This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
Mulled wine Fireball jello shots make a great Christmas cocktail and will help any holiday or Christmas party go with a swing. Mulled wine has always been a popular festive alcoholic beverage. This playful recipe takes it up another notch though, adding jello to thicken the shooters up and add a fruity flavor. They make a tasty change from the usual hot toddies and eggnog recipes.
Mulled wine Fireball jello shots are made with red wine, jello, and spices to make this holiday party drink, a sweet and spicy treat for your taste buds everyone will enjoy.
More festive ideas include poinsettia focaccia bread, gingerbread trifle or gingerbread cake, Christmas fudge or Christmas appetizers.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s a festive showstopper: These jello shots look as impressive as they taste, perfect for holiday parties.
Bold flavors in every bite: The rich red wine, warm spices, and cinnamon whiskey come together for a cozy, spiked treat.
Fun and easy to serve: They’re already portioned and ready to go—just chill, garnish, and enjoy.
Mulled Wine Fireball Jello Shots Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Red wine: To add body and depth to the mulled base. I used Bread and Butter Pinot Noir.
Cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise: Classic mulling spices that infuse the wine with warm, aromatic notes.
Raspberry gelatin: Adds sweetness, flavor, and the perfect jiggly texture to hold it all together.
Boiling water: Dissolves the gelatin thoroughly for a smooth consistency.
Orange juice: Brightens the flavors with a splash of citrus.
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky: Brings warmth and a spicy kick to balance the sweet and fruity notes.
Cranberries and orange slices: Garnish that adds visual flair and a festive vibe. If you have some cranberries left over, try this cranberry margarita too.
How to Make Mulled Wine Christmas Shots
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Infuse the wine: Gently heat red wine with cloves, cinnamon, and star anise to create a mulled base.
Strain and measure: Remove the spices and top off the wine to make ⅔ cup.
Dissolve the gelatin: Whisk raspberry gelatin into boiling water until smooth.
Mix the liquids: Stir in mulled wine, orange juice, and Fireball until well combined.
Chill to set: Pour into shot glasses and refrigerate until firm.
Garnish and serve: Add cranberries, orange slices, and star anise before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
Try a different wine: A bold Zinfandel or Merlot works well if Pinot Noir isn’t on hand.
Use another gelatin flavor: Black cherry, orange or cranberry gelatin can be fun holiday swaps.
Swap the whiskey: Use another cinnamon liqueur or a spiced rum for a different twist.
Garnish: Work with what you have on hand. If you only have one star anise, for instance, you can use it in the mulled wine and then just omit it from the garnish. Candied ginger makes a nice garnish too and fits in with the winter theme nicely.
Not a cinnamon fan? If you aren’t keen on a fiery cinnamon taste you can use half a cinnamon stick and switch the Fireball cinnamon whiskey for a regular whiskey or bourbon. Honey whiskey would also be delicious here if you aren’t a fan of the taste of Fireball. Another fun drink to try would be this Santa’s hat cocktail which is made with rum.
Serving Suggestions
With festive snacks: Enjoy some cranberry brie bites or an antipasto Christmas tree.
With something sweet: Pair your mulled wine Fireball jello shots with Christmas tree cupcakes, festive poke cake or marshmallow pops.
How to Store Mulled Wine Shots
Store: Cover leftovers with plastic wrap and enjoy within a few days. Keep them refrigerated.
Freeze: I haven’t tried freezing these but it might impact the consistency.
Top Tips
Cinnamon Sticks: Use good quality cinnamon sticks, such as McCormick cinnamon sticks. In my experience, bargain brands tend to lack the flavor and aroma needed to fully infuse the wine.
Don’t let the wine boil: Keep it on low to gently infuse without cooking off all the flavor.
Chill the liquids: Make sure your wine and whiskey are chilled so the gelatin sets quickly.
Use clear shot glasses: The layers and color shine through beautifully for a stunning presentation.
Fireball Shots FAQs
You can take your pick. The only thing to bear in mind is if you use orange jello the resulting spiced and spiked jello shots won’t be a festive dark red colour. They will come out more of a muddy colour. That’s easily remedied by adding a few drops of red food colouring. Else try cherry, raspberry or whatever jello flavour you prefer.
Mulled wine is made with red wine and a dash of dark liquor such as whiskey or brandy. Orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise are often added to the recipe. This festive drink dates all the way back to the second century and was created by Romans who warmed their wine to protect them from the chilly winter weather. Since the Romans conquered a large part of Europe, their mulled wine recipe spread across several regions.
Christmas Jello Shots with Fireball Recipe
Mulled Wine Fireball Jello Shots
Ingredients
- ¾ plus ⅓ Cup red wine, I used Bread and Butter Pinot Noir
- 5 cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 Pod star anise, plus extra for garnish
- 1 Box raspberry gelatin, 3-Ounce box
- ¾ Cup water, boiling
- ¼ Cup orange juice, pulp-free, chilled
- ¼ Cup cinnamon whiskey, such as Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, chilled
- 25 cranberries, whole, for garnish
- 9 Slices orange, quartered, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, heat ¾ cup red wine, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pod for one hour on low. Do not allow wine to simmer. Remove from heat.
- Strain out cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.
- The wine reduces pretty significantly. You should have about ⅓ cup left of the liquid but it’s fine if you have a bit more or less. Top off the mulled wine with enough fresh wine to make a total of ⅔ cup. Set aside.
- In a small, heatproof bowl, whisk together boiling water and raspberry gelatin until completely dissolved. Add mulled wine, orange juice, and cinnamon whiskey. Whisk until combined.
- Pour prepared mulled wine gelatin into 2 ounce shot glasses. Refrigerate for 4 hours, or until set. Top with whole cranberries, orange slices, and a star anise pod, if desired.
Notes
Don’t let the wine boil: Keep it on low to gently infuse without cooking off all the flavor.
Chill the liquids: Make sure your wine and whiskey are chilled so the gelatin sets quickly.
Use clear shot glasses: The layers and color shine through beautifully for a stunning presentation.
Nutrition
Mulled wine Fireball jello shots are perfect for Christmas. We know that mulled wine by itself is always good but it’s far easier to bring a platter of jello shots covered in plastic wrap to a party. And who doesn’t love jello shots, especially when they have a delicious cinnamon flavor. These Fireball Christmas shots are one of those jello shot recipes that are a natural party starters and sure to be a party favorite.
Other Recipes You Will Love
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This is the only fall/winter jello shots recipe you will ever need!!! Cheeeeeers!
These look delicious!