Birthday Cake Shot

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/10/21
Birthday Cake Shot Drink
The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Yield: 2 shots
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
122 Calories
0g Fat
11g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 0mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 6mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Sweet, delicious, and festive, the birthday cake shot is nothing short of fun. It's also easy to make, and a great use for that bottle of cake vodka stashed away in your bar. Essentially, it's a cake in a glass, and there's no baking involved!

This tasty little drink is made with cake vodka, chocolate liqueur, and Irish cream. The shot glasses are rimmed with vanilla frosting and colorful candy sprinkles to give it that real birthday cake feel. Since any cake is always best when enjoyed with others, the birthday cake shot recipe makes two shooters, and it's easy to increase if you need more.

Ingredients

  • Vanilla frosting, for rimming

  • Candy sprinkles, for rimming

  • 1 ounce cake vodka

  • 1 ounce crème de cacao

  • 1 ounce Irish cream

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Birthday Cake Shots
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  2. Rim two shot glasses by rolling them in a small dish of frosting, then dipping the rim in a dish of colorful sprinkles.

    Rimming Shot Glasses for Birthday Cake Shots
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  3. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the cake vodka, crème de cacao, and Irish cream.

    Making Birthday Cake Shots
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  4. Shake well.

    Mixing Birthday Cake Shooters
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

  5. Strain into the prepared shot glasses. Serve and enjoy.

    Straining Birthday Cake Shots
    The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • While any frosting works, a whipped frosting is lighter and fluffier, perfect for rimming. It's available at most grocery stores and, if you have baked goods to frost as well, you can make your own whipped frosting.
  • One quick dunk will grab a lot of sprinkles. Go slow if you want more frosting and fewer sprinkles.
  • Crème de cacao is available in two styles: dark and white (clear). Either works well in this shot, and only the color will change. You can also use any chocolate liqueur you have on hand.

Recipe Variations

  • This drink also makes a fabulous cocktail. Shake it up and strain it into a cocktail glass for a dessert martini or serve it on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass.
  • Whipped cream and vanilla vodkas are excellent substitutes for cake vodka and will retain some of the sweetness. You can also pour an unflavored vodka.
  • Use any small cake decoration; colored sugars are fun, as are mini pearls.
  • Switch to a chocolate frosting to play up that flavor in the shot. Or, go for the yummy combo of cream cheese frosting and crushed walnuts used in the carrot cake shot.
  • As in the king cake shot, top each shot glass with a swirl of whipped cream.

How Strong Is the Birthday Cake Shot?

Don't be deceived by this sweet shooter. It's rather potent, averaging out at 21 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 42 proof) when made with a 60-proof cake vodka. To put it into perspective, drinking two of these shooters is equivalent to a straight shot of tequila.