If you want the ultimate decadent dessert this festive season, try these Eggnog Pudding Shots. They are sweet and delicious and are an adult-only dessert you can indulge in.

These Eggnog Pudding Shots are a lovely way to finish off any meal this festive season. Sweet vanilla pudding is paired with thick eggnog and spiced rum for the perfect adult indulgence.

It’s an easy and quick dessert and perfect for parties and gatherings. They are definitely a crowd-pleaser.

I love a sweet and indulgent dessert; who doesn’t? But most of the time, the focus is on the kids and something they will like. This dessert is so much more than that.

Spiced rum gives it a delicious adult kick, but you can omit that if you want to make these kid-friendly. You can easily prepare these in advance. We all know how busy Christmas prep can be.

So, if you fancy trying these Eggnog Pudding Shots, here is everything you need to know to create them at home.

Some more of our favorite adult-only drinks and cocktails include Classic Jack and Coke, Spiced Rum Pineapple Sangria, and Cotton Candy Chardonnay Cocktail.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive Flavor: The rich, creamy eggnog and vanilla pudding blend creates the perfect holiday treat with a warm hint of nutmeg and spiced rum.
Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and just 10 minutes of prep, these pudding shots are quick and hassle-free to prepare.
Perfect for Entertaining: They’re a crowd-pleasing adult dessert ideal for holiday gatherings, parties, or any festive celebration.

Ingredients

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

You will need:

Instant Vanilla Pudding
Spiced Rum
Eggnog
Whole Milk
Ground Nutmeg
Cool Whip
Whole Star Anise

Equipment needed

Hand Mixer
Large Mixing Bowl
Rubber Spatula
2-ounce Plastic Shot Cups with Lids
Liquid Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons

Easy Substitutions And Additions

You can grab a can of Ready Whip and squeeze a bit into the middle to garnish the top of pudding shots.
You can swap vanilla pudding for cheesecake if you want a richer taste. French vanilla pudding also works great.
You can make these in cute glass shot glasses if you prefer.
Use chocolate pudding mix for an extra indulgent dessert.
Garnish with chocolate flake or crushed chocolate instead of a star anise.

How to make the Eggnog Pudding Shots

Line 19 plastic shot cups up either on a cookie sheet, something moveable, or just your countertop (however you want to do it, the pan makes it easier to transfer to the fridge).
Add the pudding mix, rum, eggnog, milk, and one teaspoon of nutmeg to a large mixing bowl and beat it with a hand mixer until thick.
Add the whipped cream and fold it with a rubber spatula until no white streaks appear.
Fill each shot cup about ¾ of the way full.
You can serve immediately or chill the pudding shots for 1 hour to make them colder. Do not garnish until you’re ready to serve. If you’re storing them to cool first, place their lids on.
If garnishing, add a dollop of cool whip, sprinkle with a bit of ground nutmeg, and stick a whole star anise on the edge of the dollop. I used a frosting bag and a frosting tip to make the cool whip dollops. Enjoy!

How to Serve the Eggnog Pudding Shots

They are ideally served with cool whip on top and a star anise. You could also add some crushed chocolate instead. Serve them when made, or let them cool in the fridge. They are the perfect dessert.

How to Store the Eggnog Shots

If you have made these ahead of time, you will need to store them in the fridge with their lids on without the garnishes. You can make them up to four days ahead if you wish. These Eggnog Pudding Shots are not suitable for freezing.

Recipe Tips and Advice

You can make these ahead of time, as long as you don’t garnish them first and keep them covered. They make the perfect prep-ahead dessert.
Using a hand or stand mixer will make this much easier. Mixing by hand never gets the pudding thick enough, especially when eggnog is in the mix.
Hold the frosting tip for the cool whip straight up and down, with the tip directly in the middle of the shot, just barely above the pudding. Squeeze until the dollop is your desired size, then release it and pull it away. You can use any tip you like for this.
If desired, you can mix up the first part of the shots without the milk before adding the Cool Whip to see if the consistency is how you prefer it. If it’s too thick for your liking, add the milk. If it’s the right consistency, you can skip the milk. Everyone prefers a different consistency when it comes to their pudding shots, so this is an optional precaution to ensure your preferred consistency is met.
Be careful adding too much alcohol, or the shots will be too runny.

Can you make this Vegan?

You could make this a vegan-friendly option by making your own vegan eggnog. Many recipes are available online. However, it will add extra time to the preparation, and you will want to avoid adding milk.