These Pudding Shots are made with cheesecake pudding, a shot of vodka, and tinted in red, white, and blue for the summer holidays! Easy to make and a fun treat for adult parties – make them for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day too! You can change them up with different colors for any celebration.
Pudding shots are a type of alcoholic treat made by combining pudding mix with alcohol. Pudding shots can be made with any flavor of pudding, but cheesecake is a popular choice.
These shots are often served as part of a dessert course, but they can also be enjoyed as a party-time treat or as a snack.
With these, you can add a bit of fun to your 4th of July get-together. Red White and Blue Cheesecake Pudding Shots have a nice rich flavor from the cheesecake pudding, a kick from vodka, and all of it includes festive summer holiday colors!
Best of all – these are easy to make and you can make regular pudding versions for the kids too!
**Don’t miss our Piña Colada Pudding Shots & our Pumpkin Pudding Shots for fall too!
pudding shots cheesecake
Here are some commonly asked questions
What is a Pudding Shot?
A Pudding Shot is a type of alcoholic beverage made by combining pudding mix with alcohol. Pudding shots can be made with any flavor of pudding, but cheesecake is a popular choice. Pudding shots are often served as part of a dessert course, but they can also be enjoyed as an after-dinner drink or as a snack.
How Long Are Pudding Shots Good For In The Refrigerator?
Pudding shots can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. However, the alcohol might make the pudding less coagulated over time, so it is best to consume them within a week or two of making them. You might have to give it a stir before serving – which would ruin the layers. So please keep that in mind when making ahead and storing.
Do Pudding Shots Have To Be Served Cold?
Pudding is best when served chilled. I recommend keeping these in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. If you are serving them in a warm, outdoor environment you might want to place the shot glasses in a bucket of ice to keep them cold for as long as possible while they sit out.
How Strong Are Pudding Shots?
Pudding shots are typically made with one cup of alcohol for the whole batch as we have here. That is then divided between the 12 shots – so they aren’t too terribly strong. I think it comes out to less than 1 ounce per shot. I don’t recommend increasing the alcohol as it will alter how to pudding sets and it probably won’t hold the layers.
What Is The Best Alcohol To Use For Pudding Shots?
Vodka is the most popular type of alcohol used for pudding shots, but rum and whiskey are also common choices. You can use any type of alcohol that you like, but vodka is typically the best choice because it has a neutral flavor that allows the pudding flavor to shine through.
What is pudding made of?
Pudding is a type of dessert that is made by combining milk or cream, sugar, and flour or cornstarch. It can be made in different flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, or banana. Pudding is typically served cold and can be enjoyed as a snack or as part of a larger dessert.
pudding shots vodka
How do you eat a pudding shot?
Serve with spoons; unlike Jell-O shots, it’s hard to just run your tongue over the edge of a pudding shot to get the entire thing into your mouth. Also, because it is pudding and doesn’t hold a firm shape, you won’t be able to get it out of the shot glass in one solid piece.
Ingredients for Pudding Shots
- instant cheesecake pudding
- half and half
- vodka
- red food dye
- blue food dye
- whipped cream – optional garnish
- patriotic sprinkles – optional garnish
Why are my pudding shots runny?
If you use alcohol with a higher proof (80-proof or higher), the stronger alcohol content may prevent the pudding from setting. OR You might have gotten your amounts incorrect and your ratio of pudding to alcohol is incorrect, which will prevent the pudding from setting. If that’s the case, add 8 ounces of whipped cream or cream topping before chilling
Can you make pudding with water instead of milk?
Yes! Pudding mix requires milk, but you may use water instead if you don’t have any of the alternatives below.
How to Make Pudding Shots
- Add the pudding and half and half to a large mixing bowl.
- Beat with the mixer until thickened.
- Add the vodka and beat again until smooth and thickened.
- Divide the pudding into thirds, adding the portions to three separate bowls.
- In one bowl, add the blue food coloring and mix, adding more and mixing until the desired color is reached. Mix until no color streaks appear.
- Repeat the same steps for the red with one of the other bowls. Leave the third one without color.
- Place the mixtures in the fridge until thickened.
- Add the red pudding to the frosting bag and fill each shot glass a third full.
- Next, do the same thing with the uncolored pudding, and end with the blue pudding.
- Using the frosting bag one more time, add a dollop of whipped cream to the top of each shot and add some sprinkles.
Can you freeze pudding with alcohol in it?
Yes, you can freeze pudding shots. However, the alcohol content will keep the shots from freezing completely. Pudding shots can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Can you use heavy cream when making instant pudding?
Make the instant pudding according to the package directions, but replace milk with heavy cream instead. After the pudding and heavy cream have been well combined, chill it for a few minutes before mixing again until it’s quite thick.
Notes for the Best Pudding Shots
- Do not add more vodka to the mixture or it will make it too thin. For this pudding shot, you want it to remain a little thicker so the colors don’t mix.
- When you start to mix the vodka into the pudding, it will look chunky at first. Just keep mixing, it will smooth out, this is normal.
- When using the frosting bag, be sure to tilt it to the side as the mixture will be thinner and not hold in the frosting bag as well as thick frosting might. It will want to escape out of the frosting tip. So, as long as you keep the bag tilted sideways in between each layer, you should be fine. You can also try using an injector, although some pudding chunks might try and block it.
- Be sure to tap each shot glass lightly on the counter as you add each color. This will flatten it out and make the color layers smoother.
- It’s important to use half and half as it’s a little thicker than normal whole milk. You don’t want to use heavy whipping cream as this will make the pudding too thick. The half and half worked great for this recipe.
- This can also be made with vanilla pudding if you don’t care for cheesecake flavor.
- If you’re wanting to make these safe for kids, simply prepare the pudding as directed on the box and follow the rest of the steps. Just skip the vodka.
Can you use evaporated milk to make instant pudding?
To make a creamier, more luxurious pudding, substitute evaporated milk for regular milk. It not only adds to the texture of the dish, but it also vastly improves the taste of pudding mixes.
Don’t miss these other awesome Jello Shots & Pudding Shots
- Pina Colada Pudding Shots
- Pumpkin Pudding Shots
- 4th of July Jello Shots
- Tequila Sunrise Jello Shots
- Blue Hawaiian Jello Shots
- Sangria Jello Shots
- Easter Jello Shots
- Candy Corn Jello Shots
- 50+ Jello Shot Recipes
Products I love when making these pudding shots…
This pudding shot recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made shots with pudding before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love them. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this fun adult treat recipe. (you can also SHOP MY FAVORITES in my store)
- 2-Ounce Shot Cups with Lids
- glass shot glasses – shown here
- baking sheet
- Injector
- plastic decorator bag
- #1M decorator tip or your favorite
- mixing bowls
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
If you love this easy Pudding Shot recipe, you’re going to love these other patriotic treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
More Great Patriotic Recipes
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Pudding Shots
Ingredients
- 2 boxes instant cheesecake pudding 3 ounces each
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 cup vodka
- red food dye
- blue food dye
- whipped cream optional garnish
- patriotic sprinkles optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the pudding and half and half to a large mixing bowl.
- Beat with the mixer until thickened.
- Add the vodka and beat again until smooth and thickened.
- Divide the pudding into thirds, adding the portions to three separate bowls.
- In one bowl, add the blue food coloring and mix, adding more and mixing until the desired color is reached. Mix until no color streaks appear.
- Repeat the same steps for the red with one of the other bowls. Leave the third one without color.
- Place the mixtures in the fridge until thickened.
- Add the red pudding to the frosting bag and fill each shot glass a third full.
- Next, do the same thing with the uncolored pudding, and end with the blue pudding.
- Using the frosting bag one more time, add a dollop of whipped cream to the top of each shot and add some sprinkles.
Notes
- Do not add more vodka to the mixture or it will make it too thin. For this pudding shot, you want it to remain a little thicker so the colors don’t mix.
- When you start to mix the vodka into the pudding, it will look chunky at first. Just keep mixing, it will smooth out, this is normal.
- When using the frosting bag, be sure to tilt it to the side as the mixture will be thinner and not hold in the frosting bag as well as thick frosting might. It will want to escape out of the frosting tip. So, as long as you keep the bag tilted sideways in between each layer, you should be fine. You can also try using an injector, although some pudding chunks might try and block it.
- Be sure to tap each shot glass lightly on the counter as you add each color. This will flatten it out and make the color layers smoother.
- It’s important to use half and half as it’s a little thicker than normal whole milk. You don’t want to use heavy whipping cream as this will make the pudding too thick. The half and half worked great for this recipe.
- This can also be made with vanilla pudding if you don’t care for cheesecake flavor.
- If you’re wanting to make these safe for kids, simply prepare the pudding as directed on the box and follow the rest of the steps. Just skip the vodka.
Equipment
- 12 2-ounce shot glasses
- frosting bag and tip (optional)
- hand mixer or whisk
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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