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These Floating Eyeball Jello Shots are very simple but are still some of my favorite Halloween treats! They’re just so…wait for it…eye-catching! (groan)
I like to think that we have an unspoken understanding, you and I. Sometimes I’ll post long recipes with a lot of fiddly steps, and you probably read these while muttering to yourself, “Yeah, like I really have time to make that. I have a life, thank you, unlike some food bloggers I could name.” And then, to make up for it, sometimes I’ll post fast, easy recipes with minimal ingredients and prepwork. “Aaaaah,” you think, “that’s much better. Finally a dessert that normal people want to make!”
I hear ya, friends! And you’re right…I don’t have a life. Soooo anyhow, fresh on the heels of the Spiderweb Naked Red Velvet Cake, I bring you Floating Eyeball Jell-o Shots! Perfect for the mad scientist who has everything.
They may be simple, but these are still some of my favorite Halloween treats I’ve made this season. They’re just so…wait for it…eye-catching! (groan) How often do you see eyeballs suspended in anything, much less dessert? That is what our lives have been missing, I think.
These little desserts couldn’t be easier. I used a mixture of white grape juice and ginger ale, because I love that flavor combination, but you can substitute another clear-ish soda of your choice, or use all white grape juice. The juice looked amber in the bottle, and I worried that my little cups would be yellowish and cloudy, but somehow when it’s poured in small quantities it looks nearly clear. It’s like magic!
I wanted to keep these kid-appropriate, so there’s no actual alcohol in the Jell-o “shots” (sorry for the false advertising!) but you could certainly add a glug of your favorite spirit for a more adult treat.
The eyeballs are gummy cupcake toppers from Wilton’s (purchased at Target). I couldn’t find the exact product I used online, but any sort of gummy candy should work. In a pinch, foil-wrapped chocolate eyeballs will work too, although those aren’t nearly as fun because you need to be careful when eating them, and you can’t just pop them into your mouth with a spoonful of Jell-o. You’ll want to avoid any sort of gumball/sugar eyeball situation, because the moisture will cause it to start disintegrating almost immediately. (Ask me how I know.) If you’re unsure whether your eyeballs will work, give them a test soak in a cup of water for 30-40 minutes to see if they hold up before going to the trouble of making the Jell-o shots.
I used regular shot glasses, which made them the perfect serving size for a party dessert. A half-dozen bites, and then you’re on to the next treat! You can definitely make them larger, but I don’t know many adults who want a large bowl of Jell-o, so I kept mine petite. If you really want to get realistic, there are some very cute “scientific” shot glass sets available online, like these laboratory shot glasses, these beaker shot glasses, and these Erlenmeyer flask shot glasses.
Have a great weekend! EYE will SEE you in a few days with another Halloween recipe! (Sorry, sorry…I’m done now.)
🕷🎃👻More Fun Halloween Recipes
- Witch’s Brew Halloween Punch
- Bloody Truffles
- Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes
- Melting Chocolate Skulls
- Donut Hole Eyeballs
- Slice & Bake Halloween Sugar Cookies
Zombie Brain Brownie Bites
Red Velvet Marshmallow Spiderweb Cake
Floating Eyeball Jello Shots
Ingredients
- 2 cups chilled white grape juice, divided use
- .5 oz unflavored powdered gelatin, 2 envelopes
- 1 cup ginger ale, or other clear-ish soda, chilled
- 16-24 gummy eyeballs
Instructions
- Place 1/2 cup of grape juice in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin on top and whisk it in. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes so the gelatin softens and absorbs some of the juice. Microwave the bowl for 20 seconds to liquefy the gelatin. If it’s not fully liquid and clear after 20 seconds, microwave in 5-second increments just until melted. You don’t want the gelatin mixture to get hot.
- Combine the remaining grape juice and the ginger ale in a large measuring cup or pitcher with a spout. Whisk them together, then continue gently whisking as you pour the gelatin in. Pour the juice into 16 shot glasses, leaving a margin at the top since you’ll be adding eyeballs later.
- Refrigerate the shot glasses for about 30 minutes—check their texture every 10 minutes. You want the gelatin to start getting thick, like cake batter texture. It shouldn’t be set and firm, but it should be thick enough to suspend an eyeball in the middle of the glass. Depending on the temperature of your ingredients and your refrigerator, this process can take anywhere from 30-50 minutes. Just check the glasses regularly and don’t be afraid to check the texture with a spoon or with your finger.
- When the gelatin is thick enough, press an eyeball into the middle of the shot glass. You can use a thin knife or spatula to push it down into the gelatin, or just use your finger. Try to position it against the front glass, so it shows through clearly. Add a second eyeball, if you’d like. Continue until all of the shot glasses have floating eyeballs.
- Chill the glasses until the gelatin is completely firm, about 2 hours. These Jell-o shots can be made several days in advance. In my experience, the gummy eyeballs did gradually absorb moisture, and were at their best within about 3 days of assembly.
MEASURING TIPS
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Click here to learn more about baking measurements and conversion.
I love these. I love, love, LOVE them! I mean come on! Why would you not want to drink something with eyeballs in it? It’s the only way to do it, I say. By the way, I totally laughed at that eye-catching joke.
Haha, right?! I’m pretty sure eyeball drinks are everyone’s favorite. And I’m so glad you share my (cheesy?) sense of humor. Thanks Amanda!
Elizabeth! These look spooky, they would be great for Halloween 😉 I just wanted to tell you that what I love most about your blog is your “difficult” recipes! Most blogs focus on fast and easy, but I actually love baking things that take a long time or have many steps! It’s just that the result looks much more impressive! Keep up the good work, your elaborate desserts are amazing!
Jessica, thank you so much! I really appreciate the feedback. I’ve basically built the blog on the philosophy of making things that I’m drawn to and that I personally like, but it’s so easy to second-guess yourself and try to make what you think other people want to see. That was kind of a nightmare of bad grammar, but I think you get the idea. It’s so lovely to hear that there are others who appreciate what I do and who share my love of complicated desserts. 🙂 Thank you again!
These are so darn cute! Perfect for Halloween!
Thanks Kristi!
Omg, I cannot tell you how loud the snort was that I let out when I read “eye catching” I’m such a sucker for puns. Especially when I don’t SEE them coming. Haha!
These are so ridiculously clever and amazing. It’s like every post I see you do I just want to quit blogging. I love the ideas and I love the floating eyeballs in jello, I don’t care how insanely creepy it would be to serve, let alone eat them.
Halloween at your house!
I’m so glad to know that you share my totally cringe-inducing sense of humor…er, I mean, my totally hilarious and not at all cheesy love of puns!
You had better not quit, who else will provide us with awesome pumpkin bone cookies? Come on over, I’ll provide the eyeballs if you bring the bones.
These look so cool! What a brilliant idea!
Thank you, Medeja!
Wow, those look so cool! Never would have thought to try to make those candies at home. I bet they’re miles better than store-bought too.
And don’t worry about the recipes! Cake is life. 😀
Whoops, i mean…ugh. Didn’t read the recipe :'(
Haha, no worries! Reading the recipe is totally optional (unless you’re going to make it…I recommend reading the recipe then.) Maybe next Halloween I’ll tackle homemade gummy eyeballs. Thanks June!
These are fantastic! I love the idea, especially for a party. Since gummy eyeballs are a bit harder for me to get here in Germany, I’ll try my luck in the Haribo gummy aisle. I think maybe even those gummy frogs could be whimsical.
Thanks a lot for the recipe!
-Aya
http://healthy-appetite.blogspot.de/
Yes, gummy frogs could look awesome! Even gummy worms would be cool, especially if you did them in a light amber or brown-colored liquid. Maybe with some Oreo “dirt” on top of the glass? You have access to the best Haribo stuff, I’m sure you’ll find something amazing!
Such a great recipe idea for Halloween! They look seriously cool!
Thanks so much, Jess!
These are absolutely adorable! I’m having friends over on Halloween, and have to try these. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome, do it! I think the hardest part might be finding the gummy eyeballs–my Target is sold out by now. 🙁 Let me know how it goes! Happy Halloween!
LOL! What a fun little recipe! I can imagine my girls fishing out those eyeballs. And BTW I love your long multi-step recipes too!
Can’t wait to try out this one at home!
Thanks, Tiffany! I guess there’s a time and a place for both easy and complex, huh? I’d love to know how it goes if you give it a try!
These are so gross in such a perfect way!I don’t even think I could eat them, but I’d sure like to set them out and watch everyone else get a kick out of them!
Making other people squirm with food is half the fun of Halloween! Thanks Sara. 🙂
Oh my goodness! These are so so cute!
Thanks, Heather!
10/10 Halloween work, my friend! Or should I say… 20/20. We should hang out and see who can make whom (#whenenglishmajorsleavecomments) roll her eyes first. xoxo
Ha! I love everything about your cheesy puns and your impeccable grammar. Marry me! (Maeby voice)
These are the scariest | cutest things ever. Happy Halloween!
Thanks so much, Karen! Happy Halloween to you too! 🙂
Nice, these definitely look perfect for Halloween!
Definitely–when else is it socially acceptable to eat eyeballs?! 😉 Thank you!
How would you add vodka to this mix for an adult halloween party?
Hi I would like to know when and how much vodka you would add. Thanks. Sandy
Hi! How much you use is up to personal preference. I would probably start with substituting 1/2 cup of vodka for some of the grape juice that gets mixed in with the ginger ale. That’s a moderate buzz–if you want a stronger shot, you can substitute up to 3/4 of the juice for vodka. Enjoy!
How would you add vodka to this?
Hi Marisa! How much you use is up to personal preference. I would probably start with substituting 1/2 cup of vodka for some of the grape juice that gets mixed in with the ginger ale. That’s a moderate buzz–if you want a stronger shot, you can substitute up to 3/4 of the juice for vodka. Enjoy!