Cranberry Jell-O Shots

For the Sugar-Coated Cranberries: Pour the water and 1/2 cup of sugar into a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved completely (hooray—you've created a simple syrup!). Let it cool for about 15-20 minutes, then add the cranberries, mixing so they're all thoroughly coated. Remove the cranberries from the simple syrup using a slotted spoon, tapping away any excess syrup. Place them in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag, then pour the remaining sugar on top. Seal the bag and shake the cranberries to thoroughly coat them. Spread them out over a large plate or baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, just to let the sugar harden and the berries cool completely. For the Jello Shots: Place 1 cup water and the vodka in the fridge to chill. Pour 2 cups water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the packets of cranberry Jello, and whisk until the Jello has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat. Pour the cold cup of water and cup of vodka into the Jello mixture, stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Place in the refrigerator to set for at least 20 minutes.