This recipe is sponsored by Martinelli’s. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Feast + West!
Apple Cider Jell-O Shots are not your average Jell-O shot, and they will be the star of your holiday party. Infuse bourbon with cinnamon and combine with Martinelli’s Apple Cider, sugar and gelatin — with an extra cinnamon sugar rim! — to make this festive holiday treat that’s fun for the whole (21+!) family.
This shouldn’t surprise you: One of my favorite things about the holidays is getting to make food to share with my friends and family.
The winter season is one of my favorite times to try new recipes because I love sharing that experience with my loved ones.
For example, a couple years ago, I made Champagne Jell-O Shots for New Year’s Eve and they were cause for much amusement.
My brother and I laughed and laughed as we showed my mom how to eat a Jell-O shot.
(Technically, you’re supposed to run your finger around the edge of the cup and just pop it into your mouth. But Mom opted for a spoon! So classy, she is.)
Jell-O shots are underrated, I think. They get a bad reputation for their part in college party culture. And I get that.
But they’re also an entertaining treat for all ages (21+ of course!) that can still be enjoyed in moderation.
They can even be made alcohol-free if you so choose!
Case in point: My family sometimes does Jell-O shots at football game tailgates, and it’s a nice way to toast our team as a group before heading into the stadium.
It’s that camaraderie that inspired these Apple Cider Jell-O Shots with Bourbon.
APPLE CIDER JELL-O SHOTS WITH BOURBON
I wanted to come up with an autumnal dessert drink to enjoy with my family and friends in celebration of the holidays, and I teamed up with Martinelli’s to bring you this super fun and delicious recipe.
Apple Cider Jell-O Shots are definitely not your average Jell-O shots.
I’m just not a fan of using the artificially flavored powdered stuff and plain vodka. With Jell-O shots, there’s so much more room for creativity!
I much prefer to make my own flavors of Jell-O shots with delicious raw ingredients, and that’s where Martinelli’s comes in.
Martinelli’s makes an apple cider that I will happily drink cold or hot. It’s both sweet and robust, perfect for sipping.
But it’s also incredible when paired with a cinnamon-infused bourbon in these Apple Cider Jell-O Shots.
HOW TO MAKE JELL-O SHOTS WITH WHISKEY
You’ll need to do some stove cooking and gelatin magic to make these Apple Cider Jell-O Shots, but it’s easy and you’ll kick yourself for not trying homemade Jell-O shots before now!
Start by infusing your favorite bourbon or whiskey with a few cinnamon sticks.
Sometimes I like to make some extra cinnamon-infused bourbon for other cocktails later.
To make the Apple Cider Jell-O Shots, all you need to do is combine the Martinelli’s apple cider and sugar in a saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over the top.
After a few minutes, the surface will look wrinkled — that’ll mean it’s time to heat things up!
Once everything is dissolved, you can add the spiced bourbon and pour the mixture into your prepared shot glasses.
I rimmed these Apple Cider Jell-O Shots with a lemon wedge and cinnamon sugar for an added flourish and an extra finishing touch. This extra step will impress everyone!
I hope you try making these Apple Cider Jell-O Shots with Martinelli’s apple cider this holiday season.
Your family and friends will love them, and I have a feeling they will become a tradition in no time. // susannah
Pin this recipe for later!
Love Jell-O shots? Try these!
- Champagne Jell-O shots
- Baby Guinness Irish Coffee Jell-O Shots
- Paloma Jell-O Shots
- Mojito Jell-O Shots
- Glow in the Dark Jell-O Shots
Watch the video!
Video by Chris Henry Co.
Apple Cider Jell-O Shots with Bourbon
With all the tastes of autumn, these Apple Cider Jell-O Shots with Bourbon make a great holiday treat!
Ingredients
For the Jell-O Shots
- 1 cup bourbon or whiskey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup Martinelli’s apple cider
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 packets gelatin
For the cinnamon sugar rim
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- lemon wedge
Instructions
- In a mason jar or glass container, combine bourbon and cinnamon sticks. Cover with lid and let sit. For stronger cinnamon flavor, infuse 1-2 days or longer. In a pinch, 1-2 hours will suffice.
- Gently grease shot glass cups with cooking spray to help the Jell-O shots release better. Wipe away excess with a paper towel so that only trace residue remains.
- In a saucepan, combine apple cider and sugar. Sprinkle gelatin over top. Let sit 2-3 minutes until surface is wrinkled.
- Heat on medium heat and stir until sugar and gelatin have dissolved. Mixture should be smooth with no graininess. Stir in spiced bourbon.
- Pour into the prepared shot glasses. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
- Meanwhile, make the cinnamon sugar. In a medium bowl, combine sugar and ground cinnamon. Stir until evenly distributed. Pour some onto a plate for rimming the glasses. Rub a lemon wedge around the edge of the shot glasses. Roll the edge in the cinnamon sugar. Serve.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 145Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 23gProtein: 1g
Becca @ Two Places at Once says
The video you did is AWESOME!!! Great job!
Susannah says
Thank you so much, Becca! I am loving doing videos. 🙂
cait says
hello! how many shots this recipe makes? i can’t wait to make these for my work halloween party 🙂
Susannah says
Hey Cait! One recipe make about 12 jello shots. However, it really can depend on the size of the shot glasses and how full you fill them! For a party, you might want to make 2-3 batches if you think your guests would have more than one! Hope they’re a hit!
Christina says
I’m confused on the sugar part. The recipe calls for 1 c sugar and then 1/4 c sugar. How much is for the cider mixture vs the rim mixture?
Susannah says
Hey Christina, I can see how that would be confusing. I have edited the recipe to make it a little clearer which amount of sugar goes in the shots and which is for the rim. I hope that helps!
// susannah
Amy says
How much is 2 packets of gelatin? What’s the measurement on each packet? Thanks!
Susannah says
Hey Amy! One packet is about 1/4 ounce or 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 teaspoons. So 2 packets would be 1/2 ounce or 4 1/2 to 5 teaspoons. Usually when you buy gelatin, it comes in packets. I use Knox brand.
//susannah
Mercedes says
Do you think a pinch of cinnamon would work in a crunch?
Susannah says
Hey Mercedes, I’ve never tried that so it could work, but they might have a grainy texture. You may be better off using regular whiskey and going for a cinnamon sugar sprinkle on top or on the rim! Let me know if you try it.
Erika says
Awesome recipe! Thank you!! I was worried 2 packets of gelatin wouldn’t be enough but it was!!
Susannah says
Hey Erika! I’m so glad to hear these worked well for you! They are delicious.