Cherry Bomb Jello Shot Recipe

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This cherry bomb Jello shot recipe is basically a flavor explosion on your mouth. The secret is the bold flavored alcohol varieties that transform boring cherry flavored Jello shots into something spectacular. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself! 

Cherry Bomb Jello Shot Recipe in a baking tray with toppings

Cherry Bomb Jello Shot Recipe

One think I love about this cherry bomb Jello shot recipe is how easy it is to make. No fussing over different Jello layers, yet you still end up with a super fancy looking shot in the end.

And who doesn’t love drinks topped with maraschino cherries? 

When to Serve These Cherry Bomb Jello Shots

If you’re like me then you’re always looking for an occasion to try out new drink recipes. Not every occasion is right for Jello shots, and the type of shot you serve will also depend on the event or season.

Cherries, to me anyway, will always be a summer food. Anything cherry flavor also means summer, and that’s definitely the season I’d be serving up this Jello shot recipe

With just a few simple ingredients, these sweet shots aren’t too heavy so they’re perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. 

Why Are These Called Cherry Bomb Shots?

At first glance, these cherry bomb shots just look like ordinary cherry Jello shots that have been topped with cherries and whipped cream. But look closer – there’s actually an additional maraschino cherry that’s been set right into the Jello. 

Make sure you let your guests know there’s food inside before they take the shot to make sure no one accidentally chokes on the cherry “surprise”. 

Cherry Bomb Jello Shot Ingredients

Cherry Bomb Jello Shot Recipe ingredients

Nothing crazy goes into this recipe, and you might even have most of the ingredients at home already.

For the base, you’ll need two 3oz boxes of cherry Jello. We used sugar free to help tone down the sweetness, but regular Jello will work too. You’ll also be dropping a maraschino cherry into each shot (10 total); make sure to remove the stems first.

There are two types of alcohol:

The first is Maraschino Originale, which if you’re not familiar with is an alcohol made from maraschino cherries. It’s a staple for a lot of cocktail recipes and delicious on its own, so don’t be afraid to add a full bottle to your home bar.

Second, whipped cream flavored vodka balances out the cherry taste with a creamy flavor. Pinnacle and Smirnoff both make great whipped cream vodkas. 

Finally, you’ll also need additional maraschino cherries, whipped cream, and gold sprinkles for garnish.

Cherry Bomb Jello Shots

Cherry Bomb Jello Shots

Yield: 10-2oz servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2-3 oz Box Cherry Jello
  • 1 C boiling water
  • ¾ C cold Maraschino Originale
  • ¼ C Whipped Cream Vodka
  • 10 Maraschino Cherries, stems removed
  • Gold Sprinkles
  • 10 - 2oz condiment togo containers with lids
  • Whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Add the jello in a bowl and pour in the boiling water. Whisk to dissolve the jello.
  2. Allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the maraschino originale and whipped cream vodka.
  4. Pour 1.5 oz into the condiment containers
  5. Sprinkle a few gold sprinkles into the containers
  6. Place a maraschino into the containers
  7. Place into the fridge for a few hours or until the jello is set.
  8. Top with whipped cream, gold sprinkles and a maraschino cherry.


Enjoy!

How Long Will This Take to Set?

Jello shots typically set in 2-3 hours, but this particular recipe will need extra time because of the cherry inside. Anytime you have fruit suspended in Jello (alcoholic or not), it needs an extra hour or two in the fridge. 

Cherry jello shots with whipped cream topping and maraschino cherries

How to Make These Jello Shots With 6oz Jello Packs

Since this recipe calls for two 3oz Jello packages you can easily substitute them with a single 6oz pack instead. Nothing else about the recipe will change. 

If you want to double the recipe, use two 6oz packs of Jello and then double all the other ingredients. 

What do Maraschino Cherries Taste Like?

Most people agree that maraschino cherries taste good, at least when part of a cocktail or alcoholic drink. They do have a cherry flavor to them, but one that’s ultra sweet because maraschino cherries have been soaked in sugar. 

While traditionally soaked in maraschino liqueur, a lot of store bought maraschino cherries are suspended in a high fructose corn syrup solution. That gives them a candy-like quality that enhances the flavor of sweet shots like this one.

Some people don’t like maraschino cherries, so keep that in mind when preparing drinks that include them.

How to Serve a Non-Alcoholic Cherry Shot

You can definitely make this recipe without alcohol. Simply replace the ¼ of whipped cream vodka with regular whipping cream. Then sub the other ¾ cup of booze with regular water. 

The whipping cream will add a natural sweetness to the Jello shot, but you still may want to use full sugar Jello especially when making the recipe as a fun dessert for kids. 

Important:

  1. The Jello shot may come out a different color from the whipped cream.
  2.  Maraschino cherries in general present a choking hazard for kids, especially the one that’s set inside the gelatine.

Can I Make These Without the Cherry Inside? 

Part of the fun is of these “cherry bomb” Jello shots is the cherry in the middle, but you can remove it if you’d like. 

Just follow the directions normally but omit the part where you add the maraschino cherry. The only thing that will change is that your Jello will probably set a bit quicker.

Other Serving Ideas

  • Turn them into a 4th of July shot by swapping the gold sprinkles for blue and adding American flag food picks to your shots
  • Make it a true “explosion” by serving these shots with lit sparklers stuck in
  • Satisfy your sweet tooth by swapping the cherries used for garnish with cherry candies

Can I Substitute the Alcohol in This Recipe?

The flavored alcohols used to make this cherry bombo Jello shot recipe were chosen intentionally for the way their taste profiles interact with each other and the other ingredients. For that reason, substituting alcohol isn’t recommended.

If you can’t get Maraschino Originale brand, you can replace it with another maraschino cherry liqueur. 

Swapping the alcohol for a completely different variety will change the flavor (see below.) 

Alcohol Substitution: Can I Make Cherry Bomb Shots With Fireball?

Fireball has a cinnamon flavor, which completely changes the taste of the drink. That spice would definitely liven up this Jello shot and transform the sweet flavor into a spicy taste explosion.

If you want to add Fireball, you can swap some of the Maraschino Originale (¼ would probably be good so it doesn’t overpower) with Fireball Whiskey. 

This swap will definitely change the flavor, so do a test of that combination before you serve it to your guests to be sure. 

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