18 CHRISTMAS SHOTS THAT WILL GET EVERYONE INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

We love a festive holiday cocktail, but our favorite way to get into the holiday spirit—literally—is with a Christmas-themed shot. If you're hosting a large crowd this holiday season, then a festive shot is the perfect way to keep the good times going with little work on your part. These aren't your basic shmasic shots either—our favorite Jell-O shot recipes and holiday dessert-inspired shots are the perfect way to keep your Christmas party merry and bright. Want an easy way to get to the top of the nice list this year? Leave a few milk and cookie shots out for Santa! 😉

When it comes to mixing up a batch of shots, there are tons of different alcohol combinations depending on the flavor profile you're trying to achieve. We love more neutral-flavored tequila and vodka for our Jell-O shots, personally, but the sky is truly the only limit for creating your own custom shots at home. We used a combination of whiskey and apple schnapps to bring a bit of spice to our crisp Washington Apple shot, Baileys for our tiramisu shots, and Rumchata for our snickerdoodle shots. In short, this is ABSOLUTELY the time to break out all of those fun flavored vodkas, bottles of bourbon, Fireball, and Kahlúa you've got hanging out in your bar cart.

Peppermint Bark Shots

We look forward to peppermint bark season all year long. These shots taste a lot like the real thing, only way more boozy. Sweet, minty, and creamy, be warned: These go down easy, but they’re just as strong as your average shot.

Get the Peppermint Bark Shots recipe.

Champagne Jell-O Shots

These scream PARTY. Change out the sprinkles on top, and you can be using this recipe for every holiday.

Get the Champagne Jell-O Shots recipe.

Eggnog Jell-O Shots

It's not the holidays until the eggnog has been poured, and this year we are spicing things up a bit. RumChata and brandy ensure these Jell-O shots will make the holidays so much fun.

Get the Eggnog Jell-O Shots recipe.

Milk & Cookies Shots

Let's just say, if you leave these for Santa on Christmas Eve, you'll definitely be on the nice list. We love the ease of using store-bought cookie dough, but if you've got the time, making chocolate chip cookies from scratch is even better!

Get the Milk & Cookies Shots recipe.

Apple Pie Bourbon Shots

If you're truly looking to get your party started this holiday (or if you're a bourbon fan), then these apple pie bourbon shots should be a must-have at your next gathering. All you need are a few ingredients—apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg—to infuse your own bourbon that tastes just like your fave dessert.

Get the Apple Pie Bourbon Shots recipe.

Mistletoe Shots

These shots are bound to make some holiday magic happen! Share one of these with someone you want to kiss.

Get the Mistletoe Shots recipe.

Santa Hat Jell-O Shots

A Christmas party wouldn't be complete without Santa, and these Jell-O shots are the perfect way to include him. Strawberries and and Cool Whip turn a simple Jell-O shot into a festive holiday one!

Get the Santa Hat Jell-O Shots recipe.

Washington Apple Shot

The Washington Apple Shot is a breed of the Washington Apple Cocktail made with whiskey—typically Canadian-style—apple schnapps, and cranberry juice. We added pomegranate to jazz it up! It’s a drink that’s crisp, pungent, and refreshing, one that you want to sip on for a little while.

Get the Washington Apple Shot recipe.

Cranberry Jell-O Shots

Cranberry sauce? We thought you said "cranberry shots." We love these tart-sweet Jell-O shots, especially the sugar-coated cranberries. They're optional but highly encouraged—they make for a great chaser after you've downed the shot.

Get the Cranberry Jell-O Shots recipe.

Christmas Jell-O Shots

These will surely have everyone feeling merry in no time. If you're not a fan of vodka, feel free to swap in tequila.

Get the Christmas Jell-O Shots recipe.

Tiramisu Shots

If tiramisu is your favorite dessert (ours too!), then you will go crazy for these shots. It takes a delicate pour to layer them perfectly, but it makes for the cutest presentation and resembles the layers tiramisu has.

Get the Tiramisu Shots recipe.

Negroni Jell-O Shots

The classic drink is turned into a Jell-O shot for a fun take on the negroni. It's finished off with an orange peel for that perfect negroni touch.

Get the Negroni Jell-O Shots recipe.

Pie Jell-O Shots

We don't know how to choose between cherry pie, peach pie, or apple pie-flavored shots, so we guess that means we try them all.

Get the Pie Jell-O Shots recipe.

S'mores Pudding Shots

The next best thing to actual s'mores is a pudding shot. It's the best way to feed a crowd with delicious boozy s'mores. Feel free to use regular or vanilla vodka if you can't find marshmallow vodka!

Get the S'mores Pudding Shots recipe.

Snickerdoodle Shots

This has to be our new favorite way to enjoy the cozy spice of a snickerdoodle cookie. If you love this, try our caramel snickerdoodle martini next!

Get the Snickerdoodle Shots recipe.

Candy Cane Jell-O Shots

For when you need a little more jingle in your step. 😉

Get the Candy Cane Jell-O Shots recipe.

Hot Cocoa Pudding Shots

Enjoy your favorite winter drink as a pudding shot (mini marshmallows included)!

Get the Hot Cocoa Pudding Shots recipe.

Fireball Apple Jell-O Shots

We believe every good party has a Jell-O shot, and these Fireball apple shots will be a hit with everyone—friends, cousins, coworkers, Grandma. Whatever you do, don't skip the lemon juice! It prevents the apples from browning while the Jell-O sets up in the fridge

Get the Fireball Apple Jell-O Shots recipe.

2025-12-12T21:31:17Z