Carrot Cake Shot

Shake up your spring celebrations with a round of Carrot Cake Shots. These miniature dessert cocktails taste remarkably like classic carrot cake, and you can even add a rim of cream cheese frosting and chopped nuts.

About this Carrot Cake Shot recipe

There’s not much better than a good dessert, except for a good dessert cocktail. Whether it’s a tiramisu martini or an oatmeal cookie shot, celebrating with a sweet sipper can’t be beat.

So when I heard about carrot cake shots, I had to try them. They are the perfect springtime dessert drink for brunch, dinner parties and Easter celebrations — or just anytime you are craving some carrot cake.

These dessert shots are not only delicious, but super simple to make with just four ingredients. This is one of those recipes where you wouldn’t think the ingredients would taste like what the drink is called, like these chocolate cake shots, but they really do!

If you’re looking for an impressive treat or cocktail (because you can double this recipe and serve it in a martini glass ^* if you prefer!), then these carrot cake shots will be the perfect recipe to wow all of your guests.

More Easter recipes: Peeps Vodka • Chocolate Bunny Cocktails • Strawberry Mimosa • Rumchata Pudding Shots

Tools & glassware

To make carrot cake shots at home, you don’t need a lot of special equipment. A jigger ^* and cocktail shaker ^* are essential for measuring the ingredients and shaking them together. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker ^* or need to make a big batch, you can mix everything in a mason jar with a lid or stir everything together in a pitcher.

If you would like to include the cream cheese frosting and chopped nuts for the rim, you will need a sharp knife and cutting board to chop the nuts and a food, safe paintbrush to paint the frosting onto the rim. (You can also use your finger if you don’t mind getting messy.)

favorite shot glasses

decorative shot glasses (1.75 ounces)

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shot glasses (1.5 ounces)

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tall shot glasses (2 ounces)

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^*

To serve the carrot cake shots, you will need 2-ounce shot glasses ^*. You can use bigger or smaller glasses, but you may need to adjust the recipe. Thankfully, the ingredients are used and equal parts so you can easily multiply the recipe!

If you would like to make the drink as a cocktail, you will need to double the recipe and you can serve it in a martini glass ^*. Carrot cake martinis would be so fun for a party too!

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients to make carrot cake shots — you can find them easily at your local liquor store! They are all pretty common, and there should be an ass section with liqueurs.

• Cinnamon schnapps, such as Goldschläger
• Butterscotch schnapps, such as Buttershots
• Irish cream liqueur, such as Baileys or Carolan’s
• Hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico

Some recipes call for coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua, but in my taste tests, I did not think it tasted very much like carrot cake! Carrot cake usually has nuts mixed into the batter, giving it a crunchy texture and nutty flavor, and using hazelnut liqueur helps to harness the essential carrot cake vibe. Almond liqueur, AKA amaretto, could work too.

Substitutions & variations

If needed, you can try some substitutions, but keep in mind they may affect the overall flavor of the shots. Here’s what we suggest:

Hazelnut liqueur: Some recipes for carrot cake shots include coffee liqueur, but in my tests, I preferred the nutty taste of Frangelico better. You could also use amaretto almond liqueur in its place.

Cinnamon schnapps: Instead of cinnamon schnapps, you can use cinnamon whiskey or any other spicy cinnamon liqueur.

Butterscotch schnapps: As a substitute for butterscotch schnapps, vanilla vodka or caramel vodka will probably work the best.

Irish cream liqueur: There isn’t a great substitute for Irish cream, but you can easily make it at home with Irish whiskey or use homemade Irish cream syrup. White chocolate liqueur or Rumchata might also work.

Garnishes

I always think that a great way to level up a shot recipe recipes is to add a rim to the glass. Sugar and salt are common for things like a lemon drop shot or a Mexican candy shot, but you can get even more creative when it comes to dessert drinks!

For example, with my birthday cake shots, I use icing and rainbow sprinkles to really take them up a notch. Is it necessary? No. Is it super fun? Absolutely!

When you are preparing a chunky rim for any glass, you need something really sticky to bind it. Carrot cake is usually iced with cream cheese frosting, so that works well as a binder for chopped nuts on the rim. You can also use honey or maple syrup; however, if they are too thick, I recommend putting them in the freezer ASAP so that they don’t drip. For the nuts, you can use chopped walnuts or pecans.

Instructions

Ready to make a delicious carrot cake shot? Here’s how:

To add the rim, pour some finely-chopped nuts on a plate. Use a spatula ^* or food-safe paintbrush to add cream cheese frosting around the outer rim of a shot glass ^*. Roll the rim of the glass in the nuts to coat the rim. Repeat for all the glasses you are using.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all of the ingredients. First add the cinnamon schnapps and hazelnut liqueur.

Then add the butterscotch schnapps and Irish cream. Cover the shaker and shake it really well, until the shaker is very cold in your hands.

Strain the drink into your prepared shot glasses ^*. Alternatively, you can serve a double batch of this drink in a martini glass. Then enjoy!

Tips & tricks

Want to take your carrot cake shot to the next level? Try these tips!

• To make them seriously gorgeous, use cream cheese frosting and chopped nuts on the rim of the glasses.
• Double the recipe and serve the drink in a cocktail glass to make a carrot cake cocktail.
• To make a big batch, stir everything together in a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Food pairings

Serve these carrot cake shots with all your favorite Easter and springtime recipes, such as deviled eggs and lemon loaf. Some sweet snacks like Easter bark would also be perfect. They’d honestly be perfect after a big Easter dinner like this roasted leg of lamb.

For carrot cake lovers, serve them with carrot cake dip for a snack, a slice of classic carrot cake or even a scoop of carrot cake ice cream.

FAQ

More shot recipes

• Green Tea Shot
• Baby Guinness Shot
• Washington Apple Shot
• Irish Breakfast Shot