These Champagne Jello Shots are a fun way to celebrate with a taste of bubbly! They use unflavored gelatin so the flavor of the sparkling wine really comes through. They're super tasty and a unique way to make a Champagne toast!
These treats definitely make for the perfect New Year's Eve jello shots! They're also great for birthdays or other celebrations.
Looking for some more fun jello shot ideas? Try out these Glow-in-the-dark jello shots with tonic water, or these Christmas Cranberry Jello shots, perfect for the holidays!
Need some NYE ideas? Try out the always classic French 75 (or its vodka version, French 76). Or, the Vodka Champagne Cocktail is a light and lemony sip for toasting the new year. The Kir Royale and Kir Imperial are two more delicious bubbly cocktails to try!
Ingredients
I found that using flavored jello was a little too overpowering and the flavor of the Champagne didn't come through as well. So, you'll need some unflavored gelatin to get the best flavor for this recipe.
Apple juice and lemon juice together make a great base for the gelatin.
You'll also need sparkling wine, of course! You can use Champagne, but any kind will do. Prosecco works well here since it is a little sweeter.
To make things a little stronger, you'll need some vodka. You can use plain vodka, or a citrus vodka (I used Absolut Citron).
I also added a liqueur to add both a little more booze and sweetness. I like elderflower liqueur (I used St Germain elderflower liqueur) since it complements the Champagne flavor really well.
As an optional garnish, silver sugar crystals are both elegant and easy!
Substitutions
If you don't have citrus vodka, you can always use plain vodka, or a different spirit like gin or tequila.
If you need to substitute for the elderflower liqueur, try using Triple Sec. If you don't have that either, you can just use simple syrup instead.
For those of you using sheet gelatin instead of the Knox gelatine, use around 4.5 sheets for one recipe here. You can always check on the Modernist Pantry gelatin conversions for some more info.
Equipment
You'll need some basic equipment to make these, including a small saucepan, spoon and some measuring cups or jiggers.
You'll also need small cups to serve the jello shots. I like these 2 oz Jello Shot Cups since they are easy to fill and come with lids.
I really like using a kitchen squeeze bottle to fill the cups, but if you have a Jellinator, that is even easier.
Note: If you want to serve these as little squares instead of in cups, you can always pour the mixture into a square baking dish to set and then cut them up when they are cold. But, keep in mind that you should use two full packets of gelatin so they set a little bit more firm.
Instructions
Start out by blooming your gelatin. Add the apple and lemon juices to your saucepan, then sprinkle the gelatin on top. (Don't stir.)
Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
After the gelatin blooms, the mixture will turn kind of gloopy. Set your saucepan over low heat and stir as it heats up.
When the gelatin is fully melted (around 140-160°F) and the mixture is liquidy again, you can take the saucepan off the heat. No need to boil!
Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes before adding the alcohol.
When it is cool enough, add in the liqueur and then the vodka.
Then, add in the Champagne and stir gently to mix.
If you're using a squeeze bottle, transfer the liquid to the bottle now.
Fill your cups with about 1.5 ounces of liquid each.
Transfer them to the fridge to set. It will take about 2 hours to fully chill and set.
If you're not going to serve them right away, cover them with lids until you're ready to go.
When you're ready, sprinkle on your sparkly sugar, serve and enjoy!
Hint: Try chill your liqueur, vodka and Champagne before adding it into the mixture. This will help the shots set faster in the fridge.
Top tip
Remember not to add the sugar garnish until just before you serve these.
If you add it too far in advance, the sugar will draw water out of the gelatin and dissolve, leaving a little puddle of water and edible glitter on top. Which is not the worst thing, but the sugar is cuter!!
📖 Recipe
Champagne Jello Shots
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Citrus juicer (if using fresh lemon)
- Funnel (optional)
- Squeeze bottle (optional)
- Jellinator (optional)
Ingredients
- 1½ packets Knox gelatin (1¼ Tablespoons Knox granulated gelatin, or 1½ Tablespoons of powdered gelatin)
- 4 ounces apple juice (½ cup)
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce elderflower liqueur
- 2 ounces citrus vodka (or plain vodka)
- 8 ounces Champagne (1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon edible glitter sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Add the apple juice and lemon juice to a small saucepan.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over top of the juices and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This will "bloom" the gelatin.
- Put the saucepan over low heat. If you have a stovetop where you can set the temperature, set it to around 160 °F.
- As the gelatin mixture heats, stir it occasionally. It will start out kind of gloopy, and then the gelatin will melt and it will become liquidy again.
- When the gelatin is fully melted, take the mixture off the heat. There is no need to bring it to a boil.
- Let the mixture cool for several minutes before adding the alcohol.
- Add in the elderflower liqueur, vodka and Champagne. Mix it together in the saucepan.
- Now, you can add the mixture to your serving cups. I like to use a squeeze bottle for this, so I use a funnel and transfer the liquid from the saucepan into the bottle. But, you can also pour it directly into the cups (just beware it can get a little messy). Or, if you have a Jellinator, that is probably the easiest way to fill the cups.
- Move the cups to the fridge to fully set. This will usually take about 2 hours.
- When they are all chilled and set, you can cover them until you are ready to serve. Usually the jello shot cups come with little lids.
- When you are ready to serve, add a little bit of silver glitter sugar to each cup using a spoon. (Don't add this ahead of time as the sugar will draw water out of the gelatin and dissolve.) Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Sheet gelatin: If you are using sheet gelatin, aka leaf gelatin, you will need approximately 4.5 sheets.
- Gelatin amount: the amount of gelatin in this recipe will give you a softer set than regular jello to make it easier to get out of the little cups. If you like it even softer, use only one packet. If you like it more firm, or you want to set it in a pan and cut it into squares, use two packets. The liquid amounts will stay the same.
- Liqueur: Don't have elderflower liqueur? Sub in Triple Sec instead. Or, just use simple syrup.
Kimberly says
These are so fun for New Years! Let me know if you have questions about the recipe 🙂