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Boasting a fruity strawberry layer and a creamy cheesecake layer, these strawberry cheesecake rum jello pudding shots are easy to make and fun to drink. Strawberry flavoured rum, strawberries, cheesecake pudding, and more combine to make this strawberry dessert cocktail which adds a new element of fun to literally any occasion. These cheesecake shooters get rave reviews!
Is strawberry cheesecake one of your all-time favorite desserts? If so, you just have to try these strawberry pudding shots! You get all the flavor of strawberry cheesecake in drinkable form with a heady hit of rum.
Also try berry cheesecake tart or funfetti cheesecake. And for strawberry fans, strawberry fields salad or a strawberry gin rickey.
Ingredients for Cheesecake Shooters
You really don’t need many ingredients for this cheesecake drink. You need strawberry gelatin, strawberry flavored rum and strawberries for the bottom layer.
You also need milk, cream, more strawberry flavored rum, and cheesecake instant pudding for the topping. Whipped cream and graham crackers make a wonderful garnish.
Strawberry Jell-O is probably the best-known type of gelatin, while Malibu strawberry rum is widely available. As for the instant pudding, Jell-O cheesecake pudding would work for strawberry pudding shots. You can go ahead and choose any brands you prefer though, depending what you like and what is locally available to you.
Cheesecake Drink Directions
As you would expect, this strawberry cheesecake shot recipe is made in layers. First of all you need to make the gelatin layer. Whisk the gelatin into boiling water then add some of the strawberry flavored rum.
Add some chopped fresh berries to each shot glass then add some of the Jell-O mixture. Let them set.
To make the cheesecake layer for this strawberry dessert cocktail, combine the milk, cream and remaining rum, then whisk in the pudding mix. Keep this mixture refrigerated until the gelatin layer is set.
Whisk the pudding again and then add it on top of the gelatin in the shot glasses. Chill these strawberry cheesecake rum jello pudding shots for an hour then serve garnished with whipped cream and crushed cookies.
How to Serve Cheesecake Shooters
Drinking this strawberry dessert cocktail isn’t like knocking back a tequila! For one thing, the gelatin layer is going to be set (which makes it something to eat rather than drink!) Also the creamy layer is thick, making it more food-like than a drink, making it perfect for anyone that loves cheesecake recipes.
For these reasons I’d recommend serving cheesecake shooters with mini tasting spoons. If you don’t have those, popsicle sticks would do at a pinch. You could serve them without either of these but it isn’t going to be the easiest cocktail to knock back that way!
How to Make Them Ahead and Store
You’re going to need to make strawberry cheesecake shooters ahead anyway because the Jell-O layer has to set. You can make this cheesecake drink up to 2 days ahead and then just keep them refrigerated and under plastic wrap. However, don’t add the whipped cream garnish until just before serving else it will just melt and look messy.
Cheesecake Shooters FAQs
Swap the strawberry gelatin, strawberry rum and strawberries for another kind of berry. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or cherries would work. In fact, you can use any kind of berries you like and even contrast one flavour of Jell-O with a different kind of fruit.
Sure, you can garnish your strawberry cheesecake jello shots with any kind of whipped topping you prefer. But don’t add it until just before serving for the prettiest results!
I’d recommend clear plastic ones so you can see the cheesecake layers. Choose 2-ounce glasses so you can fit the strawberry cheesecake rum jello pudding shots in there.
The issue with using non-dairy milk and cream is it doesn’t thicken up as much as the dairy kind, meaning your cheesecake layer isn’t going to set. If you’re looking for dairy-free shots instead, try this pineapple peach smoothie instead and just throw in a splash of rum!
Strawberry Cheesecake Rum Jello Pudding Shots Recipe
Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Rum Jello Pudding Shots
Ingredients
For the strawberry layer:
- 1 Cup boiling water
- 1` Box strawberry flavored gelatin, 3 ounces
- 1 Cup rum, strawberry-flavored, chilled
- 12 strawberries, diced into ¼” cubes, about 2 cups, diced
For the cheesecake layer:
- 2 Cup milk, cold
- 1 Cup heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 Cup rum, strawberry-flavored, chilled
- 2 Boxes instant pudding, 3.4 ounces, cheesecake-flavored
For the garnish:
- whipped cream
- 3 graham crackers, crushed
Instructions
For the strawberry layer:
- Remove boiling water from heat source. In a 1.5-quart saucepan (or other similarly sized heatproof container), add strawberry gelatin to boiling water. Whisk until gelatin has completely dissolved. Add chilled strawberry rum. Stir to mix.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of diced strawberries into each 2-ounce shot glass. Add about 1 tablespoon (½-ounce) of gelatin over top of the diced strawberries in each cup. Submerge the strawberries using the spoon so that they’re evenly distributed in the gelatin. Refrigerate for 1½ hours or until set.
For the cheesecake layer:
- While gelatin is chilling, stir together milk, heavy whipping cream, and rum. Add powdered pudding mix to liquid and whisk constantly for 2 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Pudding will be slightly thinner than usual.)
To assemble the shots:
- Remove set gelatin from the refrigerator along with the cheesecake pudding mixture. Whisk the pudding, stirring until smooth. Top each shot with about 2½ tablespoons of the prepared pudding. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Top with whipped cream and crushed graham crackers just before serving.
Nutrition
Anyone who loves strawberry cheesecake as a dessert will find these strawberry cheesecake pudding shots delicious. They’re fun to make and perfect for any occasion. So try this strawberry dessert cocktail cheesecake drink, and you will want to make them for every special occasion! All of my Canadian friends may want to make these as Canada Day shooters!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The strawberry cheesecake rum shots are my new party favorite! So delicious and fun.
I am obsessed with this recipe. Love pudding and strawberry so it was the perfect combo.
I need to try these next weekend. yum