18 Christmas Shots That Make Any Holiday Party Extra Festive
From candy cane Jell-O shots to cookie shooters and more!
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Cute and festive, Christmas shots are an easy way to get everyone in on the holiday fun — it’s practically a team-building activity (include them in your Christmas party games!). While you could just fill shot glasses with any ole spirit and call it a day, we think it’s more special — not to mention delicious — to mix up a quick drink and pour a round or three. This holiday season, we’re celebrating with shots tinted Christmas red, candy cane–inspired Jell-O shots and creamy eggnog riffs, to name a few. Serve sweet chocolate shots or creamy pumpkin pie shots instead of (or along with) your Christmas desserts or enjoy sweet-tart sips that make the perfect accompaniment to similarly mini-sized Christmas appetizers. But, really, Christmas cocktails of all sorts on the boozier side could be divided into shot glasses and knocked back. The sky (and maybe your alcohol tolerance) is the limit!
Not typically a shot person? It’s all good — these aren’t the super-strong shooters you’d find in a fraternity basement. Ahead, we've included tasty sips that work as aperitifs, sweet after-dinner drinks and everything in between. With so many celebratory favorites, you’re sure to find something that will be a hit with everyone at your gathering. And if you happen to snap the perfect pic of you and your friends saying "Cheers!" post it to Instagram with one of our best Christmas caption ideas.
Cosmopolitan
Here's a tip to get you started — turn any classic cocktail into a shot! Boozier drinks, like this crimson Cosmo, make the best shooters.
Get the Cosmopolitan recipe.
Coquito
Similar to eggnog — but without the egg — this Puerto Rican Christmas cocktail is ideal for pouring and shooting.
Get the Coquito recipe.
Pumpkin Martini
Have this sweet, boozy shooter instead of — or in addition to — homemade pie!
Get the Pumpkin Martini recipe.
RELATED: 15 Christmas Martinis You'll Be Sipping on All Holiday Season Long
Mary Pickford
Made with pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur and grenadine, these shots taste tropical but look like they're made for the holidays.
Get the Mary Pickford recipe.
Cookie Shooters
Fill these shot-glass-shaped cookies with plain milk to keep them family-friendly ... or RumChata to make them more "adult."
Get the Cookie Shooters recipe.
Raspberry Daiquiri
Rum fans will love cheers-ing with this raspberry riff on the classic daiquiri.
Get the Raspberry Daiquiri recipe.
Cherry Sidecar
Divide this cognac-based drink into shot glasses and garnish with a sweet brandied cherry.
Get the Cherry Sidecar recipe.
Chardonnay Jell-O Shots
For all the wine-lovers, these Chardonnay shots are for you! After cutting these into cubes, dust them in gold sprinkles for an extra festive touch!
Get the Chardonnay Jell-O Shots recipe from Delish.
Champagne Jell-O Shots
Toast to the holiday season and New Year's Eve with these champagne Jello-O Shots — cheers!
Get the Champagne Jell-O Shots recipe from Delish.
Snickerdoodle Shots
Bring these to your cookie exchange party to be on theme! With a little bit of RumChata, Fireball, whipped cream and cinnamon, these shots come together in no time.
Get the Snickerdoodle Shots recipe from Delish.
Santa Hat Jell-O Shots
Whipped cream + strawberries = the cutest Christmas Jell-O shot toppers ever, if we do say so ourselves.
Get the Santa Hat Jell-O Shots recipe from Delish.
Candy Cane Jell-O Shots
These candy cane-inspired shots are actually cherry-flavored, but their red and white layers make them look just like your (other) favorite Christmas treat.
Get the Candy Cane Jell-O Shots recipe from Delish.
Eggnog Jell-O Shots
Unflavored gelatin, eggnog and RumChata make this genius cocktail mashup possible.
Get the Eggnog Jell-O Shots recipe from Delish.
Mistletoe Shots
(Almost) sweeter than a Christmas kiss.
Get the Mistletoe Shots recipe from Delish.
Cranberry Jell-O Shots
If you're feeling extra fancy, you can top these basic Jell-O shots with your own homemade sugared cranberries.
Get the Cranberry Jell-O Shots recipe from Delish.
Holly Jolly Fireball Shots
If the cinnamon-y heat of Fireball is your thing, you'll love these bold Jell-O shots. (Pro tip: Add some whipped cream on top to combat the burn.)
Get the Holly Jolly Fireball Shots recipe from Delish.
Frozen Hot Chocolate Shots
These tiny, cold hot chocolate shots takes on your favorite seasonal beverage — but we're guessing they'd be pretty good with some Baileys mixed in, too.
Get the Frozen Hot Chocolate Shots recipe from Woman's Day.
Christmas Shot
Sometimes, the best recipes are the simplest ones. (Read: You've probably already got the two ingredients you need for these tasty shots in your liquor cabinet right now.)
Get the Christmas Shot recipe from Dishes Delish.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Susan (she/her) is the recipe editor at Good Housekeeping, where she pitches ideas, parses words, and produces food content. In the Test Kitchen, she cooks (and samples!) recipes, working with developers to deliver the best written versions possible. A graduate of Brown University and a collaborator on several cookbooks, her previous experience includes stints at Food & Wine, Food Network, three meal kit companies, a wine shop in Brooklyn and Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, California. She enjoys playing tennis, natural wines and reality competition shows.
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