Indulge in the perfect fusion of dessert and cocktails with Chocolate Pudding Shots. These rich, creamy treats have a boozy kick. They’re easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy, and are sure to be the highlight of any get-together.
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About this Chocolate Pudding Shots recipe
Every party needs a show-stopping dessert and a signature drink. But what if you could combine them into one decadent treat?!
You can! Chocolate Pudding Shots are the boozy desserts that are going to transform all your parties this season.
Made with silky chocolate pudding mixed with Irish cream liqueur and coffee liqueur, these boozy pudding cups pack a seriously sweet punch. They’re delightful to eat and will be gorgeous on any dessert table display. Bonus? They’re seriously simple to make!
More chocolate recipes: Baileys Hot Chocolate • Mexican Chocolate Cookies • Chocolate Old-Fashioned • Chocolate Cake Shot
Why you’ll love this recipe
You’ll love this chocolate pudding shot recipe, for a few reasons:
- Chocolate Pudding Shots are a chocolate lover’s dream come true!
- They are boozy, sweet and a totally different option for a party dessert.
- With only five ingredients, these puppies are seriously easy to make.
Chocolate pudding shots would be perfect for everything from birthday parties to holiday parties, tailgates to cookouts and bachelor/ette parties to bridal showers.
They’re not too boozy, really — one batch has just 1 cup (8 ounces) of alcohol, and divided among 24 servings, that’s only ⅓ ounce of alcohol per pudding cup, so you’d need to eat a lot to get tipsy.
Pudding shots vs. Jello shots
Alcoholic pudding shots are similar to boozy Jello shots, but with one key difference: They’re made with pudding mix, not the jiggly fruity gelatin dessert mix. Pudding shots are often made with chocolate or vanilla pudding and liqueurs like coffee liqueur or Rumchata.
On the other hand, jello shots are usually colorful and fruity, like lime or cherry-flavored, and made alcoholic with spirits like vodka or rum.
Jello shots are normally enjoyed by loosening the gelatin in the cup with your finger, then kicking the shot back into your mouth. But pudding shots are a little messier, so they can be enjoyed with a spoon.
Tools & equipment
To make chocolate pudding shots, you don’t need a lot of special equipment. A mixing bowl, spatula or whisk and some measuring cups are really all you need.
But to serve the pudding shots, you will need to grab some kind of shot glasses or jello shot cups. You can use glass ones if you have enough (it makes roughly 24 shots) or you can get plastic shot glasses.
If you are transporting them, I recommend getting condiment cups with lids so you can stack them without them spilling. You may also want to pick up some little spoons for guests to use.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to grab at the grocery store to make this recipe:
- Instant chocolate pudding mix: Be sure to use instant pudding. Cook & serve pudding has to be prepared on the stove, which isn’t ideal for this recipe.
- Milk: Whole milk is best for the fluffiest jello shots, but you can use your favorite kind of milk.
- Irish cream liqueur: Irish cream has a creamy coffee-vanilla-chocolate flavor that can’t be beat. You can use homemade Irish cream, too! Rumchata or Amarula are two other cream liqueurs that would be nice in these.
- Coffee liqueur: You can substitute more Irish cream or chocolate liqueur if you don’t like coffee flavor.
- Frozen whipped topping: Cool Whip or Truwhip are two brands to try. Just be sure you have thawed it before using it in this recipe.
- Whipped cream: Totally optional but a little dollop of whipped cream on top takes these up a notch and look more elegant.
- Chocolate sprinkles: You could also use chocolate curls or a dusting of cinnamon or cocoa powder on top.
Best alcohol for Chocolate Pudding Shots
The best alcohol for chocolate pudding shots is a combination of Irish cream liqueur and coffee liqueur.
Irish cream, with its rich blend of creamy coffee, vanilla, and chocolate flavors, adds a luxurious depth to the pudding. Rumchata or Amarula can also provide a delightful twist.
For those who prefer a less pronounced coffee flavor, you can easily substitute the coffee liqueur with more Irish cream or even a chocolate liqueur for extra chocolatey goodness.
Substitutions & variations
Dairy-free version: Keep in mind that the type of pudding you use may contain dairy. There is such a thing as dairy-free pudding mix, though! It should work with your favorite milk alternative and a dairy-free whipped topping, like coconut whipped cream. (CocoWhip is one brand I’ve used in another recipe.)
Vegan pudding shots: Pudding mix usually contains gelatin and milk, which are both animal products Keep in mind that some dessert liqueurs contain dairy as well. Baileys Almande is an almond milk version you can use, or you check out this resource on vegan alcohol options I put together.
Non-alcoholic pudding shots: In place of the alcohol, you could use espresso or a zero-proof spirit like Lyre’s Coffee Originale. However, alcohol keeps the pudding from setting all the way, so using a non-alcoholic substitute may make them set better, so they will be more solid than liquid.
Other uses: Who said this boozy pudding has to be served in little cups? Serve it in bowls or use it to make a brownie trifle.
Instructions
Ready to whip up some chocolate pudding shots? Let’s go!
Start mixing: Grab a mixing bowl and whisk together instant chocolate pudding mix with milk. Pour the milk slowly as you whisk to avoid the formation of clumps. Keep whisking until it gets nice and thick and smooth.
Add some booze: Now, stir in some Irish cream liqueur and coffee liqueur. Mix until everything’s smooth and well combined.
Fold in the fluff: Gently fold in thawed whipped topping. You want to make sure it’s all blended together and there are no streaks. Use a spatula to get un-mixed pudding from the bottom of the bowl.
Divide it up: Spoon the mixture into small cups. This process can be messy, so you can use a turkey baster to slurp up the liquid and insert it cleanly into the cups.
Chill out: Pop them into the fridge to set. It’ll take about 3 hours. If you’re in a hurry, the freezer works too: 1-2 hours should do the trick! If you’re short on time, freezing the cups is a great trick. Just be sure to let them thaw for a few minutes before serving so they’re not too firm.
Finishing touches: When you’re ready to serve, add a dollop of whipped cream on top and sprinkle with chocolate sprinkles for a little extra flair.
Tips & tricks
Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:
- When whisking the pudding mix and milk, make sure to mix thoroughly to avoid any lumps. If you find any lumps, a quick whisking or using a hand mixer can help smooth things out.
- Before folding in the whipped topping, give the mixture a taste. If you like it sweeter or with a stronger liqueur flavor, you can adjust the amounts to your preference.
- Get creative with the toppings! Besides chocolate sprinkles, you could use crushed cookies, a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce, or even a sprinkle of sea salt for a fancy touch.
- This dessert can be made a day ahead of time, so it’s perfect for parties or gatherings. Just keep it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
How to eat Pudding Shots
Pudding shots are easy to eat! They have a different texture than jello shots, so they can be enjoyed differently.
For jello shots, the best way is to insert your finger along the inside edge of the container and trace the edge of the cup to loosen the gelatin. Then toss the shot back and suck it out. It’s not very glamorous, is it?!
Pudding shots, on the other hand, have a slightly softer texture like, well, pudding! You can enjoy them like jello shots, but they’d be a lot messier. If you don’t want to use your hands, a spoon is just fine! These little spoons are the right size.
Food pairings
Pudding shots are the perfect dessert for parties! These single-serving desserts are great options for the food table because they are easy to add to your plate and enjoy while you walk around and mingle.
Appetizer pairings: Pudding shots are classy little desserts, so serve them with other elegant finger foods like caprese skewers and blue cheese stuffed olives.
Dessert pairings: Serve pudding shots alongside some other single-serving desserts boozy bourbon balls or fluffy champagne cupcakes. It’s a good idea to offer an alcohol-free option, like soft chocolate chip cookies.
Drink pairings: Chocolate goes well with wine, especially red wine. Other chocolate drinks like a mudslide cocktail would be perfect.
FAQ
Technically yes, but you’d need to eat a lot of them. One batch has just 1 cup (8 ounces) of alcohol. When divided among 24 pudding cups, that’s only about ⅓ ounce of alcohol per pudding cup, so you’d need to eat a lot to get tipsy.
Pudding shots should be stored in the fridge or freezer for setting. The fridge will take about 3 hours and the freezer can work a little faster, like 1-2 hours. Keep them in the fridge until ready to eat. Pudding shots don’t store well after a couple of days, so be sure to enjoy them ASAP!
More jello shot recipes
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Chocolate Pudding Shots
ingredients
- 1 cup milk whole or 2%
- ¾ cup Irish cream liqueur such as Baileys
- ¼ cup coffee liqueur such as Kahlua
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping such as Cool Whip or Truwhip, thawed
- whipped cream for topping
- chocolate sprinkles for garnish
instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together instant chocolate pudding mix and milk until thickened.
- Stir in Irish cream liqueur and coffee liqueur until smooth.
- Fold in thawed whipped topping until well combined.
- Spoon the mixture into small cups, then chill until set, about 3 hours. (You may place them in the freezer to chill faster, about 1-2 hours.)
notes
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