One of my favorite jobs was working in a Tex Mex restaurant in Atlanta. We had so much fun! We were always busy, but the busiest time of the year was the week leading up to Cinco de Mayo. We would close off the parking lot on May 5th and have a huge party. One year, I made almost $600 in tips in one night when I worked the beer barrel station!
One of the most popular recipes we served during that time were margarita jello shots. We would make hundreds of them in the few days leading up to Cinco de Mayo. The cocktail servers would walk through the parking lot and restaurant with trays of the jello shots. They always sold out before we closed the doors for the night.
I have since made my own with my Top Shelf Lime Margarita Jello Shots Recipe. It is so easy and amazingly tasty! These take about 10 minutes to make from start to getting them in the fridge. They set up in just an hour or two, so they can be ready quickly. And they are great when paired with my White Pork Enchiladas With A Creamy Green Sauce! Whether it is for Cinco de Mayo, a summer BBQ or Taco Tuesday, this Top Shelf Lime Margarita Jello Shots Recipe is sure to be a huge hit!
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin powder (equal to 1 tablespoon)
- ½ teaspoon lime Jello
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 cup sour mix
- 1/2 cup lime juice, reserve ¼ cup for salting the rims of the cups.
- 1/2 cup tequila
- 1/2 cup Orange Liqueur like Cointreau or Patron Citronge
- Lime slices and salt for garnish
- 10 3-ounce plastic cups with lids
Step 1: In a small mixing bowl, add cold water. Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the water and soak the powder for 2 minutes.
Step 2: Add lime jello to the bowl
Step 3: Add the sugar
Step 4: Pour the hot water into the bowl.
Step 5: Add sour mix, tequila, liqueur, and lime juice. Stir to combine. For virgin shots, leave out tequila and liqueur.
Step 6: Add food coloring if desired.
Step 7: Give everything a good whisking!
Step 8: Pour remaining lime juice into a shallow dish. Pour salt into a similar dish. Dip the rim of each cup into the lime juice and the into the salt. Pour the mixture into the cups, filling them 3/4 full. Refrigerate until set, which is between 60-90 minutes. When you are ready to serve the shots, remove from the fridge and top with a small lime wedge.
Ingredients
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin powder (equal to 1 tablespoon)
- ½ teaspoon lime Jello
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 cup sour mix
- 1/2 cup lime juice, reserve ¼ cup for salting the rims of the cups.
- 1/2 cup tequila
- 1/2 cup Orange Liqueur like Cointreau or Patron Citronge
- Lime slices and salt for garnish
- 10 3-ounce plastic cups with lids
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add cold water. Sprinkle the gelatin powder over the water and soak the powder for 2 minutes.
- Add lime jello to the bowl
- Add the sugar
- Pour the hot water into the bowl.
- Whisk until everything is dissolved.
- Add lime juice, sour mix, tequila and liqueur. Stir to combine. For virgin shots, leave out tequila and liqueur.
- Add food coloring if desired.
- Pour remaining lime juice into a shallow dish. Pour salt into a similar dish. Dip the rim of each cup into the lime juice and the into the salt.
- Pour the mixture into the cups, filling them 3/4 full. Refrigerate until set, which is between 60-90 minutes.
- When you are ready to serve the shots, remove from the fridge and top with a small lime wedge.
Have you had a jello shot before? What flavor was it? What did you think? I would love to hear!
Natalie Allen says
April 25, 2018 at 3:42 pmThat’s a great idea for a cinco de mayo party! Plus, it feels so good to have a cool jello shot at a hot party, no wonder these were very popular! Also- $600 in tips?! Daaaang!
Brittany says
April 25, 2018 at 6:51 pmUm, yes please! These look and sound amazing!!! Perfect for Taco Tuesday!!
mycraftingworld says
April 26, 2018 at 7:22 amYou make it sound so easy. I will have to get my sister to try it. Thank you.
Terri Beavers says
April 26, 2018 at 11:06 amMargaritas are the only beverage (alcoholic) that I like the taste of. My BFF is coming in from out of town this weekend and I bet she’d enjoy some of these and I know I will.
Chi says
April 26, 2018 at 12:30 pmI absolutely love margaritas and these look fabulous. My friends and I will definitely be making them this weekend.
Sara Welch says
April 26, 2018 at 2:21 pmThese look made to perfection! I would love to sip and enjoy one of these!
Genny says
April 27, 2018 at 2:07 amI need to pass this to my husband. He likes to made me drinks. So I think we can try this one next time ?
Berlin | Momi Berlin says
April 27, 2018 at 2:09 amI seldom drink. And I could count on my fingers rhe number of times ive drunk a margarita. Much so when i gave birth twice in three years time, i totally dropped the idea of drinking ever again. Its because i am breastfeeding. But i have this idea on my head thst by the time my boys would dislike my milk, i will party and drink for my freedom.
akhil mahi says
April 27, 2018 at 5:52 amLoved Lime juice.. I take everyday 2-3 glass, it refresh my mind
Sela says
April 27, 2018 at 2:10 pmThese drinks look so refreshing. Margaritas are my favorite alcoholic beverage. I will make the for my next girls meeting.
KC Puentespina says
April 27, 2018 at 5:10 pmI miss my college days where I can just lose myself partying on weekends. I miss my Margaritas most of all. ?
Ashlee | She Can Social says
April 27, 2018 at 10:47 pmOh my gosh, these look so yummy and so easy to make! Definitely a great idea, I’ll have to try them out for my next party!!
Sudipta says
April 27, 2018 at 10:57 pmHappy to come across your simple but amazing recipe. I am a teetotaler, but can surely serve these to guests.
Shraddha Tripathi says
April 28, 2018 at 8:17 amThis looks really great. I would love to try this and looks very simple and easy.
Nicole says
April 28, 2018 at 10:19 amThese look so yummy! The perfect summer time treat laying poolside getting some sun! Can’t wait to try it, thanks for sharing!
Becca Wilson says
April 29, 2018 at 12:32 pmThese look like they would taste amazing! I definitely need to make some of these for the next get together we have.
Paula Stewart says
April 29, 2018 at 6:57 pmI’m not a big drinker but these Jello Shots I would enjoy. I’ll have to give them a try.
fashionmommy says
May 1, 2018 at 4:39 amOh my! These look and sound amazing, I love Magherita, and these just look so attractive and decedent. A definite treat.