Key Lime Pudding Shots

Key Lime Pudding Shot Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Instant vanilla pudding mix: This makes the creamy base for the shots. Make sure you use instant pudding rather than cook-and-serve.
Whole milk: Use cold milk to help the instant pudding thicken properly.
Key lime pie rum cream: This is where most of the boozy key lime flavor comes from. Blue Chair Bay Key Lime Rum Cream or KēKē Key Lime Pie Cream Liqueur both work.
Key lime juice: Adds tartness to balance the sweet pudding and rum cream.
Lime zest: Most goes into the pudding, with the rest sprinkled over the finished shots.
Graham crackers: Crush these finely and spoon them into the bottom of each glass for a little key lime pie crust flavor.
Whipped cream: Add this shortly before serving.
Lime slices: These are optional, but I like how they look tucked into the whipped cream.

How to Make Lime Pudding Shots

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Make the pudding: Whisk the vanilla pudding mix and cold milk until the mixture starts to thicken.
Add the lime and rum: Whisk in the key lime rum cream, lime juice and most of the lime zest until smooth and thickened.
Add the graham cracker crumbs: Spoon crushed graham crackers into the bottom of each 2-ounce shot glass.
Fill the glasses: Spoon the key lime pudding over the graham cracker crumbs.
Chill: Cover and refrigerate the pudding shots until you’re ready to serve them.
Garnish: Add whipped cream, the remaining lime zest and a small lime slice shortly before serving.

Substitutions and Variations

Regular limes: You can use regular lime juice and zest if you can’t find key limes.
Different crumbs: Swap the graham cracker crumbs for crushed vanilla wafers.
Alcohol-free: Replace the rum cream with additional cold whole milk and add a little extra lime zest for more lime flavor. Add the extra milk gradually so the pudding doesn’t get too thin.
Coconut-lime: Replace some of the key lime rum cream with coconut cream liqueur if you like coconut and lime together.

Serving Suggestions

With savory bites: Enjoy million dollar deviled eggs and sliders with your lime shooters.
With something sweet: Lemon sorbet or lemon tart would go well.
With a cocktail: These Passion fruit lime margaritas are zesty and fun!

How to Store

Store: Cover the pudding shots and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Wait to add the whipped cream, lime zest and lime slices until shortly before serving.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing these because the pudding won’t have the same creamy texture after thawing.