Jello shots with a major flavor upgrade. Candy-sweet and topped with triple sec whipped cream, you’ll actually want to savor these shots!
We’ve hit week two of Nerd Month and I am having SO much fun. I hope you are too!
When I told my RL people that I was doing an entire month on the blog dedicated to recipes inspired by my favorite pieces of pop culture, they were a little worried.
To quote my sister (in her most concerned voice), “Someone’s going to edit those posts for you, right?” As though I would be too overcome with fangirling to be understood and intelligibly transcribe recipes.
Okay, that might actually be a problem this week, because this week we are doing a theme within a theme (oh man, I should have planned an Inception recipe this month) and covering one of my very, very, very favorite things, Bryan Fuller shows!
If you are not familiar with Fuller’s work, he’s the mastermind behind such prematurely cancelled favorites as Wonderfalls, Pushing Daisies, and Hannibal (he’s also helming the upcoming Star Trek reboot over on CBS All Access and American Gods on Starz).
We’re starting the week off with one of his early shows, Wonderfalls. It was my first favorite show (also my first experience with cancellation) and tells the tale of Jaye, a disaffected twenty-something who suddenly begins hearing voices. Are the voices God? Are they the devil?
Fox via Whatthekatzdraggedin
Who knows, but it’s a great, sweet and funny show that tells a complete 13-episode story despite its early cancellation and also features a pre-PieMakerElfKing Lee Pace.
There are a ton of recipes I could have pulled from the show, like fig pancakes or fish jello, but I finally settled on something that appears in the very first episode:
Jello shots!
The traditional jello shot recipe is 3 ounces jello mix, 1 cup water, and 1 cup vodka. And it makes a serviceable shot.
This recipe cuts some vodka, adds some triple sec, some sprinkles, and some triple sec-infused whipped cream. So it’s a lot tastier, a lot more interesting, and way more fun to look at.
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of traditional jello shots, but by replacing half of the vodka with triple sec, a very sweet orange-flavored liqueur, you get a candy-sweet jello shot that still packs a punch but is so good you’ll want to eat it with a spoon. (And real talk, if you serve them in 2-ounce glasses like these, it’s pretty much the only way to eat them.)
Fox
I used grape jello, because that’s the type of shot Jaye asks for in the show, but you can make these with any flavor you think would pair well with orange.
Do you have a favorite show creator? What was your first favorite show?
Candy-Sweet Jello Shots with Triple Sec Whipped Cream
Ingredients
To Line Glasses (optional)
- Wedge of citrus
- Sprinkles
Jello Shots
- 1 cup water
- 3 oz jello mix any flavor that goes well with orange
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup triple sec
Triple Sec Whipped Cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon triple sec chilled
Instructions
Line Your Glasses (Optional)
- Pour sprinkles into a shallow dish.
- Cut a slit in a wedge of citrus and run it around the edge of your shot glass. Dip glass in the sprinkles and set aside.
Jello Shots
- In a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup, heat water for 1 to 2 minutes, until steaming. Stir in jello mix until completely dissolved.
- Allow mixture to cool until it is not burning hot to the touch.
- Add vodka and triple sec.
- Divide mixture between shot glasses and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, until firm.
Triple Sec-Infused Whipped Cream
- Once jello shots are set, combine cream, triple sec, and sugar in your stand mixer and whip until stiff peaks form, 2-3 minutes. If making by hand or with a hand-held mixer, place your bowl and whisk/whisk attachments in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before starting.
- Pipe whipped cream on to each of your shots with a piping bag or a plastic bag with the corner snipped off.
Gav says
They look great. How did you make them pink/purple ? Was it blackcurrant jello or food colouring ?
Tracy says
Thanks, Gav! The jello I used in the photos was grape, so it was already colored. No extra coloring needed.
shelby says
These couldn’t be any more adorable! I love your photos and the recipe!
Tracy says
Thank you, Shelby!!
Kaitie says
What a great recipe! I cant remember my first favourite show but I’m going through heartbreak with The Good Wife being cancelled… I was so disappointed!
Tracy says
Cancellation is always such a bummer. I was a *devoted* Good Wife fan until Kalinda left and then I was just too heartbroken to go on. Did you at least like where everyone ended up in the finale? I heard mixed things!
Kaitie says
Not at all! I was still waiting for more… It was like they wrapped it too quickly. So sad…
Tracy says
Ah. That stinks! 🙁 I saw they announced a spin off staring Diane today. Maybe that will help give the show some closure. I always thought she was really underused, so I’m interested to see what a show with her as the lead looks like.
Ludmilla says
Beautiful photos!! These shots are gorgeous!!
Tracy says
Thanks, Ludmilla!
Hanady says
Is it wrong that I want a Jell-O shot at 10am? Because it’s 10pm somewhere right? They look delish! Seriously great job on this!
Tracy says
Ha! Not going to lie, I shot these mid-morning, and may have partaken after I was done. 😉 Thanks, Hanady!
Sara says
That is such a hard question to answer but…I love Christopher Guess’s work. He is so subtly funny.
Now, the jello shot… um. yum!
Tracy says
Ooo, good choice! I keep meaning to check out the show he did for HBO. I heard such good things!
And thanks!!
Renee says
I haven’t had a jello shot in so long that I can’t tell you without revealing my age. I love the idea of cutting back the vodka and eating it with a spoon. The color on these is gorgeous and you have given me a fun idea for summer!! Thanks!!
Tracy says
Haha, Renee! I did try to eat these without a spoon, but then I was like nope, not in college anymore, I’m too old for this. 😉
Rahul @samosastreet.com says
This is honestly the most creative thing ever! It looks phenomenal! Perfect summer recipe I’ll have to try sometime.
Tracy says
Ah, thank you, Rahul! 🙂
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
It’s been sooooo long since I’ve had a jello shot, Tracy! These look absolutely gorgeous! Look at that colour! Love that you added Triple Sec to give that touch of sweetness and orange flavour. Perfect for a get-together with friends 🙂
Tracy says
Thanks, Dawn!!