You don't have to be a master mixologist to pour the perfect party drinks. These creative vodka shots are just what your guests will want to kick off the celebration.
13 Vodka Shots That Are Much Better Than the Ones You Had in College
Updated on Sep. 26, 2024
Cantaloupe Smoothie Shooters
It has smoothie in the name, so it’s healthy—right? Regardless, these shooters from We are not Martha are definitely delicious, blended with vodka, Greek yogurt, cantaloupe and lime juice. If you’re craving a nonalcoholic smoothie, try one of these fruity concoctions.
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Pumpkin Pie Shots
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Fall means one thing: pumpkin spice. Get your fix with these seasonal shots, made with canned pumpkin and butterscotch schnapps liqueur.
Nutrition Facts:
1 shot: 39 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Strawberry Lemonade Jell-O Shots
These aren’t the Jell-O shots of your college days. Crayons & Cravings makes them with fresh fruit and (hopefully!) better vodka, and they’re also poured into lemon wedges instead of plastic cups for a grownup twist on the party staple.
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Lemon Drop Shot Recipe
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
A simple classic! This shot is a bracing, sweet-tart blend of vodka, tart lemon juice and simple syrup. It's traditional to serve with a lemon wedge coated in sugar for an extra puckery, lemony punch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 157 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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White Tea Shot Recipe
Total Time
5 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This crisp, refreshing vodka shot doesn’t contain tea at all! But it packs a sweet and sour punch with lovely, zippy fizz from the lemon-lime soda. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 82 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Cotton Candy Ice Cream Shots
If you’re obsessed with all things ice cream, these are the shots for you. And as if the vanilla vodka/cotton candy ice cream/coconut milk combo wasn’t rich enough, Sugar & Cloth also serves them with a fluffy cotton candy garnish. Here are 9 more boozy ice cream drinks to drool over.
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Champagne Jell-O Shots
Why settle for regular shots when you could have sparkly champagne shots? Perfect for a New Year’s Eve party (just like these NYE menu ideas), these lemony sips from Feast + West are topped with glitter sprinkles for an extra glam touch.
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Strawberry Shortcake Shooters
Have your cake and drink it, too! Tipsy Chickens designed these gorgeous strawberry shortcake shots. A spoonful of strawberry puree at the bottom of each glass adds a uniquely sweet twist, especially when you pour a healthy helping of cake vodka on top.
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Birthday Cake Pudding Shots
Put the happy in “happy birthday” with these festive pudding shots, created by Wine & Glue. You can use boxed cake mix as your base, then add vodka, instant pudding and milk. Don’t forget the sprinkles!
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Blueberry Lemonade Slammer Shot
Lemonade + fresh blueberries + vodka = the summer sip of your dreams. While you can make your own lemonade, the recipe from Take Two Tapas recommends simply buying it.
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Spiced Apple Cider Jelly Shots
Total Time
20 min
Servings
64 squares
From the Recipe Creator:
These spiced, spiked gelatin squares are sure to get the party started at fall get-togethers. If you’re going for the more traditional shot-style look, pour the mixture into 2-ounce plastic cups and refrigerate until set. —Rachel Seis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 28 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Green Tea Shots
Despite the name, there’s actually no green tea involved in the making of this shot. And while the original recipe calls for whiskey, mixologist Caroline Caron-Phelps from Pickled Plum says you can easily sub in vodka, adding it to the peach schnapps, sour mix and Sprite for a refreshing sip.
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Jell-O Shots
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A flash from the past to your good ol’ college days, these gelatinous shots are simple yet delicious. Only three ingredients are needed to make these sweet, fun drinks: vodka, water and berry-flavored Jell-O. —Ceara Milligan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 shot: 47 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 16mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
