15 Christmas Shots for a Festive Holiday to Remember

Want to kick off your holiday season right this year? Christmas shots are precisely what you’ll need! 

For some people, Christmas is a more spiritual, even sacred experience. 

For others, though, it’s a great time to party with the ones they love most. After all, Christmas is all about fun, family, and food.

Christmas shots are a big part of that. 

There are so many festive options to choose from, too. From Santa panties to eggnog pudding shots, these little cocktails pack a lot of flavor.

They’re pretty much the perfect party drink. 

Here are 15 recipes to get you started!

1. Santa Panties

Feisty red on the bottom, creamy white at the top. I’ve never actually seen Santa’s panties, but I bet that’s how they look! 

That’s what these layered shots look like, anyway! They’re fun and festive, and they taste great, too!

Each one combines Kahlua, RumChata, and grenadine. 

They’re fruity and rich, with just a touch of spiced decadence. If cinnamon is your thing, these shots are the ones for you. 

2. Tipsy Santa Shooters (Layered Christmas Shot)

Tipsy Santa shooters look exactly like Santa’s Panties above. However, you won’t add Kahlua to these.

Leaving it out gives them a brighter, more cinnamony flavor. 

They’re just as tasty and easy to make, though. Plus, you can have them ready in 5 minutes or less. 

3. Santa Christmas Shot

The Santa Christmas shot is a tri-colored drink with red, green, and clear liquids. You’ll start with grenadine at the bottom.

Then, you’ll add crème de menthe carefully so that it layers.

Top it off with clear peppermint schnapps. The schnapps doesn’t add color but delivers a ton of flavor.

Each shot is packed to the brim with minty freshness. 

They might be the only shots that make your breath better after drinking them.

4. Chocolate Chip Cookie Shooters

These alcohol-free shooters are fun for the whole family. Personally, I think Santa’s jolliness comes entirely from within.

In other words, I don’t think he imbibes too often. 

Instead, his shots probably look something like this. A shot glass full of milk and buttery chocolate chip cookie ingredients.

These are a fancy way to enjoy the typical Christmas cookies and milk. Plus, they allow you to get the kiddos in on the fun. 

5. Eggnog Pudding Shots

These eggnog pudding shots are just as sweet and tasty as the cookie shooters above.

However, these come with rum (or bourbon), so they’re 21 and up only.

They taste like creamy vanilla eggnog, perfectly spiced.

You’ll love the hints of nutmeg and cinnamon, and the whipped cream topping adds extra decadence.

They’re a little thicker than your traditional Jello shot. Still, they taste fantastic and will go down just as smoothly. 

6. Christmas Shots (Fun & Festive)

These grinchy green drinks are tart, tangy, and a teensy bit tropical.

The actual drinks require just two ingredients: Hawaiian Punch and coconut rum. 

You’ll also want to add corn syrup and sprinkles to the rim for flair. They’re absolutely adorable.

They’re also perfect if you want something with a ton of flavor and a decent kick.

7. Santa Hat Jell-O Shots

I know, right? These little Santa hat Jell-O shots are the cutest things ever! They really do look like tiny Santa hats! 

They’re super easy to make, too. You’ll top strawberry Jell-O shots with strawberries and whipped cream.

They’re bright, fruity, and entirely festive for the holiday season.

If Mrs. Claus was entertaining, these are the Christmas shots she’d make.

8. Candy Cane Jell-O Shots

These sweet, minty Jell-O shots look like candy canes in a glass. Fortunately, they taste as good as they look and are a snap to make.

You can pull together 16 of them in less than an hour. 

It seems like they’d be challenging to prepare. However, it’s just a matter of tilting your glasses sideways while the Jello is setting.

Give them a try. They still taste amazing even if you don’t get them exactly right.

Don’t mess up too many and knock them back yourself, though. That’s a sure way to get drunk fast. 

9. Mistletoe Shots

I love the bright green color of these mistletoe shots.

However, the whipped cream, sanding sugar, leaves, and Red Hots make them look good.

These take a little work to get the presentation right. Luckily, after the first couple, you’ll be churning them out in no time.

Decorating the rims of the glasses is effortless. The Red Hots and mint leaf garnishes aren’t too difficult either. 

These are ideal if you want a tray of easy-to-make drinks that’s sure to wow the crowd.

10. Snowball Shooter

Snowball shooters aren’t as impressive to look at as other options here. Their taste is pure holiday heaven, though. 

You’ll make them with three typical Christmas flavors: brandy, peppermint schnapps, and white crème de cacao.

The flavor is rich, warm, and full of mint and chocolate.

Despite its mild appearance, it’s a Peppermint Patty in a glass. It’s hard to beat that for a tasty Christmas treat.

11. Festive Cake Batter Shots

These cake batter shots are sweet, spiced, and supremely chocolatey. Each one is thick and creamy. (Thank you, Marshmallow Fluff!) 

They may look like shot glasses full of milk. Fortunately, though, they taste so much better than that. 

Oh! And don’t forget to add the green and red sprinkles to the glasses’ rims.

That’s what gives them their festive Christmas cheer. Feel free to add decadent whipped cream to the tops, too.

However you want to dress these up, people are sure to appreciate them.

12. Cranberry Jell-O Shots

In the mood for something lighter, brighter, and less sugary sweet? Check out these cranberry Jell-O shots.

Each one is tart and tangy and tastes just like cranberry Jell-O. 

After all, that’s pretty much what each one is!

You add a generous dash of vodka, of course. However, that doesn’t alter the cranberry flavor too much. 

Add sugared cranberries to the top if you want to make them more attractive.

It makes them look more Christmas-esque and gives them a touch of sweetness. 

Even without them, though, these are always a popular party shot.

13. Cosmo Shot

No matter the occasion, it’s hard to beat the classic Cosmopolitan. Unfortunately, sometimes you want something smaller and stronger. 

Instead of sipping your Cosmo, knock back these Cosmo shots. 

They feature the same tart, refreshing flavor as the original drink. They just come in a smaller, more concentrated package.

*Note: When I drink shots, I like them strong. Therefore, I usually up the amount of vodka I add to these shots. It gives them a slightly more bitter taste, but they hit much faster.

14. Cranberry Kamikaze Shots

Do you like the bright, bittersweet flavor of the cosmo shot but want something less boozy? These kamikaze shots are just the thing! 

They use many of the same ingredients as a cosmo. (Triple sec, cranberry juice, vodka, etc.) However, they have less alcohol and more fruit juice. 

This one is also tarter, thanks to the much higher dose of lime juice.

It’s definitely a drink that’ll make you say ‘WOW’ when you drink it. (Or maybe you’ll say, ‘Whoa!’ instead.)

Whatever you say when you taste something that makes your mouth pucker.

15. Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots

These thick, luscious pumpkin pie shots are perfect for Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Heck, you could even break them out for Halloween if you wanted!

Either way, they’re creamy and full of pumpkin spice yumminess. Best of all, you can make 50 of them in just 10 minutes!

You need to let them chill before serving them, though.

Break out this recipe any time you want spectacular seasonal dessert drinks.