The Best Type Of Alcohol To Use In Pudding Shots

Pudding shots are like Jell-O shots' lavish, more sophisticated cousin boasting a richer, velvety mouthfeel. The type of alcohol used to give them their spirited appeal is an integral part of whether the flavors dance on your palate or leave you wishing you had just made plain pudding.

We spoke with Molly Horn, the chief mixologist and spirits educator at Total Wine & More, about which kinds of alcohol should be used to create enticing pudding shots, and she noted that both texture and flavor need to be addressed when adding booze to pudding. " When it comes to texture, there are a couple tricks to get that silky smooth consistency," she said. "For one, unlike with Jell-O shots it is actually better to use creamy or generally heavier liqueurs such as Bailey's, Kahlua, or even Chocolate Liqueur such as Borgata." 

Those spirits can all incorporate dessert-like flavors to pudding shots, but Horn suggested being a bit more creative when thinking about taste. "From a flavor perspective — trust your instincts!" she said. "Combine flavors that you typically find in your favorite desserts, such as using a Salted Caramel cream liqueur with chocolate pudding mix, or coffee liqueur with vanilla pudding mix — even Amaretto with cookies & cream flavored pudding mix!" If you want to go the extra mile, consider topping the concoctions with cocktail garnishes like fruit or berries that would complement the flavors in the shot.

With all those sweet spirits, you wouldn't think there would be any room for more dessert, but you would be wrong. Just as bourbon pairs perfectly with toothsome dessert fare, pudding shots are best served with an additional helping of dessert. Horn said, "Pudding shots are extra delicious when sandwiched or set up on top of tasty baked goods like brownie bites or mini cheesecakes." If you really want to liven up a party, incorporate some of those same spirits into your pudding pairings. Instead of adding soda to elevate some brownies, use Baileys Chocolate. You could also energize a cheesecake by making it with Baileys Pumpkin Spice. 

As rich and flavorful as boozy pudding shots are, they take some time to prepare, especially if you are coupling them with other sweets. Horn had some suggestions for how to get some of the work done ahead of time, saying, "If you're not ready to serve the pudding shots right away, you can cover and freeze them for a week or two until you're ready to serve. Just be sure to refrigerate them a few hours before serving." If you slept on making them before an event and find yourself needing them to come out right in a hurry, Horn had some advice for that scenario as well. She said, "Another tip is to refrigerate the alcohol for at least a few hours before you plan to make the pudding shots, which will help with the 'setting' process."