
3 minutes • Chilled shot glass
Birthday Cake
A liquid wink at celebration, built for toasts, photos, and bad decisions with good friends.
Vanilla leads with bakery sweetness, and the hazelnut liqueur follows with a toasted, frosting-like richness that feels festive in one swallow.
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Detailed description
Birthday Cake is a dessert shots built around vodka. A liquid wink at celebration, built for toasts, photos, and bad decisions with good friends.
The build centers on 3/4 oz vanilla vodka, 1/2 oz hazelnut liqueur, and optional sugar rim. In the glass, vanilla leads with bakery sweetness, and the hazelnut liqueur follows with a toasted, frosting-like richness that feels festive in one swallow.
It comes together in 3 minutes and is served in a chilled shot glass. A well-chilled glass helps the sweeter flavors stay focused and keeps the texture from feeling heavy.
Home bar notes
Prep time
3 minutes
Glassware
Chilled shot glass
Equipment
Cocktail shaker, Strainer, Jigger, Shot glass
Serving tip
A well-chilled glass helps the sweeter flavors stay focused and keeps the texture from feeling heavy.
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz vanilla vodka
- 1/2 oz hazelnut liqueur
- optional sugar rim
How to make it
- Shake with ice and strain into a chilled shot glass; rim with sugar if you want extra cake effect.
Why this one works
Vanilla leads with bakery sweetness, and the hazelnut liqueur follows with a toasted, frosting-like richness that feels festive in one swallow.
Make it your own
For a rounder dessert-style version, chill the glass first and lean into the creamy ingredients instead of adding extra sweetness.
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