5-Ingredient Basic Chocolate Pudding Shots

These luscious chocolate pudding shots are heavenly little cups of alcohol-infused pudding that are sure to make you the host or hostess with the mostest. Pudding shots are a cool and creamy adults-only treat that's always a hit at summer parties!

Party Perfect Pudding Shots

I'm just going to go ahead and call it right now: Summer 2022 is going to be ALL about these cool and creamy pudding shots!

Actually, for me, EVERY summer since I discovered them has been all about these pudding shots, LOL. We're talking HUGE HIT!! Waayyy better than jello shots...

We've been pulling these chocolate pudding shots out of our cooler for OBX vacations, football tailgates, pre-concert parking lot parties, and really ANY adult gathering and time of year to excited cheers for years. Simply put, they're guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face!

I'll tell you up front that they GO FAST - which is why this Baileys chocolate pudding shots recipe makes a BIG double batch for a crowd. Because running out of pudding shots too early in the evening is a sad, SAD occasion.

What Are Pudding Shots?

But let me back up for just a minute... Before I tell you how to make them, I guess I should share more on what exactly IS a pudding shot.

Basically, they're heavenly little cups of alcohol-infused pudding that will surely make you the host or hostess with the mostest.

These chocolate shots are ideal for summer gatherings, because they're:

• Super easy to make.
• Can be made several days ahead of time.
• ALWAYS well received.

AND they melt in your mouth, not in your hands. :)

These pudding shots are tastier take on their partner-in-crime, the more well-known Jell-O shot. At least that's MY opinion! In case you haven't noticed, jello shots are everywhere these days. In fact, vendors were actually selling them at the concert we went to last night. Crazy!

But pudding shots? Not so much. And I'm here to remedy the situation... Because you really cannot go wrong with you mix pudding with a little creamy liqueur and some flavored vodka!!

Chocolate Pudding Shot Ingredients

Made with just 5 ingredients, these chocolate pudding shots are totally delicious. AND deceptively strong for their small size - thanks to a cup each of Baileys Irish Cream and whipped cream flavored vodka.

The original recipe calls for espresso vodka, which sounds fabulous but is about as common as a unicorn around here. Seriously, I've been to every store I can think of and have yet to find even a single bottle.

No problem, though! I decided to use Pinnacle Whipped Vodka, and then I added a teaspoon of instant espresso powder.

It's completely optional, but espresso powder is known for intensifying the chocolate flavor in recipes. And I really love the subtle flavor boost it provides. Many of my friends compare the taste to to the light chocolate flavor of a classic Wendy's Frosty. #yum

The remaining three ingredients are simply a package of instant chocolate pudding (well actually two, remember BIG batch?!), a tub of Cool Whip topping, and a cup of milk. That's it - easy-peasy!

How To Make Pudding Shots

How do you make pudding shots? Well, it's really quite simple. Whisk one cup milk and one cup Baileys into the instant chocolate pudding mix and espresso powder (if using) in a large bowl. After they're well blended, whisk in the vodka. Finally, fold in the Cool Whip until completely combined.

My preferred way to serve these Baileys pudding shots is in these little disposable condiment pudding shot cups with lids. They're SO much less work than washing a ton of tiny plastic shot glasses...

Just spoon the mixture evenly into the disposable plastic shot cups (one big scoop plus a dab using this cookie scoop is ideal), leaving a little room for expansion, because we're going to pop them in the freezer. Close each cup up with the lids, and freeze until you're ready to serve your pudding shots.

Honestly, the hardest part of making Jell-O pudding shots is resisting the urge to sample a spoonful here and there as you're portioning out the cups. No joke!

Fun fact: We ran out of disposable party shot cups at the beach one year, so we just used spoons to eat the mix right out of the bowl. But then we ran out of spoons... So I just used my (clean) hand to scrape the remainder out of the bowl.

NOT my finest moment, but these chocolate pudding shots are seriously THAT good!

The Best Pudding Shots?

Real quick - two more things before I give you the recipe...

Flavor Without The Fuss

I've seen some pretty fancy and over the top pudding shots on Pinterest, all claiming to be the BEST pudding shots ever. Do they taste better than these simple chocolate pudding shots? I'm pretty skeptical… Maybe they do and maybe they don't. My bet is that they DO NOT.

And when it comes right down to it, I've found that my guests really don't care if their pudding shots are smothered in whipped cream, chocolate chips, crushed graham crackers, chocolate shavings, oreo cookies, mini marshmallows, and/or crushed candy and topped with a sprinkle of cocoa powder.

These basic chocolate pudding shots take just 10 minutes to make, and the results speak for themselves. Their taste is anything but basic!

Simple Substitutions

That said, this recipe is easily customizable. I mean, you don't HAVE to start with a box of chocolate pudding mix. Try swapping in different varieties of instant pudding or different flavors of vodka.

You can even try different flavors of Cool Whip. We tried the Oreo Cookie Cool Whip in these chocolate pudding shots at the beach last year, and they were totally AMAZING! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it since back here in Ohio.

In any case, these swaps keep the recipe simple and easy, but they allow you to change up the flavors to your tastes. If you try some new varieties, I'd love to hear your results!

P.S. Make sure you take copies of this recipe with you to your gathering! I've never left a party without giving out the recipe at least 5 times...

Printable Recipe ↓

UPDATE: Whoa, you guys blew me away with your response to this chocolate pudding shots recipe... So I made you not one, not two, not even three, but four NEW pudding shot recipes!!!

• Vanilla RumChata Pudding Shots
• White Russian Pudding Shots
• Funfetti Birthday Cake Pudding Shots
• Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots

Try them all ASAP and let me know what you think. Want more flavors? Tell me what pudding shot ideas sound delish in the comments.