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A birthday cake shot is a delicious way to celebrate an adult birthday! These festive shots taste like whipped vanilla, and the colorful sprinkle rim gives them a birthday cake feel. It’s the perfect cocktail for a celebration, made with vodka and other sweet ingredients.
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Pin ItI celebrated my birthday with something fun and festive-inspired by my favorite cake – Funfetti! Its vanilla flavor and colorful sprinkles make it so joyful, which is why I created this birthday cake shot.
I love crafting themed cocktails for special occasions, and if you’re a fan of birthday cake and vodka, this easy recipe is perfect.
Try my other party shots: Lemon Drop Shot, Jolly Rancher Shot, Green Tea Shot, and Gummy Bear Shots. These recipes are always a hit for special occasions!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tastes like cake: Every sip is like biting into a slice of birthday cake.
- Quick to make: Ready in minutes with just five ingredients.
- Festive and fun: The sprinkle rim adds a colorful, celebratory touch.
- Perfect for any occasion: Ideal for birthdays, holidays, or themed parties.
Birthday Cake Shot Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this birthday cake shot recipe—there are only five!
Whipped Vodka: This has the most delicious whipped vanilla flavor. You can also use Pinnacle Cake Vodka, cream vodka, or vanilla-flavored vodka.
White Chocolate Liqueur: Adds a nice sweetness and helps make these birthday shots creamy. You can use any white chocolate liqueur you prefer, or you can use white chocolate Irish Cream, as I did.
Vanilla Extract: I add this to give the shots an even more robust vanilla birthday cake flavor. This makes these shots the real deal!
Vanilla Frosting: This is used to rim the shot glasses before adding the sprinkles. It will hold the sprinkles to the glass, giving them a fun and festive birthday party look. This also adds to the white cake mix flavor of the shots.
Sprinkles: Use any sprinkles for this recipe, but we recommend using colorful sprinkles for fun!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep the Glasses
- Spread vanilla frosting around the rim of each shot glass.
- Dip the rims into colorful sprinkles to coat.
Mix the Ingredients
- Combine 1 ounce whipped vodka, 1 ounce white chocolate liqueur, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until chilled.
Serve
- Strain the mix into the prepared shot glasses.
- Optional: Add whipped cream or sprinkle edible glitter on top for a festive touch.
Recipe Tips and Variations
Batch It: Double or triple the recipe for larger gatherings.
Chill Your Ingredients: Cold ingredients make the shots taste better and feel refreshing.
Make Ahead: You can mix the ingredients in advance and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Rim glasses and garnish just before serving.
Chocolate Cake Shot: Swap white chocolate liqueur with chocolate liqueur or Frangelico for a nutty flavor.
Fruity Twist: Add a splash of raspberry or strawberry liqueur for a berry-flavored version.
Birthday Cake Martini: Strain into a martini glass and garnish with sprinkles.
Pairings and Serving Suggestions
These shots pair perfectly with light appetizers or desserts. Try serving them with:
Chewy Vanilla Brownies: A match made in heaven.
Dessert Charcuterie Board: A fun and easy way to serve dessert and would pair nicely with these festive shots!
Birthday Cake Cheesecake: Double down on the cake theme.
Funfetti Birthday Cake: One of my favorite cake recipes! I even added it to my book, it’s so good!
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very similar in flavor. Whipped vodka is a creamy and sweet vodka, while cake vodka is a type of vanilla-flavored vodka. Both are perfect for making birthday shots!
Yes, you can make the birthday shots ahead of time. Combine the ingredients and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Rim the glasses and top with whipped cream and sprinkles just before serving.
You can use honey or corn syrup if you don’t have frosting. Coat the rims of the shot glasses with either of these liquids and then dip them into sprinkles.
Yes! Substitute the vodka and liqueur with vanilla syrup and white chocolate-flavored cream.
More Shot Recipes
Here are a few more delicious recipes you’ll love:
- Pina Colada Jello Shots
- Cranberry Jello Shots
- Candy Corn Shots
- Mini Paloma Tequila Shots
- Green Tea Shots
- Lemon Drop Shots
These birthday cake shots are guaranteed to be the life of the party! Fun, festive, and full of flavor, they’re a sweet way to celebrate any adult birthday.
If you try this recipe, leave a comment and review below—I’d love to hear how they turned out!
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Birthday Cake Shot
Ingredients
- 4 ounces whipped vodka, vanilla vodka or birthday cake vodka work too.
- 4 ounce white chocolate liqueur
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup vanilla frosting
- 1/2 cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Rim the shot glasses by dipping them in a shallow bowl of frosting.
- Immediately dip them into a shallow bowl of sprinkles.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the whipped vodka, white chocolate liqueur, vanilla extract, and ice.
- Shake vigorously for 10 seconds to combine.
- Fill the prepared glasses with the birthday cake shot mixture.
Notes
Make them Ahead of Time
Make these shots by adding all ingredients into a cocktail shaker without ice and storing them in the refrigerator. You can also rim the shot glasses and store them in the refrigerator on a platter. When you’re ready to serve, add ice to the shaker, shake for 10 seconds, and stain the shot glasses.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
