Pumpkin Cheesecake Pudding Shots
Pumpkin Cheesecake Pudding Shots
These Pumpkin Cheesecake Pudding Shots are creamy, boozy, and filled with cozy pumpkin spice flavor! Made with real pumpkin, cheesecake pudding, RumChata, and creamy whipped topping, these easy pudding shots taste like a little bite of pumpkin cheesecake in a cup.
Finished with a swirl of Cool Whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon, they’re an easy fall party treat that’s perfect for Halloween, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, fall parties, or any adults-only autumn gathering.
If you love pumpkin desserts and RumChata recipes, these little pumpkin pudding shots bring the two together in one creamy dessert.
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Pudding Shots
Pumpkin pudding shots are one of those recipes that look festive without requiring much work. There’s no baking, they’re easy to prepare ahead of time, and you can make an entire tray for a party in minutes.
The cheesecake pudding gives the filling a rich, creamy flavor, while real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice make them taste unmistakably like fall.
RumChata adds notes of cream, cinnamon, and vanilla that pair especially well with pumpkin.
They’re:
- Easy and no-bake
- Made with real pumpkin
- Filled with pumpkin spice flavor
- Creamy and cheesecake-inspired
- Made with RumChata
- Easy to prepare ahead
- Perfect for adult Halloween parties
- Great for Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving
Ingredients
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant cheesecake pudding mix
- 3/4 cup cold whole milk
- 3/4 cup RumChata
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 container (8 ounces) Cool Whip, thawed and divided
- Additional cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, for garnish
Make Sure You Use Pumpkin Puree
For this recipe, you’ll want 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
Pumpkin pie filling already contains sugar and spices, which makes it harder to control the sweetness and flavor of your pudding shots.
Regular canned pumpkin puree gives you plenty of real pumpkin flavor while allowing the cheesecake pudding, RumChata, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice to shine.
How to Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Pudding Shots
Make the Cheesecake Pudding Mixture
Add the instant cheesecake pudding mix and cold milk to a large mixing bowl.
Whisk for about 1 minute, or until the pudding begins to thicken.
Pour in the RumChata and continue whisking until smooth.
Add the Pumpkin
Add the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Whisk until everything is completely combined and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Add the Cool Whip
Fold about 4 ounces, or half of the container, of thawed Cool Whip into the pumpkin pudding mixture.
Fold gently rather than vigorously stirring. This keeps the pudding shots light and fluffy.
Continue folding until no white streaks remain.
Fill the Shot Cups
Spoon or pipe the pumpkin cheesecake mixture into small plastic shot cups.
A piping bag makes this especially easy and gives the pudding shots a neat, finished appearance.
Leave a little room at the top for the Cool Whip.
Chill
Place the pudding shots in the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.
They’ll become thicker and creamier as they chill.
Decorate
Shortly before serving, top each pudding shot with a swirl or dollop of Cool Whip.
Sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
Keep refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.
What Does RumChata Taste Like with Pumpkin?
RumChata is especially good with pumpkin because it already has creamy cinnamon and vanilla flavors.
Those flavors naturally complement pumpkin pie spice, making the pudding shots taste even more like a fall dessert.
Combined with cheesecake pudding, the result is almost like a creamy pumpkin cheesecake with a cinnamon-spiced kick.
Can I Taste the Alcohol?
These are creamy dessert shots rather than traditional liquid shots, so the RumChata is blended throughout the pudding mixture.
You’ll still taste the RumChata, but the pumpkin, cheesecake, cinnamon, vanilla, and whipped topping help create a smooth dessert-like flavor.
If you want a stronger RumChata flavor, resist adding too much extra alcohol. Too much liquid can prevent instant pudding from setting properly.
How to Make Thicker Pudding Shots
Alcohol doesn’t allow instant pudding to set quite the same way it does when it’s prepared entirely with milk.
That’s why this recipe uses a combination of milk, RumChata, pumpkin, and Cool Whip.
If your pudding mixture initially seems softer than you’d like, refrigerate it before changing the recipe. The mixture will become thicker as it chills.
The pumpkin puree and whipped topping also help create a thick, spoonable texture.
Can I Make Pumpkin Pudding Shots Ahead of Time?
Yes! They’re actually a great make-ahead party dessert.
Prepare the pudding shots, place lids on the cups, and refrigerate them until you’re ready to serve.
For the prettiest presentation, wait to add the final swirl of Cool Whip and cinnamon until closer to serving time.
How Long Do Pudding Shots Last?
Store the pudding shots covered in the refrigerator and enjoy them within about 2–3 days for the best texture and flavor.
Keep them chilled until serving.
Because they contain dairy, don’t leave pudding shots sitting at room temperature for extended periods.
Can You Freeze Pumpkin Pudding Shots?
Yes, pudding shots can be frozen if you’d like a firmer, almost frozen-dessert consistency.
Place lids on the individual cups and freeze.
Allow them to soften slightly before serving so they’re easy to eat with a spoon.
Keep in mind that freezing and thawing dairy-based pudding can change the texture somewhat, so I prefer these refrigerated.
What Size Cups Should I Use?
Small 2-ounce plastic condiment or shot cups with lids work especially well for pudding shots.
They’re easy to fill, stack, refrigerate, transport, and serve at parties.
For a larger dessert portion, you can use slightly bigger cups and adjust the number of servings accordingly.
How to Decorate Pumpkin Pudding Shots
A simple swirl of Cool Whip and cinnamon makes these beautiful, but you can dress them up even more for a party.
Try topping them with:
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Cinnamon
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Crushed gingersnap cookies
- Caramel drizzle
- Mini chocolate chips
- Chopped pecans
- Toffee pieces
- Cinnamon sugar
- A tiny piece of cinnamon stick for decoration
For a pumpkin cheesecake look, sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the Cool Whip.
For Thanksgiving, caramel and chopped pecans would be especially delicious.
Halloween Pumpkin Pudding Shots
These are an easy way to turn pudding shots into a Halloween party dessert without making them overly spooky.
Serve them in clear cups so everyone can see the pretty orange pumpkin filling.
Add Cool Whip, cinnamon, and Halloween sprinkles, or use small pumpkin decorations on top.
Arrange them together on a black serving tray for an easy adults-only Halloween dessert table.
Thanksgiving Pudding Shots
Pumpkin Cheesecake Pudding Shots are also perfect for Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving.
They’re especially convenient when you’re serving a large meal because you can prepare them ahead of time and keep them refrigerated.
Serve them as a fun addition to the dessert table alongside pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cheesecake, and other Thanksgiving favorites.
They’re small enough that guests can enjoy one even after a big holiday dinner.
Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots Variation
If you want these to taste even more like pumpkin pie, add graham cracker crumbs.
Sprinkle a small amount of graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of each cup before adding the pumpkin pudding mixture.
Top with Cool Whip, another sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs, and pumpkin pie spice.
You’ll get pumpkin pie flavor in every little cup without baking a crust.
Recipe Notes
Use instant cheesecake pudding mix, not cook-and-serve pudding.
Make sure the milk is cold before mixing it with the instant pudding.
Use pure pumpkin puree rather than pumpkin pie filling.
Don’t add significantly more RumChata without reducing another liquid ingredient, or the pudding may not set properly.
For extra pumpkin pie flavor, add graham cracker crumbs to the bottom of each cup.
Wait until shortly before serving to add the final Cool Whip topping for the prettiest presentation.
This recipe contains alcohol and is intended for adults of legal drinking age.
The Perfect Pumpkin Pudding Shots for Fall
Pumpkin season isn’t complete without a few fun twists on classic pumpkin pie, and these Pumpkin Cheesecake Pudding Shots definitely qualify.
They’re creamy like cheesecake, filled with real pumpkin and warm spices, and have just enough RumChata to turn them into a fun adults-only fall treat.
Make a batch for Halloween, serve them at Friendsgiving, or add them to your Thanksgiving dessert table. With pumpkin, cheesecake, cinnamon, and RumChata all in one little cup, these pudding shots taste like fall in dessert form.
