Baileys Jello Shots
I love to serve these Bailey’s Jello shots for St. Patrick’s Day because they are creamy, delicious, and fun to eat. These are my favorite boozy treats at parties, regardless of the holiday. I also like how cute they are and that making them takes only 30 minutes with just five ingredients.
The flavor is a mixture of coffee and Irish cream and is completely irresistible. I love the idea that they can be served as dessert and as a cocktail at the same time. Bonus points for being able to make them in advance, as they need to chill anyway! In the meantime, sip on this delightful Baileys Affocato.
Table of contents
Bailey’s Jello Shots are adorable, coffee-flavored alcoholic treats that will quickly get your St. Patrick’s Day party going. They are a fun way to serve a cocktail! Besides being boozy and delicious, these two-layered shots will also steal the show. They are topped with whipped cream swirls and finished with chocolate sprinkles, making them look as fabulous as they taste!
Why you will love this recipe
- They are so fast to make: In less than 30 minutes, I can have these chilling for party time. Remember, they have to chill for several hours, so ensure they are ahead of time.
- There are just a few ingredients: I only need four ingredients and some Baileys Irish Cream to make these delicious shots. I can make 36 servings for less than three bucks.
- They’re not just for St. Patrick’s Day: These are so cute and taste amazing that I can serve them anytime. I love serving them during Christmas because I have so many holiday parties.
- It is an easy recipe: Anyone making coffee should have no problem making these.
What you will need
- Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur – I love using this to make shots because of its smooth and creamy texture and sweet chocolatey flavor.
- Hot coffee – For a burst of intense coffee flavor and caffeine.
- Unflavored gelatin – I use unflavored gelatin so the other flavors can shine through.
- White granulated sugar – To make the coffee flavor sweeter without overwhelming it.
- Vanilla extract – This is my secret ingredient. I add it to give these shots an extra boost of rich flavor and make them stand out from other Jello shots. Be sure to get pure vanilla extract. Artificial flavoring can leave a bitter aftertaste.
How to make
Line the pan: First, I line a 9×9-inch pan with plastic wrap.
Make the coffee layer: I mix the hot coffee and sugar in a medium bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Then, I whisk in two packs of the gelatin until dissolved and stir in the vanilla extract. I pour that into the pan and chill it for at least one hour or until firm.
Make the Baileys layer: I poke holes in the coffee layer with a wood skewer. Then, I heat one cup of Baileys in a bowl in the microwave for one to two minutes until it simmers. I whisk in the gelatin until it dissolves and let it cool before pouring it onto the coffee gelatin layer.
Slice the squares and serve: After the mixture has cooled for at least two hours or until it is completely firm, I remove the whole thing from the pan and slice it into squares before serving the jello shots.
More Baileys Recipes:
Expert tip
Booze and caffeine in one treat
One of my favorite things about these party favors is that they contain both booze and caffeine. Alcohol can make me sleepy, and the caffeine gives me an extra boost to stay awake. It is the perfect way to get tipsy without feeling too boozy. However, for some, it can be a problem if they want to indulge in the alcohol treats without the caffeine or vice versa.
For those people, I have a solution. Of course, it is just as simple as using decaffeinated coffee for those who cannot have caffeine. However, for those who cannot drink alcohol but still want to fit in and have fun, it can be more difficult. There are a few non-alcoholic caramel cream beverages but the only one I have ever tried is Twisst. It is a rich and creamy no-alcohol cocktail (mocktail) that tastes almost exactly the same.
More tips to consider
- Do not rush the chilling process. The bottom layer must be completely set before pouring on the top layer, or they will mix together and ruin the effect.
- Also, make sure the Irish cream gelatin is cool before pouring it onto the coffee layer so it does not melt.
- These can also be made in shot glasses or small plastic shot cups.
- Another way to make them is with cookie-cutter shapes like circles or hearts.
- Freezing is not recommended. Ice chunks in the mix can make them crunchy, and the texture will not be the same.
- Although it would take quite a few of these shots to get someone intoxicated, it is essential to note that they do contain alcohol. They are not for children!
Recipe variations and add-ins:
- Other flavors: Sometimes, I use flavored gelatin instead of plain gelatin. Some of my favorite flavors are blackberry, orange, and lemon.
- Add more liquor: Another way to jazz up these shots is with some more booze. I like to add ½ cups of fireball whiskey for a burst of cinnamon flavor that really spices things up. Other flavors include orange liqueur, peppermint schnapps, vanilla vodka, and crème de menthe.
- Make it creamier: Instead of gelatin, use chocolate pudding and make these seriously creamy and chocolatey dessert shots. I love these!
- Spicy hot: When I know I have guests coming who like spicy stuff, I always add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the mix for an extra kick.
- Decaffeinated: For those who cannot have caffeine, go ahead and use decaffeinated. The flavor will still be the same.
Serving suggestions:
When I have a large party with friends who drink, I also serve other shots like my easy, colorful Jello shots. Made with only two ingredients, I can choose what flavors I want to serve.
Another adult drink I like serving with these is my grown-up Baileys s’mores milkshake. This is almost like a dessert rather than a cocktail with chocolate ice cream, marshmallow fluff, and whipped cream on top.
It is always good to serve food with alcoholic treats like these. I usually have various appetizers and snacks such as chips, dip, and wings. When I serve these for St. Patrick’s Day, I often start with my favorite Irish meal. This easy instant pot corned beef and cabbage is tender, delicious, and done more quickly than the traditional way.
To give these more of a festive St. Patrick’s Day vibe, I leave out the coffee and use clear alcohol with some green gel food color. Then, I serve it alongside some of my green treats like this decadent mint chocolate chip fudge. It has a chewy brownie layer on the bottom and yummy chocolate chips on top.
How to store leftovers:
- Freezing: I do not recommend freezing these because they will become runny, and the texture will be crunchy.
- Refrigerate: These shots are only good for about 24 to 36 hours. After that, they start to shrivel and turn watery. If I am making them ahead of time, I put them in small plastic disposable gelatin shot cups to keep them in the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
The most common reason for this is too much alcohol. Having too much liquid of any kind will prevent the gelatin from setting properly. Be sure to measure carefully so the gelatin-to-liquid ratio is exact. Another problem could be that the gelatin was not completely dissolved. It has to dissolve entirely so it can set. Then, it must chill for the proper time to set completely.
If the coffee mixture was not completely set before pouring the Baileys mixture on top, the two will likely run into each other and blend, ruining the crisp edges. However, the Jello shots will still taste delicious after setting. The colors may look fabulous in a tie-dyed effect. This can also happen if the Baileys mixture is still hot when poured onto the coffee mixture. Let it cool first.
This happens if too much gelatin is added or not enough liquid, which is basically the same thing. In my recipe, I call for a certain number of packets. However, it could be a measuring error for those using gelatin in bulk and measuring it. Always measure carefully and do it twice to be sure. To fix this, add more liquid (Baileys or coffee) and heat it up. Then, let it set again.
More St. Patrick’s Day recipes to try:
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Baileys Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 750 ml Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur 1 bottle
- 2 cups hot coffee or espresso
- 5 packets unflavored gelatin divided
- 4 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish:
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a 9X9 inch baking dish with plastic wrap.
- Add the hot coffee and sugar to a medium bowl, whisk to dissolve the sugar.
- Add 2 packets of gelatin mixture and whisk to make sure there are no clumps.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the coffee mixture into the prepared pan and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm.
- Using a wooden skewer poke holes in the surface of the coffee gelatin layer.
- Heat 1 cup of Baileys Irish Cream in a microwave-safe bowl until it almost simmers, then whisk in 3 packets of unflavored gelatin, until dissolved, and making sure there are no clumps.
- Whisk in the remaining Baileys into the mixture and pour the mixture over the coffee gelatin layer. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until completely firm.
- To cut and serve, gently lift the entire sheet of gelatin out of the pan using the edges of the plastic wrap.
- Cut into 36 smaller or 24 larger squares. Top with small dollops of whipped cream and garnish with chocolate sprinkles on some and shaved chocolate.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.