Want a fun and unique way to serve margaritas at your next party? Make Homemade Margarita Jello Shots! They have all of the natural flavors with none of the artificial ingredients.
It's party recipe time and these Homemade Margarita Jello Shots are bursting with the fresh taste of lime and tequila! Okay, maybe the tequila's not so fresh tasting. Actually you can hardly tell any liquor is in these jello shots and they kind of taste just like a dessert. #dangerous
An all-Natural Margarita Jello Shots Recipe
True confession: I haven't made alcoholic jelly shots since college. Back then, I used the good old package of Jell-O, with all it's artificial flavorings and a bunch of other stuff that I can't even pronounce. I also didn't read nutritional labels at that time either...
One of the most unique jello recipes
Older and hopefully smarter now, I decided to make my own natural version of the best jello shot recipe ever, WITHOUT the packaged Jell-O mix, when it was time to party down for my birthday last week.
Armed with a beautiful bottle of tequila a friend of mine gave me as an early birthday treat, I set about researching a recipe for margarita jello shots and came across this one. I LOVED the idea of using a lime peel as a "cup" to hold the jello, so I adapted the recipe slightly and made them for the party.
How to make jello shots without plastic cups!
Using the rind of a citrus fruit as a cup is such an adorable way to present tequila jello shots for a party and it's totally Eco-friendly. Here's how to do it:
- Cut the limes in half and squeeze out all the juice (reserve the juice for the recipe)
- Turn each lime halves inside out and easily peel or scoop out the pulpy insides
- Place the hollowed out lime halves on a serving platter and carefully fill with the prepared margarita jello mixture
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill until filling is firm
- TIP: The white pith inside the rind will make the jello taste bitter if left inside the hollowed out lime shells for too long. To avoid this, consume the shots within a 24 hour period OR you can totally forgo all lime rind cup cuteness and just pour the mixture into a small baking pan, allow it to set up, then cut the jello into small squares. Not as cute, but just as tasty!
Everyone loved these homemade margarita jello shots (even the people there who said they don't like tequila...WHAT?!?!? WHO DOESN'T"T LIKE TEQUILA!!!) and the jello looked so cute in the hollowed out lime rinds. Once cut, they looked just like wedges of a fresh lime! I'll definitely be making these again for our next summer BBQ party...or for the next taco fiesta.
Try these Homemade Margarita Jello Shots the next time you need a tequila recipe for your next cookout, party, or for whenever you want to eat jello and have a margarita at the same time.
Homemade Margarita Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 12 whole limes
- ¾ cup water
- 2 envelopes unflavored plain gelatin
- ½ cup all-natural frozen limeade concentrate (homemade or store bought, thawed)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 cup tequila
- 1 tablespoon salt (I used pink himalayan salt)
Optional: 1 drop of green food coloring
Instructions
- Wash and dry the limes. Cut each lime in half and squeeze all the juice out. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the lime juice and store the remaining juice, covered, in the refrigerator to use for another time. Turn the lime halves inside out to easily peel or scoop out the pulpy insides and set aside.
- Add the water to a medium saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it sit for a few minutes until it dissolves.
- Heat the water over low heat and stir until the gelatin has fully dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the limeade concentrate and fresh lime juice. Allow to cool down a little more and then add the tequila.
- **Optional: To make the lime jello a green color, add 1 drop of green food coloring to the liquid mixture at this time and mix well.
- Place the lime shell halves on a plate and evenly pour the mixture into them, being careful not to tip them over. Cover and place in the refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
- To serve: Remove the jello limes from the refrigerator and cut in half. Sprinkle with the salt and serve immediately. CHEERS!
Recipe Notes & Tips:
Adapted from a recipe by Baked Bree
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
It's been quite a while since I've had a jello shot too. What a festive way to celebrate your birthday! These would be dangerous to have around me because I love a margarita in any form! Great video too, K!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
These are so fun! How clever to use the lime peel as the container! Jello Shots - Here I come!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I have not done jello shots since college either, and I can guarantee they weren't as beautiful and natural as these!! I am loving this. Such a cute idea to use the lime!! Now, I just need a party!
GiGi Eats
HOW FRIGGIN' SEXY ARE THESE!!! But seriously. I love lime. I can drink tequila. Looks like I am going to be getting DRUNK AFFFFF! My husband will be thanking you. hahahahhaahah!
Milena | Craft Beering
So very creative! I wish I could eat them:) My turn to confess - cannot eat jello, terrine or larger pasta (like seashells or penne). Gagging reflex kicks in. So I need to stick to lick the salt, shoot the tequila and sink the teeth into the lime wedge. I'm pretty good at that though:) Especially if I find myself at sea level. I can even run faster and longer at sea level:) But these look aweesoome. Song in the video is super cool!
Thao @ In Good Flavor
These are cutest jello shots I have ever seen!! And the fact that they are made without all of the artificial ingredients is an added bonus! I'm totally going to borrow this idea the next time I get together my jello-shots-loving friends. Thanks Karrie!!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
What an excellent idea to serve jello in thr fruit cups. It's cute, cool, and fresh - perfect for summer parties. But you know what's my favorite part about this dessert? You don't need to do the dishes once you've done with jello. How cool is that?:)
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices
So so fun! And I love your video! That song gets you going . Never made (or had) shots (I know, college or university time in Italy was not as exciting!) but I am loving how easy it is. They are the perfect boozy shot for a summer party. They look beautiful in the lime wedges!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
OMG - I haven't had a shot since university too. I can't do shots anymore. Nope, won't. Can't. That stuff will put D straight on her butt. A little ol' Jello shot don't seem too bad, though...I may have to make an exception. These are absolutely adorable! Love that you served them in a lime wedge!! How in the world did you ever get them so clean? So cute for parties!! xoxo