Tangy pink grapefruit juice makes incredibly “puckery” Pink Paloma Jello Shots that are fashioned after one of Mexico’s favorite libations.

PINK PALOMA JELLO SHOTS WITH GRAPEFRUIT SUGAR RIMS

Topped with “jiggly” stars or garnished with Grapefruit Rimming Sugar, my Pink Paloma Jello Shots are a true adult taste treat.

And how about a few fabulously festive ways to serve them too!  Don’t you just love the adorable “picks” I’ve created to tell your guests what they’re enjoying?  There’s three different designs you can use!  I’ll tell you how to download your own Pink Paloma picks a little later in this post.

Haven’t heard of the Paloma Cocktail before? Me neither, until I decided to do a post on fancy jello shots!  I’d been dying to try my hand at a homemade grapefruit gelatin, and this cocktail gave me the perfect reason to create a recipe.

Turns out, the Paloma is one of Mexico’s most popular libations, outranking the Margarita with the natives across our Southern border.  Who knew?

 

SO WHAT IS A PALOMA?

A Paloma is a refreshing and tangy cocktail that combines tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda. Its origin is a little sketchy, but it seems to date all the way back to the 1950’s.

While the traditional drink is made with grapefruit soda like Squirt, I longed for a pretty “pink” grapefruit gelatin shot.  That meant using real grapefruit juice to achieve a “Pink Paloma”.

While I called them “pink” for alliteration reasons, to achieve this gorgeous color you’ll need to use red grapefruit juice.  Please forgive me for the stretch in calling these Pink Palomas, it just sounds so lovely, doesn’t it?

Before attempting this recipe, I enjoyed the real cocktail at a little Mexican joint in a nearby locale. I was amazed that I’d never encountered a Paloma (or never noticed!) in my travels.  Although I’ve only been to Mexico once, and that was to swim with the dolphins on a single-day cruise excursion.  And we drank cerveza afterwards, not cocktails!

First, I’ll show you the shot glasses I ordered for the perfect jello shots.

 

SHOT GLASSES I USED FOR MY PINK PALOMA JELLO SHOTS

When I decided to make jello shots, I hopped on Amazon and found these great 3-ounce sized disposable shot glasses that are just perfect! 

They came in a pack of 250 and are nice and sturdy.

No, I won’t have to order any more for a very long time, but hopefully they’ll inspire me to do more “individual” portioned stuff!

Here’s the link if you’d like to check them out: 

PRECISELY PLASTIC SHOT GLASSES

 

 

 

 

HOW TO MAKE PINK PALOMA JELLO SHOTS

Turns out, it’s super simple to make a homemade grapefruit gelatin and turn it into fabulous Pink Paloma Jello Shots!

It’s most likely that the jello shots you’ve made or enjoyed in the past used a package of flavored gelatin mix.  There is no such thing as a grapefruit jello, but there is pineapple, apricot and watermelon!   Except that’s no problem when you use an unflavored gelatin like Knox and a flavorful juice.  

The method remains the same, except I decided I wanted to make my Pink Paloma Jello Shots a little sweeter.  While heating the water to boiling, I added a bit of sugar before dissolving the gelatin powder.  

Now lets talk about the fun stuff, how we’re going to serve our Pink Paloma Jello Shots to our guests!

 

PINK PALOMA JELLO SHOTS WITH GRAPEFRUIT SUGAR RIMS

This is such a simple way to adorn your Pink Paloma Jello Shots! 

You just combine grapefruit zest and sugar and whirl it around in a coffee grinder.

Just before serving, you’ll dip the jello shots into the Grapefruit Rimming Sugar, pop in a Pink Paloma pick and Voila!  You’ve got a fabulously festive Mexicali Summer treat for your favorite adults!

 

PINK PALOMA JELLO SHOTS – Jiggly Star Topped Jewels

Since the 4th of July is looming as I write this post, I decided to give a nod to the holiday too.  I poured some of the grapefruit gelatin into my silicone star mold and used them to garnish half my Pink Palomas.  They came out pretty nice, didn’t they?

Obviously, you can see where this can go, right?  How about doing themed-shapes for Halloween, Christmas or New Year’s?  Wow, there are so many possibilities!

 

HERE’S ANOTHER FESTIVE WAY TO CELEBRATE WITH JELLO SHOTS!

Here’s how I celebrated New Year’s Eve!

What a fabulously festive way to ring in the new year when you serve a tray full of CHAMPAGNE JELLO POSH SHOTS.

Obviously, just like grapefruit, there is no such thing as a champagne jello.  But as you’ve learned in the recipe for Pink Paloma Jello Shots, anything is possible!

If you’d like to check out these yummy adult party treats, clink the link below.

RELATED POST:  CHAMPAGNE JELLO POSH SHOTS

 

 

Now, would you like to find out how to get your hands on a set of those great Pink Paloma Pick signs?  

 

PINK PALOMA JELLO SHOTS WITH GRAPEFRUIT SUGAR RIMS

Want your copy of the PINK PALOMA PICK SIGN PDF, but you’re not on our list yet? 

Why not join in on the fun!

Fill out the form below and I’ll give you exclusive access to the printable as a thank you for joining the IFAFL Email Subscriber List.

As a Ingredients For A Fabulous Life Subscriber, you’ll also get instant access to the IFAFL Resource Library and receive our weekly emails.

What are you waiting for?  You don’t want to miss out on anything fabulous, do you? 

There’s always something fabulous happening here at Ingredients For A Fabulous Life, don’t you want to stay in the loop?  

And while you’re at it, come join the gang in our Facebook group and get in on the gabfest at, The Fab Life!  That’s where we show off our triumphs and share our pursuit of “the good life” with each other all week long.  

 

 

 

Pink Paloma Jello Shots with Grapefruit Sugar Rims

Yield: 16-20 shots

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Additional Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 18 minutes

Tangy pink grapefruit juice makes an incredibly "puckery" Pink Paloma Jello Shot that's one of Mexico's favorite libations. Top them with a "jiggly" star or garnish with Grapefruit Rimming Sugar for a true Mexicali adult taste treat.

Print

Ingredients

• GRAPEFRUIT GELATIN
• ½ cup water
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 oz. unflavored gelatin powder (2 pkts)
• 2 cups COLD fresh-pressed or bottled red grapefruit juice (pure juice)
• ¾ cup Tequila, chilled if possible
• GRAPEFRUIT RIMMING SUGAR
• Zest from 2 large pink grapefruits
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• SILICONE MOLD FOR GARNISH - Start, Flowers, etc
• 3 oz. plastic shot glasses

Instructions

GRAPEFRUIT GELATIN

1. Place water in small saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and stir until completely dissolved and bring to a boil.
2. Pour the boiling sugar water in a medium bowl.  Sprinkle gelatin powder over water and immediately whisk until gelatin is completely dissolved.
3. Add juice and tequila, stirring to combine. Pour mixture into a large glass measuring cup or a container with a spout.
4. Fill silicone mold with gelatin if using. Pour remaining mixture into shot glasses, filling at least 3/4 full.
5. Chill silicone mold and jello shots in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

GRAPEFRUIT RIMMING SUGAR

1. Preheat oven to 250°F. Place grapefruit zest in a thin layer on rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Place pan of zest in oven and TURN OVEN OFF. Let pan sit in oven for 30 minutes.
3. Combine dried zest and sugar in a clean coffee grinder or small food processor. Pulse 6-7 times, or until zest and sugar begin to combine. (they won't combine completely, so don't worry!)

ASSEMBLY & SERVING

1. Place a small ceramic or glass plate in the refrigerator to chill. Place 1/8 inch water in a low, flat container wider than the top of your shot glasses. Find a second container for the rimming sugar with the same requirements.
2. When ready to serve, remove silicone mold and jello shots from refrigerator. Unmold your garnish (stars, etc.) and place on the chilled plate.
3. Dip each shot glass rim into the shallow water, with the glass still upside-down, dip into the rimming sugar and turn slightly to help cover entire rim's edge.
4. HOLD SHOT GLASS UPSIDE DOWN OVER RIMMING SUGAR FOR 30 SECOND TO LET IT DRY.
5. Turn glasses upright and place a molded gelatin piece in center.
6. Serve and Enjoy! (SEE NOTE)
   

Notes

DON'T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT "PINK PALOMA" JELLO SHOT SIGNS! You'll find them in the related post

Nutrition Information

Yield 16 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 81Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 3mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 1gSugar 10gProtein 2g