Birthday Cake Shots are the best way to celebrate any birthday, no matter your (21+) age! Made with vanilla vodka and liqueurs, these sprinkle-laden shooters are so much fun and have the same flavor as birthday cake.
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About this Birthday Cake Shot recipe
Chances are pretty good that you know someone with a birthday sometime, right? You probably even celebrate on yourself! I feel like I know a lot of people born in the month of March, but evidently being born in September is way more common — or so says this amazing chart.
Well, good thing you’re here, because you can make them these birthday cake shots for them, any time of day or year! And it’s SO much easier than baking a cake.
The flavor has hints of white chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla, yet altogether they taste like vanilla birthday cake. But if you’d prefer shots that have the bite of chocolate cake? These chocolate cake shots would be perfect!
More birthday recipes: • Birthday Cake Cinnamon Rolls
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Birthday cake shots are a delicious treat to celebrate another trip around the sun.
- They are made with tasty liqueurs that work in tons of other cocktails. And you don’t need birthday cake vodka!
- They’re a really fun way to celebrate anyone’s birthday and make them feel extra special and loved. It can be any special occasion where you’d like to serve sweet shots.
Tools & equipment
You don’t need a lot of tools and equipment to make these birthday cake shots. (However these boozy birthday gifts are perfect for cocktail lovers.)
A basic bartending set * with a jigger *, cocktail shaker * and strainer is all you need, plus some shot glasses * of course! I used 1.5-ounce glasses, but if you use bigger ones, you should double the recipe so you have enough of the cocktail mixture to go around.
favorite shot glasses
decorative shot glasses (1.75 ounces)
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Ingredients
You can shop for these festive birthday cake shots ingredients at your local liquor store and supermarket. Here’s what you’ll need to make the recipe:
- vanilla vodka
- white chocolate liqueur, such as Godiva
- hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico
- vanilla extract *
- honey
- rainbow sprinkles
Garnishes
I finished these off with a sprinkle rim. You can easily rim a glass with something sticky like honey, simple syrup or even vanilla frosting to make the sprinkles stick to the glass. Maybe even make your own sprinkles too!
You can also garnish them with a dollop of whipped cream and even more sprinkles. An unlit candle would also be cute.
Instructions
Feel free to multiply the recipe below — it’s easy to make more than one at a time and pour into your shot glasses *.
Pour some honey onto a plate and some sprinkles onto another plate. Dip the rim of a 1½-ounce shot glass * into the honey, and use your finger to spread it around — you don’t want it too thick!
Roll the rim of the glass in the sprinkles to coat the rim. Repeat with all remaining shot glasses.
In a cocktail shaker * filled with ice, add vanilla vodka, Godiva white chocolate liqueur, Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and vanilla extract *, then shake, shake, shake. Shake off the last year!
Strain the birthday cake shots into shot glasses, then top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired. Voilà! Now you have the perfect shot recipe to make for your birthday guest of honor.
Tips & tricks
- Brush the honey onto the glass with a pastry brush * or your finger. You don’t want it super thick, but just thick enough to hold the sprinkles in place.
- Place the freshly-rimmed shot glasses in the freezer while you mix the drinks — this prevents the honey from dripping.
- Shake really well until the shaker feels cold in your hands.
FAQ
Definitely! Just stir everything together in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve. Rim the shot glasses with sprinkles about an hour before serving, then place them in the freezer until you’re ready to dole out the shots.
Sure. You can make your own vanilla vodka with plain vodka and vanilla extract. You can also use cake-flavored vodka. Instead of Frangelico, you can use amaretto or Irish cream. Instead of white chocolate liqueur, you can use white crème de cacao. However, the flavor won’t be quite the same.
Food pairings
These shots go well with birthday treats like cupcakes and cake, as well as birthday cake popcorn and birthday cake donuts. Whatever the birthday girl or boy wants, right?!
Since these birthday cake shots are sweet like cake, they’d go well with salty treats like Chex mix and bar snacks like chicken wings.
You don’t have to let the birthday fun end there. You can also enjoy a birthday cake martini or a birthday cake white russian for this special day! They’re like cake in liquid form!
More dessert shots
Birthday Cake Shots
ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 2 ounces white chocolate liqueur such as Godiva
- 1 ounce hazelnut liqueur such as Frangelico
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ ounce honey for rim
- 1 tablespoon sprinkles for rim
instructions
- Pour honey onto a plate. Pour some sprinkles on another plate. Dip the rim of a 1½-ounce shot glass * into the honey. Roll the rim of the glass in the sprinkles to coat the rim. Repeat with all remaining shot glasses. Place in the freezer while you mix the drinks.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur, hazelnut liqueur, vanilla extract and honey syrup. Shake well. Strain mixture into prepared, chilled shot glasses.
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Andrea says
I wish I could be there to indulge in these tasty shots on your birthday!
Susannah says
Me too, lady! Thanks for a fab weekend, though! 🙂
Katie says
Here’s another similarity! We both have March birthdays! Happy birthday to you friend. I think I just might need to celebrate with a birthday cake shot!
Susannah says
Yes!!! Do it!!! March is the best birthday month!