These pink starburst shots are sweet, creamy, and are made with only 4 simple ingredients. These sweet shots taste just like strawberry starburst candy! Serve for Valentine's Day, a bachelorette party, or your next girls night out!
If you're a southerner, you were quite possibly your parents' mixologist from a young age. Though I never drank (I actually hated the taste of alcohol until my mid twenties!) I've known how make a great cocktail since I was 12.
I made my own starburst shooter after trying a few recipes and realizing a few things: one, they were almost all the same,. And two, they were sour.
So I took my skills and made a drink that tastes just like my favorite starburst flavor: the strawberry one, not the watermelon one. It's creamy, sweet, and full of strawberry flavor.
If shots aren't your style, try the Pink Starburst Cocktail. Just as sweet and creamy, but is perfect for sipping in a coupe glass.
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Equipment Needed
Light corn syrup. You need to rim the shot glasses with a viscous substance like corn syrup or honey. Lime juice, water, or anything very thin will dissolve the pink sugar or edible glitter on the rim and have it running down the sides.
Edible glitter or sanding sugar.
Shot Glasses. I used some adorable tasting glasses for the photos.
Ingredients
Bailey's Strawberries & Cream liqueur. This smells and tastes just like those strawberry creme savers and it gives us that sweet and creamy strawberry base.
Smirnoff Strawberry Vodka. This gives us that sweet-tart flavor of fresh strawberries.
Whipped Cream Vodka. Giving that emphasis to the creamy and sweet aspect of an actual pink starburst with this.
Maraschino Cherry Juice. Adds a more vibrant pink color and sweet flavor without having to use any red food coloring or dye.
Strawberry Starburst. I love buying the pink pack or the Fave-Reds pack so we have plenty of pink and red starbursts to use for garnish.
Instructions
The full recipe for pink starburst shots is at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
Dip the glasses' edges carefully in a shallow dish with light corn syrup, cover the rims the dip the rim of the glass into a shallow dish with sanding sugar or edible glitter.
In your cocktail shaker, add ice, both vodkas, the Bailey's, a little cherry juice, and shake it for about 30 seconds.
Now pour the mixture into the prepared glasses and garnish with pink starburst candy.
Variations
Vanilla vodka can be exchanged for the whipped cream vodka, but it will take on less of a 'creamy' flavor.
Make your own Candied Vodka. Soak strawberry starburst candy in plain vodka for a week or two to extract the flavor of the starburst. Now you can use that instead of the strawberry vodka for real pink starburst flavor!
Pro Tips
Don't use anything acidic. No sour mix, no watermelon pucker, no grenadine (it has citric acid!). You will curdle the dairy in the Bailey's and it isn't pretty.
FAQ
You don't have to use a cocktail shaker, giving the cocktail a good stir in a mixing glass or shaking it in a mason jar with lid works perfectly.
Yes you can! Use a box of Pink Starburst Jell-O gelatin, follow the directions, and add ½ cup of whipped cream vodka and ½ cup of strawberry vodka before chilling.
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📖 Recipe
Pink Starburst Shots
These pink starburst shots are sweet, creamy, and are made with only 4 simple ingredients. These sweet shots taste just like strawberry starburst candy! Serve for Valentine's Day, a bachelorette party, or your next girls night out!
Ingredients
Sugar Rim
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- Sanding sugar or edible glitter
Pink Starburst Shots
- Ice
- 3 ounces Bailey's Strawberries & Cream
- 1 ounce strawberry vodka
- 1 ounce whipped cream vodka
- ½ ounce maraschino cherry juice, optional
Instructions
- Rim your shot glasses with corn syrup and sanding sugar. Set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, add the ice, Bailey's strawberries and cream, strawberry vodka, whipped cream vodka, and maraschino cherry juice. Cover with the shaker's lid.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, the pour mixture into the sugar rimmed glasses through the strainer.
- Serve pink starburst shots cold.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 55mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 1g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
Eden Westbrook is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind Sweet Tea and Thyme. A classically trained chef, Eden has inspired home cooks into the kitchen with cultural comfort foods, easy family-friendly eats and sweets, and glorious spreads for date night and entertaining since 2015.
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