Radioactive Jell-O Shots are a simple gin and tonic with lime Jell-O.  The tonic water makes them glow under a black light which makes them even more fun to eat!

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You like how I tried to show the glowing shots with the regular shots?  Not quite how I wanted this to look, but you get the point.  LOL

I have been wanting to make glowing Jell-O shots for a couple of years now. Finding out what the ingredient is that makes them glow is like a, “Huh!” moment. I’ve known this for a while now. Actually, since I started dancing in college. But thinking about putting the drink in Jell-O to make them glow was like a, “Now why didn’t I think of that?” moment.

Yes, I know I’m being vague about this, but there’s a story about the discovery of the glowing ingredient.

When I was in college, I took a line dancing class. Yes, country line dancing. It was a fun class and I liked the instructor. So, I took the class a couple of times. You could take each PE course twice. I also took ice skating, ice fishing, and fishing twice.

Anyway, when I started the line dancing class, we learned some of the current dances and I told Mom I wanted to try finding a place to go dancing at home. And that’s what we did! In Springfield, VA there was a restaurant called Blackie’s. Half the restaurant was restaurant and the other half was bar with a dance floor. It wasn’t huge but it was a good size to have 75 plus on the floor at one time.

It was difficult getting a table in the bar. Mom and Dad had to work their magic and we roped in a waitress there to help us. She reserved a table for us the next week and we went week after week for a few years. That waitress became a good friend of the family for a while. Then she just sort of disappeared when the restaurant went away.

I was devastated. I had no idea where I would go dancing! Then I heard about this other place in Alexandra called Nick’s. It’s still there. The food wasn’t quite as good, but a lot of the regulars from Blackie’s were there, which made the transition easier. And it’s closer to where I lived at the time.

It was ALL bar and dance floor. The floor was much smaller, but I was still able to do all the dances I knew and learn a few new ones. I mean, the oldies are goodies for a reason. There’s always room for a Boot Scoot Boogie and a Tush Push. Just saying.

Okay, for those that do not exercise on a regular basis, sometimes leg cramps are imminent. Mom told me to start drinking some tonic water towards the end of the night because it helped with leg cramps. So, here’s some science-y type stuff for you.

Tonic water has quinine in it.

Quinine is typically used to treat malaria. I’m sure there’s a science-y reason for that, too, but I’m talking about leg cramps here. Quinine, in theory, helps to decrease the excitability of the motor end-plate and increases the muscle refractory period. What do that even mean?? Basically, motor end-plates are like neuron intersections.

So, if you calm those down, then they won’t want to get all party on, keep passing on the signals, and cause a leg cramp. And the muscle refractory period is the time it takes for a muscle to stop repeating the same action (cramp). Increasing that time between want to repeat the same thing means for less leg cramps. In theory.

If you Google this you’ll see that the FDA and everyone else freaks out about using quinine for leg cramps. Yes, there is an increased risk of bleeding and causing heart rhythm disturbances, but that’s in a much larger dose of quinine. You’re not going to get that with some tonic water. Trust me on this one.

And while you’re in Google you’ll see that some credible sites tell you it’s not enough to do anything. I speak from experience on this one. When I started drinking tonic water, I didn’t have as many Charlie horses in the middle of the night. Even when I’m not dancing and experience them repeatedly, I drink some quinine and they are few and far between in the middle of the night.

Now, the reason these radioactive Jell-O shots glow is a shorter story.

Quinine absorbs light energy. This includes UV light. Now, the regular light energy we can’t see. It’s just doing it’s thing and getting all party on under the naked eye. However, when you pair the tonic water with a black light or other UV light, you can see it light up like Christmas! That’s the quinine having a UV light party that’s non-stop but only visible when we pair it with a black light.

My one black light bulb really didn’t achieve the effect I was hoping for. I really needed one of those stick black lights. I might be looking for one of those this weekend. Or in the near figure. I’d like to use this technique for a few other recipes in the near-ish future. I mean, who doesn’t like UV glowing food and drink? Especially during the Halloween season.

These Jell-O shots has my favorite gin in there!

I went to an even at the local distillery. Since I’m a member and own a cask they invited us to pre-party party with tastings and some free food. I’m sure y’all saw some of the pics on my Instagram account. The barrel finished gin is something I didn’t remember tasting before. When I tasted it, the ideas just flooded my brain! I cannot wait to create in the kitchen with it.

It has a rich and creamy taste with luscious herbs and spices. The finishing in the bourbon barrel makes it sweet and rich. It really does have a honey quality to this gin. I cannot say enough good things about all of their spirits. And, well, they’re like 20 minutes from the house. Plus, their marketing manager is super sweet and shares when I tag them in recipes I make with their products. And I try to do my part to support them, too.

These look so cool!

Even though the black light isn’t as bright as I wanted, I really love the green glowing color. They totally look radioactive! And so much fun to look at and to eat! It’s a sweet and rich gin and tonic flavor with the lime Jell-O in there. So so good.

Funny story about that biohazard glass. I bought one at a Halloween store several years ago. It sat. And I never used it. That and the Ouija board class. Just sat. Then, I thought about these radioactive Jell-O shots and thought, “I really need to dig that glass out of the donation bag.” So, I grabbed it and the Ouija board glass out to go into my prop pile again.

The color of the glow depends on the color of the Jell-O.

If you want a blue glow, then use blue gelatin, orange, red, etc. You get the idea. I can’t imagine the red glowing that much. I might have to try it and see how that works out. But I’d need the brighter black light to make those, I’m sure. I wonder if the black cherry ones would glow. I’m definitely experimenting more with these.

Take a look at more spooky Halloween recipes from our #HalloweenTreatsWeek Bloggers today:

Halloween Cookies & Bars:

• Meringue Witch Finger Cookies from Big Bears Wife
• Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Devour Dinner
• Shortbread Witches Fingers from The Flour Handprint
• Gingerbread Mummy Cookies from 4 Sons R Us

Halloween Breakfast:

• Hocus Pocus Mini Pancake Cereal from Fresh Coast Eats

Halloween Pies:

• Count Chocula Cream Pie from Sweet ReciPEAS

Sweet Halloween Treats:

• Individual Halloween Parfaits from Tastes of Homemade
• Radioactive Jell-O Shots from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Spiced Caramel Corn from Pastry Chef Online
• Halloween Strawberry Ghosts from I am a Honey Bee