Basic Jello Shots Recipe	Classic Rock Jello Shots	Pina Colada Jello Shots	Margarita Jello Shots	More variations	Tips & Tricks
JELLO SHOT TIPS
In order to make these Jello shots thick enough that you can pick them up and eat them with your fingers, you are using less water than the package recommends.  This means that if you quickly dump the Knox gelatin into the boiling water, the Knox gelatin is likely to clump rather than dissolving completely.  The Jello has sugar and flavoring added, so it is less likely to clump than the unflavored, unsweetened Knox gelatin.  To avoid clumping entirely, I recommend pouring the two packages of Jello and then the Knox gelatin into a clean, dry glass. Stir the Knox gelatin into the Jello.  When the water boils, slowly  stir in the Jello/Knox gelatin mixture. If you use a Pyrex mixing bowl, you can easily see that all of the gelatin, including what's on the bottom, has dissolved. If you add the alcohol to the boiling hot Jello and water mixture, all the alcohol will just evaporate because alcohol has a lower boiling point than water.  Be sure to allow the Jello/Knox/water mixture to cool to about room temperature before adding the alcohol.  About 20 minutes in the freezer usually cools it sufficiently, but be careful!  If you leave it in the freezer for 30 minutes, it'll be too late to add the alcohol, and you'll be stuck with a rubbery mess that resembles Jello-flavored latex.  Be very careful never to allow Jello to freeze. If you put the Jello in the freezer to cool it prior to molding, place a hotpad underneath the bowl of Jello. Otherwise, the bowl's contact with the floor of your freezer will chill the bottom of the bowl quicker than the rest. You'll end up with solidified Jello at the bottom of the bowl while the rest is still liquid. Want to speed up the cooling process?  Keep the pan and the alcohol in the freezer until you're ready to use them. Be sure to clean up spills quickly. No matter how careful you are, there will be spills. Clean them up quickly, because liquid Jello is much easier to wipe up than Jello that has solidified to a countertop, a floor, your cat, etc.