In Case You Haven’t Heard, Jell-O Shots Are Cool Again
The whimsical, party-ready treats have gotten a serious upgrade.
Hugo Yu
They say what’s old is new again, and that’s certainly true of Jell-O.
The beloved gelatin brand has adapted to the times. Earlier this year, it launched Jell-O Simply, a line of products made without artificial sweeteners or dyes.
And meanwhile, Jell-O shots have been reclaiming their place at parties — but not quite the way you remember. They've broken out of those little plastic containers, and the flavors go far beyond mixes. People are now making layered, cocktail-inspired versions, jellies in the shape of fruit and even including real fruit.
Why are Jell-O shots popular now?
Oatly included a matcha Jell-O shot recipe in its 2026 lookbook — a snapshot of drink culture today — citing “conscious indulgence” and “jelly” as relevant trends. In other words, consumers are paying attention to what they're eating and want to make their little treats feel worthwhile.
Jell-O shots are perfect for that. They're fun and flashy, and no one consumes a Jell-O shot alone. When you bring a tray to a party, it’s a communal experience.
“It’s designed around sharing, and that’s sort of the joy in it,” Jack Schramm, cofounder of Brooklyn-based Solid Wiggles, tells Food Network.
Part of that joy is Jell-O's aesthetic appeal. These days, consumers want things that are beautiful, novel and surprising. And in the case of Solid Wiggles, which specializes in visually stunning, cocktail-inspired jellies, the cofounders say they’re tapping into some... uh, forbidden desires, too.
“Maybe your grandmother had a glass paperweight that you always kind of wanted to lick,” cofounder Jena Derman says. “It’s a little bit like, ‘Oh, you’ve always wanted to eat that fancy soap? Well, now we are giving you an option.’”
“You get to go to the museum and lick the paintings,” Schramm adds.
And, at the end of the day, Jell-O is just plain fun. Who doesn't want more of that?
Hugo Yu
Where did Jell-O shots come from?
Jell-O shots' popularity isn't new; it's just a new wave.
Personally, when I think of Jell-O, I think of flipping through my grandma’s copy of the ’60s General Mills classic, “Joys of Jell-O” and giggling at recipes that are, at turns, charming and horrifying. (Jell-O Barbecue Salad, anyone?) But even in 1963, gelatin treats were old-school.
"Jell-O Gelatin first grandly shimmered its way into American dining rooms in 1897," the introduction reads. "Since then, this wonderfully light, wholesome dessert with its luscious fresh fruit taste has grown to an exciting array of refreshing flavors and become America's all-time family favorite."
And, according to Schramm, gelatin recipes are signifcantly older than that.
"There's published recipes for collagen gelatin-based, wine-flavored gels — things that are set, flavored with wine — dating back to the Middle Ages," he says. "These recipes and these ideas of booze-flavored jellies are not new at all, it's just sort of a new package and drawing influences from different places."
Today, it seems like the nostalgia for Jell-O shots is driven not just by the style of the '60s and '70s, but by the house parties of the 2000s.
“I do think that we will have things in fashion and in food, or in popular culture, almost kind of like this, just kind of keep coming back," Derman says. "It’s not retro once. It’s like when Mercury goes retrograde. It’s like Jell-O is retrograde. Every once in a while, it’s just gonna come back, like big pants coming back.”
How do you make Jell-O shots at home?
Feeling inspired? Before you whip up your own batch of cocktail jellies, take a look at our guide on how to get them just right.
How to Make Jell-O Shots
Here, how to make Jell-O shots according to our test kitchen’s trained chefs. Including how to neatly pour Jell-O shots, how to transfer them to the fridge without spilling and how to make Jell-O shots ahead of time.
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