Elevate your next celebration with these Champagne Jello Shots, a delightful fusion of elegance and fun. This easy-to-make recipe is basically a French 76 cocktail in jello form. They are the perfect way to add a touch of sparkle to any occasion.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy: Despite their fancy appearance, this is a super easy Champagne Jello Shots recipe. The recipe only requires a few simple ingredients and can be made in just a few minutes.
Perfect party food: These boozy jello shots are the perfect addition to any party. They’re so much fun for any special occasion from a New Year’s Eve party to Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day gathering, or even a wedding shower!
Balanced flavor: The mix of the bubbly champagne with the sweet sugar and the tart lemon juice creates a balanced, delightful flavor profile that’s quite similar to a French 76 (which is a French 75 with vodka).
Ingredient Notes
Unflavored Gelatin: This is a versatile thickening agent derived from collagen, used to give the jello shots their firm, jelly-like consistency. Knox is probably the most common and widely available brand.
Champagne: I recommend using dry or brut champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine to balance the flavors.
Sugar: This balances the tartness of the lemon juice and the dryness of the champagne, providing a pleasant sweetness to this jello shot recipe.
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice contributes a bright, citrusy note, adding a refreshing layer of flavor that compliments the champagne.
Vodka: Use your favorite brand, but I recommend using at least a mid-tier brand like Tito’s.
Edible Glitter: Used as a decorative topping, edible gold glitter adds a visually stunning and festive touch, making the champagne shots more appealing and fun. Make sure you use EDIBLE glitter – see my post here all about edible glitter and what to look for when you are buying it. If you prefer not to use edible glitter, you can garnish with fresh strawberries to make Strawberry Champagne Jello Shots.
Recommended Edible Glitter and Other Supplies
Edible Brew Glitter Gold (Set of 1)
Buy Now →Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the envelopes of unflavored gelatin, vodka, and some of the champagne to a heatproof bowl (preferably with a pouring spout, like a large Pyrex measuring cup). Set aside.
Step 2: Add the sugar and remaining champagne to a small saucepan.
Step 3: Add the lemon juice and heat the mixture over medium heat until it begins to simmer slightly and the sugar is completely dissolved. Be sure not to boil.
Step 4: Remove the pan from the heat. Allow the champagne mixture to cool slightly and add it to the gelatin mixture in the heatproof bowl. Whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Step 5: Pour the mixture into plastic shot glasses, filling about ¾ of the way up the cup. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until completely set.
Step 6: Add the edible glitter to a fine mesh sieve. Gently tap the sieve on the edge to sift the glitter over the tops of the jello. Chill until ready to serve.
Expert Tips and Variations
- Make sure you use unflavored gelatin. Flavored jello will take away from the champagne or sparkling wine’s flavor.
- Swap the champagne for sparkling rosé and use rose gold edible glitter for festive Pink Champagne Jello Shots for a Valentine’s Day option.
- Swap the vodka for orange juice or other fruit juice to make a mimosa jello shot, which would be perfect for brunch or a wedding shower.
- For a lower ABV (alcohol by volume) option, replace the vodka with lemonade or more champagne instead. For a mocktail, replace the vodka and champagne with sparkling lemonade or apple cider.
- For a French 77 variation, replace the vodka with an additional ¼ cup of champagne and ¼ cup of elderflower simple syrup or liqueur, like St. Germain or St. Elder.
- To make the jello slide out easier, you can lightly coat the small plastic cups with a little cooking spray before adding the jello mixture.
FAQ
Certainly! You can enhance your champagne gelatin shots with food coloring for an added visual flair.
Start with a small amount, mixing it thoroughly into the gelatin mixture to achieve a uniform color. Be mindful that adding color will affect the transparency of the gelatin, so use sparingly if a translucent appearance is desired.
For an indigo blue-purple color, you can replace the vodka with a butterfly pea flower-infused vodka, which is extremely easy and quick to make at home!
The best liquor largely depends on personal preference and the desired flavor profile. Vodka is a popular choice due to its neutral flavor, which pairs well with a variety of jello flavors without overpowering them.
I don’t normally recommend gin for jello shots, but with these Champagne Jello Shots, I think gin would be a good option to replace the vodka to make a French 75 jello shot.
Whatever type you use, I recommend a dry or “brut” style to balance the sweetness. You can certainly use champagne (a specific French sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France), but I recommend using more economical dry sparkling wines like prosecco or cava for mixing cocktails or shots. I tend to want to save champagne for when I just want to drink the bubbly by itself and prefer not to drown the nuance of champagne with other mixers.
I wouldn’t spend more than $20 on a bottle of sparkling wine that was going to be mixed into a cocktail. If you like sweeter cocktails, you can use asti spumante and moscato d’Asti in place of dry sparkling wine.
Jello shots typically take about 4 hours to set in the refrigerator. However, the exact time it takes will depend on the size and shape of the shot glasses, as well as the temperature of the refrigerator. If you want to make sure that your jello shots are set firmly, you can chill them overnight.
Champagne Jello Shots can be made 1 to 2 days in advance, which is ideal for planning and preparation for events. When stored properly in the refrigerator, covered or in an airtight container, they maintain their texture and flavor.
This advance preparation allows the flavors to meld together nicely, and the shots remain firm and tasty. However, it’s important not to prepare them too far in advance, as their consistency can change after a couple of days. Preparing them within this timeframe ensures they remain fresh and enjoyable for your special event.
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Champagne Jello Shots Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ ounce (2 packets) unflavored gelatin
- ½ cup vodka
- 1 ½ cups champagne (or other dry sparkling wine, divided and chilled)
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2-3 pinches edible glitter (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Add the unflavored gelatin to a heatproof bowl (preferably with a spout) and add the vodka and ½ cup of champagne. Set aside.
- Add the sugar, remaining champagne, and lemon juice to a small saucepan.
- Heat the saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer and the sugar is completely dissolved. (Don't boil.)
- Remove from heat and pour the hot mixture into the heatproof bowl with the gelatin mixture. Whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
- Gently pour the mixture into jello shot cups, filling about ¾ of the way full.
- Allow to chill for at least 3 hours or until the gelatin is set.
- If using, add the edible glitter to a fine mesh sieve and gently tap the edge of the sieve to sift the glitter all over the tops of the jello shots.
- Chill until ready to serve. Add the lids to the little cups if you are making them in advance.
Notes
- To make the jello shots slide out easier, you can lightly coat the small plastic cups with a little cooking spray before adding the jello mixture.
- For a lower ABV (alcohol by volume) option, replace the vodka with lemonade or more champagne instead. For a mocktail, replace the vodka and champagne with sparkling lemonade or apple cider.
- For a French 77 variation, replace the vodka with an additional ¼ cup of champagne and ¼ cup of elderflower simple syrup or liqueur, like St. Germain or St. Elder.
Nutrition
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Alexa
Next time I might use a flavor. The two liquors combined makes the shot super strong.