Have you ever heard of the amazingness of chocolate cake drinks? The chocolate cake shot is the perfect way to get the taste you are looking for.
I used to love eating freshly made, warm chocolate cake as a kid when I went to friends’ birthday parties. The different variations like Black Forest Cake became a delicious way for me to celebrate life’s little victories or indulge once in a while.
So, when a friend who is a mixologist introduced me to the various chocolate shots that are out there, I was over the moon. Here was a grown-up way for me to enjoy a treat that I already loved. (And, a small shot contains less of those pesky calories than a massive slice of cake).
My friend went ahead and made me one; I took the shot and could not believe how great it tasted. Now, my mission in life is to tell everybody else about how great it tastes so they all can experience it all for themselves.
Chocolate Cake Shots Recipe
The chocolate cake shot is like nothing you have ever tried before. It is something else. Perhaps the most fun part of this mix is the lemon garnish. After all, my time eating chocolate cake never had anything to do with lemons! But it’s all part of the fun. The shot is served with a sugared rim, two sweet liquors, and of course, a slice of lemon to bite into after you shoot the mixture. Sounds crazy, right?
Don’t knock it till you try it! At first, I thought my friend, whose name is Sean, was playing a prank on me when I saw him mix up the shot and then add the lemon. After all, some shots don’t taste all that good (I’m looking at you, Cement Mixer). You take this shot by licking the tasty sugar off the rim, shooting the shot, and then biting the lemon at the very end of it all.
And the taste? AHH-MAZING!
Indeed, it is one of those “dangerous” shots-the kind where you don’t taste much liquor at all and could easily have too many if you are not careful. Now, let’s learn how to make this great shot.
Chocolate Cake Shot Ingredients
You can’t make a great chocolate cake shot without the best chocolate cake shot ingredients, so let’s talk about those now.
We used Frangelico hazelnut liqueur in ours plus some vanilla vodka. And of course, you should have a lemon that has been sliced into pieces you can put onto the rim of the glass. You should also have a plate with some sugar on it so that you can rim the glass as needed. A small dish of water to wet the rim is also a good idea if you are not working near a sink.
I would also like to note that the recipe uses a shaker, but if you do not have one, you can use a hack by putting two glasses together if the tops fit inside one another. (I’d still invest in a proper shaker if I were you!)
Now, you only need a half ounce of each of these liquors so you can make a good amount of these shots. I guarantee if you bring this to the next party you are invited to and serve them as a dessert, they are going to go nuts and probably ask you for another. So it’s best to get the full bottles of these liquors. Cut the lemons up ahead of time so that it is easier to serve them.
What Is a Chocolate Cake Shot?
Now, let’s go ahead and talk about the actual recipe that Sean and I used in the creation of this amazing shot. I will also discuss some variations of the recipe, which we also tried out.
Basic Chocolate Cake Recipe Shot
- .5 oz Frangelico
- .5 oz Vanilla Vodka of choice (we used Absolut)
- Lemon Slices
- Sugar
Use some water to wet the rim and put sugar all around the edge. Add in the Frangelico and then the vanilla vodka. Then place a lemon slice on the shot glass. Lick all the sugar off the rim, and then take the shot. Once you have swallowed it, bite the lemon.
Our Rating: Okay, this is the king of all the Chocolate Cake Shots as far as I am concerned. It will always be the one I turn to when it’s time to have a little celebration. It is the best one I have had out of all of them. Go with this if you are starting out. It’s not too strong in terms of liquor, and the lemon oddly works well with it. 5/5.
Chocolate Cake Shot with Citrus Vodka
.75 oz hazelnut liqueur (I used Frangelico)- .75 oz citrus vodka (I used Pinnacle Citrus)
- Lemon wedges coated in sugar
- Ice
- Cocktail Shaker
Start by cutting up your lemon into wedges and coating them in sugar. The next step for this one is to load up your cocktail shaker with ice. Afterward, go ahead and pour in the vanilla vodka and hazelnut liqueur. Put the cap on the shaker, and shake it up. Now strain it into a shot glass. Take the shot as you normally would and then bite the sugar-coated lemon slice.
Our Rating
This is pretty darn good, but the sugar-coated lemon reminded me of those gummy fruit slices which I don’t personally enjoy. It is a neat variation of the shot, and the use of citrus is not overpowering enough to take away the sweet chocolate taste of the shot.
It is a pretty good variation of this shot, and I think you will enjoy it. How the lemon is used is not my favorite. However, this is the most common method of having lemon with your chocolate cake shot. 4 /5
So, these are the two main ways you can make this great shot. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you create your chocolate shooter:
- It is best to shoot the shot and then suck on or bite the lemon.
- You can use any vodka that makes sense to you. We advise you to stick with the recipe until you get used to it and then experiment with your favorite vodkas. Using a raspberry vodka, for instance, tastes excellent.
- You can use any of your favorite hazelnut liqueurs. We love Frangelico, but you might have a preference, and that’s perfectly fine.
Variations of the Chocolate Cake Shot
Now that you know about the two main ways of making the chocolate cake shot, let’s talk about some different cake shots that you can make. Perhaps you would like to try out a birthday cake shot, or maybe you love Black Forest Cake. If you love German Chocolate Cake, there’s a shot for that, too.
This portion of our article will be devoted to showing you some great shots that focus on delivering you that delicious cake taste you have grown to love. These will be a hit at your next gathering, so bring enough for everybody.
Birthday Cake Shot
Oddly enough, when we think of a birthday cake, we don’t think of chocolate. I personally remember confetti cakes with some vanilla frosting. But this birthday cake shot includes some chocolate.
The methods of decorating it are endless.
The idea here is to rim the glass with sugar. You can wet the shot glass and add colored sprinkles based on the season. Maybe a mix of purple and orange sugar sprinkles for Halloween or green, yellow, and purple for Mardi Gras. We tried funny bat-shaped Halloween sprinkles, but they just fell off the glass.
We also tried some simple syrup to rim the glass, and the rainbow sprinkles we tried stuck a little better. However, nothing was as good as the sugar kind. So, it’s best just to use sugar sprinkles in our experience.
Okay, let’s get into how you go about making this shot.
Birthday Cake Shot Recipe
- .5 oz cake vodka (we used Pinnacle)
- .5 oz Chocolate liqueur (We used Godiva)
- .5 oz cream liqueur (we used Baileys)
- Sugar or sprinkle sugar for the rim
- Dish of water to wet the rim
Begin by getting the rims of your shot glasses ready. Put water on the edge and then add the sugar. Next, add ice to your cocktail shaker and pour in all three of the liquors, one at a time. Then put the cap on the shaker and shake it up well. Strain the mix into your shot glasses and serve them to friends and family.
Our Rating: OH, SO GOOD!
It was a real treat, and licking the sugar off the glass either before or after you take the shot is fantastic. The chocolate flavor shines. I think it is best to spend a bit of extra money and buy the Godiva brand. There are other chocolate liqueurs that you can get, but this was superior compared to other chocolate liqueurs. The shot itself is a real winner, and you will want another. Be careful. 5/5
German Chocolate Cake Shooters
If you love Chocolate Cake Shots, then you have to try German Chocolate Cake shots. The sugar is removed in this super recipe, and, instead, you will enjoy some chocolate sauce around the rim. The lemon part of it is included right in the shot itself, in the form of lemonade. This one reminds me a lot of the holidays. It’s excellent at any time of the year, but I think it is best around Christmas for some reason.
These are strong shots, but they do not taste like liquor at all. I strongly advise that you take it nice and slow with these, as they are one of those “dangerous” drinks! Plus, the sugar content here is pretty high. The great thing about this particular shot is that you can use Frangelico or Amaretto. I find Amaretto is easier to find, as does Sean. Plain Vodka is okay, but vanilla Vodka is best.
German Chocolate Cake Shooters Recipe
- 1 oz of Vodka (we used Absolute Vanilla)
- 1 oz of Frangelico or Amaretto (You can use any brand you like)
- 1 oz Salted Caramel Syrup (I used Torani)
- 1 oz Lemonade (I used Minute Maid)
- Chocolate Syrup (This is a garnish, I used Hershey’s)
Begin by putting some chocolate syrup on a dish and then rim the glass with the chocolate sauce. It will make enough for four shots, so get four glasses ready to go. Next, put some ice into your cocktail shaker and then add the ingredients one by one. Shake it up to combine all the flavors, and then strain them into the prepared glasses. Distribute them to family and friends and enjoy!
Our Rating: Wow, this was something else.
The inclusion of the lemonade into the shot was something else, and it saved us that extra step of having to chop up a lemon for use. It is truly amazing how all these flavors work together. We tried it both ways, with Frangelico as well as Amaretto, and did find that Frangelico tasted better. All in all, this one gets a perfect score. 5/5
Vanilla Cake Shots
When I got the news that my sister had gotten accepted into law school, I was ecstatic. I felt so happy for her and could not wait to catch up. When she and I got together, I decided to mix her a unique shot to honor the occasion. It is none other than the vanilla cake shot, which is great for celebrating.
All you need is some vanilla vodka, some triple sec, and some pineapple juice. You don’t even need to rim the glass if you don’t feel like it- our recipe didn’t call for it. If you prefer a sugared rim, be our guest! You don’t need a lemon for this one, either.
Vanilla Cake Shot Recipe
- One-third oz of vanilla vodka (I used Absolut)
- One-third oz of triple sec (I used Cointreau)
- One-third oz of pineapple juice (I used Dole)
Put ice in your cocktail shaker and add in all the ingredients. Shake it up. Then, go ahead and pour it into your shot glasses. Distribute these to your friend and family, raise a toast, and shoot ’em!
Our Rating: This is pretty darn good.
The pineapple juice was just the right touch to balance everything out. I think that adding a rim to the shot glass would dress this one up. Our original recipe did not call for it, but going forward, I will certainly dress up the edge with sprinkles of some sort. It’s not as flavorful as some of the other cake shots we have sampled over the weeks, but still good. 4/ 5
Other Delicious Cake Drinks
In this section, we will talk about different cake drinks you can enjoy if you loved the chocolate cake shot. Yes, you can make full-size drinks, and they are divine. I am also going to include a cake drink that does not contain alcohol so that kids, and those who choose not to drink, can have fun too.
Chocolate Cake Martini Recipe
If you prefer to have your chocolate cake in the form of a martini, we can help you with that. This martini is delicious. And it does not taste much like alcohol at all, so you have to take it slow. Get your shaker and ice and get ready. Here are the ingredients:
- 5 oz of Godiva chocolate liqueur
- 2 oz of Cake vodka (We used Pinnacle, but any brand works)
- 2 oz half n’ half
- Chocolate Shavings (We used a Hershey’s chocolate bar and peeled it with a vegetable peeler)
- Chocolate syrup (we used Hershey’s)
Begin by taking your martini glass and drizzling chocolate syrup on the inside. Now take your cocktail shaker and fill it up about three-quarters of the way with ice. Now add in the Godiva, the Vodka, and the half and half, and shake it up vigorously. Now strain it into the martini glass and top it off with your chocolate shavings.
Our rating: Whoa.
Maybe, in this case, a piece of chocolate cake could be healthier! But who cares? It is heaven-sent and oh, so fabulous. The amount of chocolate in this is nearly a crime and will make any chocolate lover feel satisfied. It is a super martini that is just perfect for celebrating birthdays or other special moments when you just need some chocolate! 5/5
Non-Alcoholic Funfetti Shots
This exact recipe makes three shots, and it is just perfect for a birthday party that is cupcake or unicorn themed. Girls especially will love this shot because it can be made pink!
Here are the ingredients you need for this shot:
Vanilla frosting of choice- Rainbow Sprinkles
- 1 oz of vanilla almond milk
- 1/3 cup of melted ice cream of your choice (I like Vanilla, but strawberry is good also)
- Spray whipped cream
- Maraschino cherries
Begin by putting some frosting into a dish and then dipping the glasses into the frosting. Next, dip the frosted glasses into a bowl of sprinkles. Set them to the side while you get your shaker. Add ice to your shaker and then pour in the melted ice cream and almond milk. Shake it up very well and add it to your shot glasses. Then add in the whipped cream and top with cherries and distribute them to your family and friends.
The secret here is that you can use chocolate ice cream to make the chocolate cake shot. You can use chocolate sprinkles in that variation to make it even richer. I do not allow the ice cream to melt while sitting out; instead, I put some in a bowl and stir it vigorously until it becomes something like a soft serve.
Our Rating: I did not try this, but my nieces and nephews who wanted to feel included loved it. My grandmother, who is a teetotaler, also found this to be a very cute and tasty dessert. 5/5
Always Drink Responsibly
We can’t stress enough the importance of knowing your limits when it comes to alcohol consumption. All of the drinks we tried today were made over a few weeks. We did not mix all of these up in a day and then attempt to try them all.
Instead, I wrote down my thoughts on each shot and compiled it all into this massive article, which is designed to provide you some unique and fun ways to try out these fantastic chocolate cake shot recipes.
Remember that it is NEVER okay to drink and drive.
Always make sure a designated driver, taxi, or ridesharing service is used whenever you decide to drink. After all, putting yourself and others at risk is not worth it, not to mention the high fines and fees that come with a DWI charge. In some cases, you might even lose your employment.
Wrap Up
Which version of the delicious Chocolate Cake Shot will you be trying? With so many varieties to choose from, you are going to have a hard time deciding which one to try first. The fact that there are so many unique variations and choices of liquor to use makes it even more exciting. Indeed, your friends and family are sure to be impressed when you serve them any of these tasty shots at your next family gathering.
