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Mistletoe kisses and candy cane wishes make for a joyous holiday season. These Peppermint Bark Jello Shots will chill you like the winds from the North Pole, but have a kick that’ll make you feel like Blitzen after Santa’s Christmas party.

Looking for a fun and festive way to bring holiday cheer to your next party? These shots are creamy, minty, and full of Christmas spirit. Made with Peppermint Bark RumChata and whipped cream vodka, they taste just like your favorite peppermint bark candy—but with a playful boozy twist. Perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, or Christmas Eve celebrations.

Peppermint Bark Jello Shots with bits of chocolate garnish

Why You’ll Love These Peppermint Bark Jello Shots

These holiday jello shots are a sweet treat in every bite! Here’s why they’ll be the hit of your party:

Creamy peppermint and chocolate flavors, just like the classic candy
Super easy to make ahead for stress-free entertaining
Beautifully festive with candy cane toppings

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Peppermint Bark Jello Shots Ingredients

Whipped Cream Vodka
RumChata Peppermint Bark
Gelatine
Simple Syrup or Sweetened Condensed Milk
Chocolate Bits for Garnish, Optional

Tips

For flavored vodkas, I like both Veil and Pinnacle; they are both reasonably priced. The star of the show, RumChata Peppermint Bark, provides the refreshing peppermint and chocolate flavors that gives these shots their signature taste.

Choosing Your Sweetener: Simple Syrup vs. Sweetened Condensed Milk

You can customize your Peppermint Bark Jello Shots depending on how light you want them to look and taste. Both options work beautifully—it just depends on the vibe you’re going for:

Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates a creamy, lighter-colored shot that looks like tinted milk in a cup. It also adds a smooth, dessert-like sweetness. Note: The color of sweetened condensed milk may vary depending on the brand.
Simple Syrup: Keeps the natural color of the Peppermint Bark RumChata, giving your shots a more caramel tone. The flavor is slightly lighter and less rich, which some people prefer for a cleaner, boozier finish.

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Kitchenware

To make your Jello Shots, you’ll need Jello Shot cups. Click here to learn the differences between the 3 different styles of Jello Shot cups. I use the squeezable Jello Shot cups, the flat round Jello Shot cups above, and the square Jello Shot cups.

The second most important item is a large, spouted mixing bowl with a handle. This bowl makes pouring the liquid into the jello shot cups easy. I have seen ‘tools’ on Amazon that assist you with filling your jello shot cups, but the bowl with the spout works well. Of course, you may have a few drips here and there, but I need more to invest in one of those tools.

How to make Peppermint Bark Jello Shots

Place 16 jello shot cups on a baking sheet.

Pour the Whipped Cream Vodka and Peppermint Bark RumChata into the spouted mixing bowl, and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Gelatin can be tricky to work with when using it the first time. The secret is to ‘slowly’ sprinkle the gelatin on top of the liquid. If you see it clumping up, you are spreading it too quickly.

Let the gelatin mixture sit for 7 minutes. If you do have some dry patches, don’t worry. Ensure your water is boiling for the next step.

In the meantime, boil the water.

Add the water to the gelatin mixture and stir for 3 minutes.

Add the sweetened condensed milk or simple syrup (not both) and stir until combined well.

Slowly pour the mixture into your jello shot cups until they are 3/4 full.

Refrigerate for 2 hours before placing the lids on the jello shot cups.

Jello Shots can be made 2 days in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve. Garnish just before serving.

Garnishing Peppermint Bark Jello Shots

Right before serving, add a mini candy cane to the top or add chocolate curls or bits for that peppermint bark look.

Looking for a Stronger Peppermint Kick? Try This Twist!

If you’re a true peppermint lover and want a sharper, mint-forward flavor, you can make a variation using Peppermint Vodka instead of Peppermint Bark RumChata.

This version has a bolder peppermint taste and can be customized in two ways:

Left to right: Peppermint Vodka with simple syrup for a clear, classic look.

Peppermint Vodka with sweetened condensed milk for a creamy tint that looks just like a winter wonderland.

Peppermint Bark RumChata and Whipped Cream Vodka.

To make Peppermint Jello Shots, replace the Whipped Cream Vodka and Peppermint Bark RumChata with 1.5 cups of Peppermint Vodka, then follow the jello shot instructions.

Garnishing Peppermint Jello Shots

Right before serving, add a mini candy cane to the top or sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Peppermint Jello Shots with Mini Candy Canes

Peppermint Jello Shots with Crushed Candy Canes

How to Crush Candy Canes

Crush candy canes with a small food processor or put them in a Ziploc bag and use a hammer to crush them.

Serving Ideas

Make your presentation just as festive as your flavors! Try serving your Peppermint Jello Shots on a tray dusted with crushed candy canes or in a mini dessert bar alongside hot chocolate.

Final Thoughts

These Peppermint Bark Jello Shots are creamy, minty, and perfectly merry — a fun way to toast the season with friends and family. Whether you stick with the chocolate-kissed original or try the peppermint-forward twist, both versions bring sweetness, spirit, and sparkle to every celebration.

Whip up a batch of these Jello Shots and watch your holiday party light up with laughter and good vibes. Here’s to Christmas cheer—one jiggly shot at a time!

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