Mojito Jello Shots are the cutest way to enjoy the classic rum cocktail in bite-size form! Make a batch for a day by the pool or for a bachelorette party! Everyone will love them.
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About this Mojito Jello Shots recipe
It has been way too long since I posted a Jello shot recipe. Ever since making champagne jello shots and baby Guinness jello shots, I’ve become weirdly enamored with creative jello shots.
Don’t get me wrong. I love a brightly-colored classic jello shot, but they’re way more fun when you make them from scratch! You can make more natural-tasting flavors with grown-up jello shots. They are are fantastically easy, and taste so much better.
Cocktail-flavored jello shots are also a fun way to serve a crowd. You’re basically taking tried-and-true flavor and spirit combinations and serving them in jiggly jello shot form, like we do with these grapefruit paloma jello shots and gingery Moscow mule jello shots.
Mojito jello shots are just the ticket, too. I’ve made them for a bachelorette party, but they’ve be fun for a Friday night with friends, a cookout or summer pool parties. They are always a big hit. Minty and slightly sour with a bit of alcohol, these puppies are a delightful party treat for lovers of the classic mojito cocktail.
More mojito recipes: Blackberry Mojito • Coconut Mojito • Mojito Popsicles • Mango Mojito •
Why you’ll love this recipe
These Mojito Jello Shots are so much fun and you are going to love serving them up to your friends and family!
- They are as easy to make as regular jello shots.
- When making jello shots with unflavored gelatin, you can really level up the flavors with real lime juice and fresh mint.
- Mojitos are a beloved cocktail, and they’ll be a hit in tiny jello shot form, too.
These summery treats would be great for a bachelor/bachelorette party, cookout, beach day, pool party, birthday party and more.
Ingredients
To make these, you’ll need a few simple ingredients. You’ll also need a stove and a bit of patience (but not much!).
- sugar
- water
- fresh mint
- lime juice
- unflavored gelatin
- light rum (AKA white rum or silver rum)
Variations & substitutions
Fancy presentation: You can top the shots with sanding sugar or sprinkles just before serving and add a piece of lime gummy candy like I did. A small mint leaf on top would also be cute!
Non-alcoholic jello shots: For the record, you can totally make any kind of Jello shot without the alcohol. Not a bad idea if you’ll have kids around when you make them.
With boxed lime gelatin mix: Follow my recipe for classic jello shots that use flavored jello, but add the mint leaves to the water you boil to extract the flavor. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of peppermint essential oil or ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, to taste.
Jello shot cups
There are a few ways you can serve these jello shots.
- Jello shot cups: The classic way! Here are my favorite jello shot cups, but use what you’ve got. Plastic shot glasses are great, but I really like the jello shot cups with lids when I am taking them to a tailgate or party.
- Jiggler-style: This is what you see pictured here. They are poured into a lightly greased pan and set up in the fridge. Then you can cut them into squares or other shapes.
- Lime shells: You can also use the outer skins of fresh limes as cups. Then, once they are set, you can slice them into wedges like you would a real lime. (The hardest part is shelling the limes so you can pour the lime juice into them.) This would be a great idea for margarita jello shots too.
Instructions
When you’re ready to make your mojito jello shots, here’s what you’ll do:
- First, prepare your molds. Spray them lightly with cooking spray so the jello shots can release easier.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water and mint. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Remove from heat and discard the mint leaves. (Or use them in a mojito cocktail!)
- Add the lime juice to a medium bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top and allow to rest for 5 minutes until gelatin is softened and the liquid’s surface appears slightly wrinkled.
- Stir the lime-gelatin mixture into the sugar water. Warm over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Do not let it boil! Remove from heat. Stir in the rum.
- Distribute the liquid evenly among the molds. (A turkey baster works really well for this.) Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving.
Tips & tricks
- For a stronger mint flavor, first clap the mint leaves between your hands to release the oils.
- Don’t toss the mint leaves — use them in a mojito recipe like this strawberry mojito.
- To prevent sticking, lightly spritz cooking spray into your containers. Use a paper towel to collect any that concentrates at the bottom, then wipe it around the interior of the cup to help spread the spray around. What you are going for is a very light coating.
How to store
Store set jello shots in the fridge and enjoy within 2-3 days. (They can technically be made up to a week in advance, but they tend to shrivel by that time and won’t be as pretty.) Jello shots do not freeze well.
Only add garnishes like sanding sugar or lime gummy candy just before serving. They will not hold up well in the fridge.
FAQ
Roughly 4 jello shots equal about 1 ounce of alcohol. Most cocktails contain 2 ounces of alcohol, so you’d need to enjoy quite a few jello shots to feel the effects of alcohol.
If you are using cups: The best way to eat jello shots is to insert your finger along the inside edge of the container and trace the edge of the cup to loosen the gelatin. (If you grease the cups lightly beforehand, this will be easier.) Then toss the shot back and suck it out. It’s not very glamorous, is it?! A butter knife or spoon can be used to scoop out the jello if you prefer. There are no rules when it comes to eating jello shots!
If you made jiggler-style: Simply pop these bite-size shots into your mouth!
If you made lime wedges: Eat them like you’d eat an orange slice: Take a bite and suck out the jello shot, but don’t eat the bitter peel.
More jello shot recipes
- Glow-in-the-Dark Jello Shots
- Red, White & Blue Jello Shots
- Apple Cider Bourbon Jello Shots
- Champagne Jello Shots
Mojito Jello Shots
ingredients
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 15-20 leaves fresh mint plus more for garnish
- ½ cup lime juice
- 2 envelopes powdered gelatin 5 ½ teaspoons
- ¾ cup light rum
- 4 pieces lime gummy candy cut into 4 pieces, for garnish (optional)
- 2 teaspoons sanding sugar for garnish (optional)
instructions
- Prepare molds. Spray them lightly with cooking spray and use a paper towel to wipe away any excess, leaving a very light coating.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, water and mint. Stir until sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Remove from heat. Discard mint leaves.
- Add the lime juice to a medium bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over top and allow to rest for 5 minutes until gelatin is softened and the liquid’s surface appears slightly wrinkled.
- Stir the lime-gelatin mixture into the warm sugar water. Warm again over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Do not let boil.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the rum.
- Distribute the liquid evenly among the molds. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving.
- Garnish with sanding sugar and/or lime gummy candy just before serving. Store in the fridge and enjoy within 2-3 days. They can be made ahead, but not too far in advance. Jello shots do not freeze well.
notes
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pam (Grey is the New Black) says
Pinned!!! I would love it if you would link this up to Tipsy Tuesday at Grey is the New Black. It’s a link up that runs every Tuesday featuring all things alcohol!
Jessica says
Thank you so much for this! I tried a recipe from a different website twice that had me stir the gelatin directly into the sugar/water mixture, and it didn’t work either time. I was very relieved to find a method that worked in time for my party! 😀
Susannah says
So glad it worked for you, Jessica!