This Red White and Blue Pudding Shots recipe is a fun way to enjoy the Fourth of July in a perfectly portioned, portable spiked pudding package.
Filled with festive colors and rich flavor, this easy recipe can be made in minutes using instant pudding, half and half, vodka, and food dye (or leave out the booze so that both kids and adults can enjoy a sweet treat).
4th of July Pudding Shots
Patriotic Vodka Pudding Shots are a fun and festive way to get any summer party started; they’re the tastiest twist on the traditional jello shot when you’re tired of sipping and slurping spiked jello!
While my 4th of July Jello Shots may wiggle and jiggle, this delicious drink/dessert combination is simply made with a pudding mix, so it’s cool and creamy and served with a spoon.
This layered individual-sized Independence Day dessert is my favorite way to celebrate with friends and family and makes any patriotic party perfectly sweet!
Just like the classic vodka-infused jello shots, a basic pudding shots recipe can easily be customized with an assortment of alcohol and colors – create your own best boozy bite and transform your favorite flavored powder into fun party food.
For more 4th of July recipes and food to accompany your fireworks, check out my 4th of July Rice Krispie Treats, 4th of July Sugar Cookies, and 4th of July Cake In A Jar.
Why We Love This Red White and Blue Pudding Shots Recipe
- Quick and easy to make in 10 minutes — no baking or cooking needed.
- Only uses 3 simple ingredients plus food dye.
- Delicious dessert for kids when you leave out the alcohol.
- Ultimate single-serving sized cocktail in solid pudding form!
- Great for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or any other patriotic holiday gathering.
- Tasty treats for a picnic, potluck, backyard BBQ, or summer party.
Ingredients
- Instant cheesecake pudding: powder contains ingredients that absorb liquid to form pudding texture instantly (you cannot substitute it for Cook & Serve).
- Half and half
- Vodka
- Red food dye
- Blue food dye
- Whipped cream or Cool Whip (optional garnish)
- Patriotic sprinkles (optional garnish)
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
Substitutions and Additions
- Pick Your Pudding: If you don’t care for the cheesecake flavor, feel free to use instant vanilla pudding or instant white chocolate pudding instead.
- Grab A garnish: Top your layered shot desserts with a whipped topping, colorful sprinkles, a maraschino cherry, fresh fruit (like blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries), or candy, or cookie crumbles.
- Customize The Colors and Flavors: Get creative and use your favorite flavored alcohol and instant pudding combinations.
- Kahlúa and Irish cream liqueur + Chocolate pudding = Mudslide Pudding Shots
- Vodka and Baileys or other Irish cream liqueur = Pistachio Pudding Shots
- Whipped vodka + Lemon pudding = Lemon Meringue Pie Pudding Shots
- Coconut vodka + Pineapple pudding = Pina Colada Tropical Pudding Shots
- Cake vodka + Strawberry pudding = Strawberry Shortcake Pudding Shots
Recommended Tools
- 2-Ounce shot glasses
- Frosting bag and tip (optional)
- Hand mixer or whisk
How to Make Layered Red White and Blue Pudding Shots
These fourth of July pudding shots are filled with festive colored pudding, layered in a portable cup for the perfect patriotic party! This simple recipe is so easy and quick and can be made without alcohol so they’re safe for both kids and non-indulging adults to consume.
- Prepare The Pudding: Beat together the pudding powder and half and half until thick. Add the vodka and beat again until smooth and thickened.
- Create Colors: Separate the pudding into three bowls. Add blue food coloring to one bowl and mix, until no color streaks appear. Repeat with the red food coloring.
- Chill: Place pudding in the fridge until thickened.
- Assemble: Fill each shot glass a third full with red pudding, followed by white pudding, and top with blue pudding. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkles.
- Serve: Enjoy!
Tips
- Do not add more vodka to the mixture or it will make it too thin. For this pudding shot, you want it to remain a little thicker so the colors don’t mix.
- When you start to mix the vodka into the pudding, it will look chunky at first. Just keep mixing, it will smooth out, this is normal.
- Be sure to tap each shot glass lightly on the counter as you add each color. This will flatten it out and make the color layers smoother.
- It’s important to use half and half as it’s a little thicker than normal whole milk. You don’t want to use heavy whipping cream as this will make the pudding too thick. The half and half worked great for this recipe.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Store any leftover pudding shots, covered, in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make these sweet treats in advance! Without the toppings, your pudding shots will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
Make sure all of your cups full of pudding shots are covered tightly so the pudding remains fresh and doesn’t develop a film.
Once the shots are garnished, they’re best served within the next few hours.
I find it best to use a frosting bag to layer the pudding in shot glasses. Make sure to tilt the bag to the side as you fill each glass, as the mixture will be thinner and not hold in the frosting bag as well as a thick frosting would.
It will want to escape out of the frosting tip. So, as long as you keep the bag tilted sideways, in between each layer, you should be fine.
You can also try using an injector, although some pudding chunks might try and block it.
Yes, you can easily make these pudding cups without alcohol for kids to enjoy. Simply prepare the pudding as directed on the box and follow the rest of the steps. Just skip the vodka.
Other Easy Dessert Shot Recipes
- Dirty Shirley Jello Shots
- Pool Party Jello Shots
- Starburst Jello Shots
- Fireball Jello Shots
- 10+ Amazing Adult Jello Shot Recipes!
- Red, White and Blue Jello
Red White and Blue Pudding Shots
Ingredients
- 2 boxes Instant Cheesecake Pudding (3 ounces each)
- 2 cups Half and Half
- 1 cup Vodka
- Red Food Dye
- Blue Food Dye
- Whipped Cream (optional garnish)
- Patriotic Sprinkles (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Add your pudding and half and half to a large mixing bowl. Beat with the mixer until thickened.
- Add the vodka and beat again until smooth and thickened.
- Break the pudding into thirds, adding the portions to three separate bowls.
- In one bowl, add the blue food coloring and mix, adding more and mixing until the desired color is reached. Mix until no color streaks appear.
- Repeat the same steps for the red with one of the other bowls. Leave the third one without color.
- Place back in the fridge until thickened.
- Add the red to the frosting bag and fill each shot glass a third full. Next, do the same thing with the uncolored pudding, and end with the blue pudding.
- Using the frosting bag one more time, add a dollop of whipped cream to the top of each shot and toss on some sprinkles. Enjoy!
Jenn’s Notes
- Do not add more vodka to the mixture or it will make it too thin. For this pudding shot, you want it to remain a little thicker so the colors don’t mix.
- When you start to mix the vodka into the pudding, it will look chunky at first. Just keep mixing, it will smooth out, this is normal.
- When using the frosting bag, be sure to tilt it to the side as the mixture will be thinner and not hold in the frosting bag as well as thick frosting might. It will want to escape out of the frosting tip. So, as long as you keep the bag tilted sideways in between each layer, you should be fine. You can also try using an injector, although some pudding chunks might try and block it.
- Be sure to tap each shot glass lightly on the counter as you add each color. This will flatten it out and make the color layers smoother.
It’s important to use half and half as it’s a little thicker than normal whole milk. You don’t want to use heavy whipping cream as this will make the pudding too thick. The half and half worked great for this recipe. - This can also be made with vanilla pudding if you don’t care for cheesecake flavor.
- If you’re wanting to make these safe for kids, simply prepare the pudding as directed on the box and follow the rest of the steps. Just skip the vodka.
How many 2 ounce shot glasses does this typically make?
About 12, was what it did for me 🙂
They are super