm, carefully pour the orange mixture over it, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Refrigerate for another 30-40 minutes.
- Make the yellow top layer: In a third bowl, combine lemon Jello powder with ⅓ cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Add ⅓ cup cold water and ½ cup vodka. Stir and let cool to room temperature. Once the orange layer is set, pour the yellow mixture over it, filling each cup almost to the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Check and serve: After the final layer has set, check that all three layers are clearly visible (white bottom, orange middle, yellow top). Serve chilled directly from the cups, or gently pop them out onto a platter for a fancier presentation.
Notes
Timing is crucial: let each layer set 30-40 minutes before adding the next. Always let the Jello mixture cool to room temperature before pouring over a set layer to prevent melting. For a non-alcoholic version, replace vodka with cold water or ginger ale. For dairy-free, use full-fat coconut cream instead of sweetened condensed milk. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 shot (2 oz)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 2.5
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 2.5
Keywords: candy corn, jello shots, Halloween, layered jello, party shots, vodka jello, Halloween dessert