Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot Recipe – We’ve turned everyone’s favorite dessert into fun adults-only shots! Easy to make with only 3-ingredients, this delicious drink tastes just like an upside-down pineapple cake and is perfect for celebrating any festive occasion.

Two shot glasses with pineapple upside down cake shots. In the background is a bottle of vanilla vodka, jar of maraschino cherries, and can of pineapple juice.

Why We Love This Pineapple Upside Down Shots Recipe

This Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot recipe is super simple to make using only three ingredients, and it’s so delicious! That’s right, with just vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and a jar of stemless maraschino cherries, you can make a fabulous holiday party shot. You can even glam this sweet treat up a bit by using Luxardo cherries and juice.

If you need a friendly reminder of what the original *actual* cake tastes like you definitely need to make our fabulous Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe ASAP!

Hand setting a red maraschino cherry shot next to a shot with dark black luxarado cherry.

Ingredients You Need

  • Vanilla vodka – for that sweet cake flavor but with a nice kick of alcohol
  • Pineapple juice – your choice of regular or sugar-free juice
  • Maraschino cherries – the classic red or Luxardo jarred cherries
Recipe ingredients: Vanilla vodka, pinaepple juice, and jar of luxado cherries.
Recipe ingredients: Vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and jar of maraschino cherries.

How to Make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot

  1. Set out two shot glasses and a cocktail shaker. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and place one maraschino cherry in the bottom of each shot glass. 
  2. Measure and pour the vanilla vodka and pineapple juice into the cocktail shaker.
Adding vodka to a metal shaker.
Adding alcohol mixture from metal shaker to a shot glass.
  1. Cover the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
  2. Pour the cocktail into the shot glasses, leaving a little room on the top.
  3. Then gently spoon a ¼ ounce of maraschino cherry juice over the top of each glass.

Pro Tip: Pour the juice from the spoon slowly so it settles to the bottom of the glass, creating an ombre effect with two distinct layers.

Get the Complete (Printable) Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot Recipe + Video Below. Enjoy!

Hand with metal spoon adding maraschino cherry juice to a shot glass.
Red maraschino cherry shot next to a shot with dark black luxarado cherry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What other kind of liquor can I use?

Try this recipe with cake or cupcake flavored vodka or cream vodka for an even sweeter taste. You can use white rum to make a pineapple upside down cake shot without vodka.

How many pineapple upside-down shots does this recipe make?

The proportions here are for 2 shots. Simply increase as necessary to make as many shots as needed.

What is so special about Luxardo cherries?

Classic maraschino cherries are made by bleaching cherries, then adding back red coloring and almond flavoring. Luxardo, on the other hand, are cherries that are salt brined and then candied in a thick syrup. This makes them more deeply sweet with fewer artificial ingredients.

Can these shots be made ahead?

Technically you can mix the pineapple juice and vodka together in advance. But with how quick and easy these cake shots are to whip up, I doubt you’ll need to prep much ahead of time!

Two hands each with a pineapple upside down cake shot, cheers-ing.

Looking for More Easy Cocktail Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

Get the Complete (Printable) Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot Recipe + Video Below. Enjoy!

Two shot glasses with pineapple upside down cake shots. In the background is a bottle of vanilla vodka, jar of maraschino cherries, and can of pineapple juice.
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How to Make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot Recipe

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
We've turned everyone's favorite dessert into fun adults-only shots! Easy to make with only 3 ingredients, these delicious shots taste just like an upside down pineapple cake and are perfect for celebrating any festive occasion!
Servings: 2 shots

Video

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Set out two shot glasses and a cocktail shaker. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Place one maraschino cherry in the bottom of each shot glass.
  • Measure and pour the vanilla vodka and pineapple juice into the cocktail shaker. Cover the shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
  • Pour the cocktail into the shot glasses, leaving a little room on the top. Then gently spoon a ¼ ounce of maraschino cherry juice over the top of each glass. Pour the juice from the spoon slowly so it settles to the bottom of the glass creating an ombre effect.

Notes

Try this recipe with cake or cupcake flavored vodka for an even sweeter taste. You can use white rum make a pineapple upside down cake shot without vodka.

Nutrition

Serving: 1shot, Calories: 100kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.04g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 39mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 0.1mg
Course: Beverage, cocktail
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier
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