Purple Hooter Shot Recipe

Celebrate Halloween with these fruity Purple Hooter Jello Shots made with grape jello mixed with red berry vodka, and lime juice. Sweet and tart – just what we need.

A beginner-friendly cocktail that doesn’t require you to have any bartending or mixology skills or a big bar inventory. Yet you can surprise and impress everyone at your Halloween party!

It is so easy and quick to make, and it always turns out so refreshing and delicious (I know, right, it is alcohol, but trust me, this damn thing is yummy!). Your taste buds will rave about these vodka jello shots.

Did I mention a beautiful purple-lavender color?

To be completely fair, the shot is not historically a Halloween drink, so it can work for any sports-themed events (think about Baltimore Raven fans) if the team has purple colors or a Mardi Gras gathering. It also makes a fantastic aperitif.

Another great option for Halloween would be the Purple People Eater cocktail.

Why Is It Called Purple Hooter Shooter?

Hooter Shooter is a fun easy cocktail usually made of berries and strong liquor.

The name however, according to its history, has nothing to do with an owl (hooter) but rather with Africa, raspberries, and a horn.

In the 19th century Mr. Francois Booray in an attempt to protect raspberry plantations in Congo from gorillas, started using a hooting horn. Every time he blew into it, his face became purple. So the locals gave him the nickname “The Purple Hooter”.

Later, Booray invented the berry cocktail featuring the same raspberries and it seemed logical to everyone to call it Purple hooter shooter.

Initially, the drink didn’t have jello, of course, it is our modern twist! 

What Is In A Classic Purple Hooter Cocktail?

One classic shot has 2 oz vodka, 1 oz Chambord raspberry liqueur, and a splash of Lemon-Lime Soda or ½ oz 7-up.

There are a number of ways to make it and substitute liquor and lime soda, but vodka is pretty much always in the shot recipes. 

What Are Purple Hooter Jello Shots Made Of? Ingredients Notes

My Purple Hooter shooter has 3 main ingredients: vodka, lime juice, and grape jello.

• Grape jello – for coloring and texture. The finished shot won’t taste like grapes. That means you can use any other jello (but it will change the color too).
• Red berry vodka. Any other berry vodka works too, a common substitution is a raspberry vodka. This cocktail is quite strong that’s why it is often served as shots. You shoot immediately – repeat, and you keep going with the party! Choose mid-priced or more expensive vodka for a smoother, more enjoyable taste. Ketel One is a good choice.
• Lime juice. Rose’s lime juice is a staple for cocktail making. You can also use Sour Mix (lemon-lime juice with simple syrup) or regular Sprite to make the Purple hooter shots. It brings the tartness but also a refreshing kick.
• Whipped topping (optional garnish). If making for Halloween, add some colored sprinkles or themed candy.
• Purple sanding sugar (optional garnish)

You may need some ice cubes to serve this drink! Some of my guests prefer a lime wedge over whipped topping.

Items Needed:

• 9 x Shot Cups with Lids, 2 oz glasses. We need cups with lids as we will put them in the fridge and we don’t want any other smell to get into them, and we don’t want to spill them.
• Mixing bowl to make the jello.
• Frosting Bag (optional for garnishing)
• Ateco #866 Frosting Tip (optional for garnishing)

How To Prepare Purple Hooter Shooter

1. Making a Purple hooter shot recipe with jello is easy-breezy. We simply dissolve the jello, mix it with alcohol and lime juice, and let the mix chill in the shots.
2. Combine the jello mix with the boiling water in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until the jello is fully dissolved.
3. Add the red berry vodka and a splash of lime juice to the jello mixture and stir again.
4. Set out the shot cups on a plate or baking sheet. It is a better way to pour the mix as this makes it easier to move them after filling. 
5. Evenly distribute the jello mix between all of the shot cups, leaving just a bit of room at the top so the cups don’t spill when moving them. Close the lids.
6. Chill the shots in the fridge for 2 hours or until fully set.
7. If desired, top with a whipped topping and a sprinkle of purple sanding sugar when serving. Wait to add this until just before serving the drink as the toppings can weep when sitting in the fridge after decorating.

Storage

Purple hooter jello shots can be stored in the fridge for 5-7 days which makes them great to make a large batch in advance for holidays.

Do not freeze the shots it will make the texture grainy.

Purple Hooter Shot Recipe Variations

• Add liquor. Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur that is a classic ingredient for this cocktail. A close substitute is De Kuyper Raspberry Liqueur (they are 1:1 substitutes so use the same 1 oz raspberry liqueur per serving). 
• For a stronger cocktail, you can also add orange liqueur – Triple Sec (per shot you only need a ½ oz triple sec). Next time you make it, experiment to find your best flavor combo.
• Add sprite. Lemon lime soda aka Sprite (or 7up) can substitute for lime juice in cocktail recipes. If you want the bubbles you can also use lime juice and soda water.
• It can be served over ice like a regular cocktail in a tall cocktail glass.
• Add colors. Jello comes in a variety of colors so you can make a layered shot!
• Add mint. Mint brightens the flavors and makes it taste like a berry mojito.
• More berries. You can easily introduce more berry flavor by adding cranberry juice.

Tips To Make This Popular Purple Hooter Shooter Vodka Cocktail

• Do not garnish the shots if you are planning on storing them. These can be stored, lids on, and no garnish, for up to 1 week. They can be frozen, but it makes the consistency of the jello really odd.
• Regular vodka can be used and choose a berry-flavored liqueur if you can’t find a berry vodka. 
• Don’t go over the total amount of alcohol used.
• If using more than one alcohol and no jello, shake them well in a special cocktail shaker or a mixing glass. 
• If you want your jello shots thinner, you can add more alcohol. If you want them firmer, add less alcohol and replace it with more water.
• Professional bartenders strain the drink into the glass to get the purest shot but in my recipe, the show will be crystal clear without a strainer.
• Highball glass or rocks glass won’t work unless you can come up with a lid. We need shot glasses with a lid. The no-jello cocktail will look fancier in martini glasses.

DON’T MISS THESE HOLIDAY E-BOOKS!

If you love this holiday party recipe, you’re going to love these other holiday ideas for your party too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

More Jello Shots

• My Hawaiian Blue Jello Shots with Blue Curacao.
• Candy Corn Jello Shots
• Sangria Jello Shots

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