Candy Corn 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 07/21/21
Candy corn shooter recipe

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck 
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 shot
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
101 Calories
4g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 101
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 13mg 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.)

Show off your bartending skills at the Halloween party with this fun candy corn shot. It's a popular layered shooter that's easy to create and it has the delightful taste of vanilla, herbs, orange, and cream. All around, it's a great shot for any party!

The key to the "candy corn" effect is layering the ingredients according to their specific gravity. Pouring the gold-colored Galliano, then orange curaçao, and finishing it off with cream creates the same distinct striping as the Halloween candy. They should layer up rather easily, so this is a good drink for anyone to make at home, even if it's your first attempt at floating ingredients.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Shots
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck 

  2. Pour the Galliano into a shot glass.

    Pour Galliano in shot glass
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck 

  3. Float the orange curaçao on top by pouring it over the back of a bar spoon.

    Float orange curaco
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck 

  4. Float the cream on top, also using the spoon.

    Float cream
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck 

  5. Serve and enjoy.

    Serve
    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck 

Tips

  • The actual volume needed for each ingredient will depend on the size of your shot glass. No matter the size, visually divide your glass into thirds and pour accordingly.
  • Some types of cream float very well on top of most liquors. The key is to have a certain percentage of milk fat, typically a minimum of 30 percent. Heavy cream is often the best choice, though whipping cream can work. Sometimes it helps to add air by shaking the cream (either in the carton or a cocktail shaker) or whipping it quickly before pouring.

Recipe Variations

You can create the same look of the candy corn shot with different liquors, though the taste will change. However, getting the same colors in that order is limited because of the density of the possible substitutes. There are a few options, though, and these may be helpful if you have one of them in your bar.

  • Irish cream should make a good substitute for the top layer of cream. Specifically, Baileys is just a little lighter than curaçao, so it will layer. Other brands not.
  • For the middle layer, you may be able to substitute an apricot liqueur for the curaçao. The effectiveness may vary from one brand to another.
  • Many banana liqueurs—included schnapps and crème de banane—have an identical specific gravity to Galliano and would make a good substitute for the yellow layer on the bottom.

How Strong Is a Candy Corn Shooter?

Compared to other shooters, the candy corn is pretty light, but it's still not a weak drink. This shot's alcohol content will be about 20 percent ABV (40 proof), so it's half the strength of a straight tequila shot. Despite its sweet taste and pretty looks, it does pack a punch!

Recipe Tags: