Vegan Jello Shots

[bhakti]

  made these in three flavors for a bachelorette party:
purple=blackcurrant (using flavored syrup),
red= lingonberry lime (again using flavored syrup, and lime juice),
and orange (orange juice & orange flavor, as in similar to vanilla flavoring but orange).

They came out tasty, but lumpy. I have this problem with most things I make with agar agar- is it because I don't simmer it long enough? I simmered the agar in water for about 5 minutes, but there were still some flecks in it. (then I poured it into three bowls filled with the flavored vodka, which I then poured into lightly oiled naughty-shaped molds  )

[bhakti]

oh, and btw- I used twice as much agar and cornstarch as the recipe called for- 1/2 tsp just didn't seem to make it firm enough. and here's a non x-rated pic of the extra I just put in an ice cube tray

[Netherbeastie]

I experimented with fruit pectin last halloween to make vello shots.  I used oj, orange vodka, and enough water to dissolve the pectin with the calcium powder it came with to stiffen it up.  I put candy corn pumpkins on top to make them festive.  They packed a wallop--I woke up with an icepack and holes in my memory...   Anyhoo...is agar the same thing as pectin packaged differently?

[Bribee]

oh, and btw- I used twice as much agar and cornstarch as the recipe called for- 1/2 tsp just didn't seem to make it firm enough. and here's a non x-rated pic of the extra I just put in an ice cube tray

if i recall, there's agar flakes and agar powder- you may have been using the flakes?

[bhakti]

if i recall, there's agar flakes and agar powder- you may have been using the flakes?

yes- you're right! i didn't even notice it said powder..but i was using the flakes. i will have to get ahold of the powder- maybe that will help the lumpy problem.

[VegWifeandMom]

if i recall, there's agar flakes and agar powder- you may have been using the flakes?

yes- you're right! i didn't even notice it said powder..but i was using the flakes. i will have to get ahold of the powder- maybe that will help the lumpy problem.

This might help: 1 tsp Agar powder = 1 tbsp Agar flakes
Also you may need to use more if you are using anything acidic (strawberries, citrus), and some things won't gel with it at all (pineapple, kiwi, etc).
Also you want to simmer it until it's completely dissolved.

[elishalenora]

Did they come out of the ice tray easily or did you have to oil the ice tray?

oh, and btw- I used twice as much agar and cornstarch as the recipe called for- 1/2 tsp just didn't seem to make it firm enough. and here's a non x-rated pic of the extra I just put in an ice cube tray

[starrygirl1120]

Savior!!! That's what you are!   

[ais_boon]

I made these for a bachlorette party using a "naughty" ice cube tray and I found that if I lightly oiled the tray using a paper towel and then let them cool before freezing they came out spectacular!  Also if you don't have corn starch you can use flour the ratio is 1T corn starch to 2T flour.  They only last one hour out of the freezer before starting to melt and become mushy.  I also tried the ratio of 1 1/4 c juice and 3/4 c alcohol.  If you don't like the color I added a few drops of food coloring and they looked spectacular! 

[peace monger]

Right on!  I'm making these this weekend.  I'm going to have to use flour instead of corn startch, i hope they still come out okay.  This makes me very excited.

[peace monger]

I'm a little disapointed in these.  They came out in a rubblery jell-o type texture, much more solid than i expected, but still not quite right.  They were also not quite as sweet as i would like, I made a second half batch and changed the ratio of juice to alcohol, and added a bit of sugar, but they don't seem to be setting now.  very unfortunate.  I'm not sure if it was the sugar, I used the microwave the second time and may not have brought it to the correct temp. 

Over all, decent by the recipe,  I think it could be improved upon though.