Get ready to shake up the ultimate party starter with these irresistibly easy White Gummy Bear shots! If you’re searching for a vibrant, fruity concoction that’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, look no further. Whenever I prepare these delightful shots, guests are immediately asking for the recipe, often before they’ve even finished their first sip. They perfectly capture that iconic sweet, tangy, and slightly fizzy candy flavor, all while delivering a smooth, enjoyable experience. Forget complicated techniques or a long list of obscure ingredients; these shots are all about straightforward fun. Just a few simple steps—shake, pour, and enjoy—and you’ll be serving up a taste of pure nostalgia.
You will also love my Pink Starburst Shot recipe.
What Exactly is a White Gummy Bear Shot?
The White Gummy Bear Shot is more than just a drink; it’s a nostalgic trip for your taste buds, meticulously crafted to mimic the distinct and beloved flavor of the white gummy bear candy, which is typically pineapple-flavored. This shot is a sensation at parties, gatherings, and bars, cherished for its delightful balance of sweetness, a subtle tang, and a refreshing fizz. What truly sets it apart is its deceptively smooth nature; it tastes so much like the candy that many people are surprised by its alcoholic kick, making it incredibly easy and enjoyable to drink. It’s the perfect choice for those who appreciate a playful, fruit-forward beverage that doesn’t overwhelm with a strong alcohol taste, yet still delivers a spirited punch. Its vibrant flavor profile makes it an instant hit, leaving a lasting impression long after the last drop.
The Essential White Gummy Bear Shot Ingredients
Creating the perfect White Gummy Bear Shot relies on a careful selection of four key ingredients, each playing a crucial role in replicating that iconic candy flavor. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and accessibility, proving that you don’t need exotic spirits to craft something truly special. Here’s a closer look at what goes into this popular shot:
- Raspberry Vodka: This is the heart of our Gummy Bear Shot, providing a bold, authentic fruit base that immediately brings to mind the vibrant sweetness of fruit candies. While any good quality raspberry vodka will work, choosing a brand you enjoy neat will ensure a superior final product. Its sweet and slightly tart notes are essential for mimicking the multifaceted flavor of a gummy bear without being overly sugary.
- Peach Schnapps: Adding a layer of juicy, ripe peach flavor, peach schnapps is vital for achieving that smooth, rounded gummy bear essence. It harmonizes beautifully with the raspberry vodka, softening any sharp edges and contributing to the shot’s signature sweetness. This ingredient is key to giving the drink its distinct candy-like profile, making it incredibly palatable and moreish.
- Sweet & Sour Mix: This often-underestimated component is crucial for balance. Sweet & sour mix introduces a zesty tang that cuts through the sweetness of the fruit liqueurs, preventing the shot from becoming cloyingly sweet. It brightens the flavor, adding depth and that characteristic “zing” that makes a gummy bear so appealing. A good quality mix ensures a well-rounded and refreshing taste.
- Lemon-Lime Soda (like Sprite): The final touch, a splash of lemon-lime soda, delivers the much-needed effervescence and a subtle citrus lift. This fizz not only makes the shot more playful and exciting but also helps to marry all the flavors together, creating a lighter, more refreshing finish. Sprite is a popular choice for its balanced sweetness and mild citrus notes, ensuring it complements rather than overshadows the fruit flavors.
Together, these ingredients create a symphony of flavors that is instantly recognizable and utterly delightful, making the White Gummy Bear Shot a truly unforgettable experience.
Crafting Your White Gummy Bear Shots: Step-by-Step Instructions
Making White Gummy Bear Shots is incredibly simple, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor payoff. Follow these detailed steps to create perfectly chilled, deliciously fruity shots every time:
- Start with Ice for Optimal Chill: Begin by filling a cocktail shaker about two-thirds full with fresh ice. The colder your ingredients are when mixed, the more refreshing your shots will be. Adequate chilling also helps to slightly dilute the spirits, creating a smoother, more enjoyable drinking experience. Don’t skimp on the ice!
- Add Raspberry Vodka: Pour 1 ounce of raspberry vodka into the shaker. This vibrant spirit forms the fruity foundation of your shot, setting the stage for that distinctive gummy bear flavor. Precision here ensures the alcohol content is just right without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Introduce Peach Schnapps: Next, add 1 ounce of peach schnapps. This sweet and succulent liqueur is crucial for layering in that classic peach-pineapple gummy bear taste. Its syrupy texture also contributes to the shot’s smooth finish.
- Balance with Sweet & Sour Mix: Include a splash (about 1/2 to 1 ounce, depending on your preference for tartness) of sweet & sour mix. This ingredient is key to balancing the overall sweetness, introducing a delightful tang that brightens the entire flavor profile and mimics the slight tartness found in real gummy candies.
- Shake to Perfection: Secure the lid tightly on your cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. You’ll know it’s ready when the outside of the shaker feels frosty to the touch. This ensures all ingredients are thoroughly combined and perfectly chilled.
- Strain into Shot Glasses: Carefully remove the shaker lid and strain the chilled mixture evenly into individual shot glasses. Aim for a consistent pour to ensure each guest enjoys the same perfect blend.
- Top with Fizzy Lemon-Lime Soda: Just before serving, add a small splash of lemon-lime soda (like Sprite) on top of each shot. This final touch introduces a delightful fizz and a hint of citrus that elevates the candy-like experience. The bubbles also make the shot feel lighter and more festive.
- Garnish for Extra Flair (Optional): For an extra special presentation, rim your shot glasses with sugar for added sweetness and sparkle. Alternatively, thread a colorful gummy bear (perhaps a pink one to match the fruity theme) onto a small cocktail stick and rest it on the rim of each glass. These small details enhance both the visual appeal and the fun factor of your White Gummy Bear Shots.
By following these steps, you’ll consistently create delicious, visually appealing White Gummy Bear Shots that are sure to be a hit at any gathering.
Transforming Your Shot into a Delicious Cocktail
While the White Gummy Bear Shot is perfect for a quick, potent burst of flavor, its delightful profile also lends itself beautifully to a full-sized cocktail. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a more leisurely drink or prefer not to serve shots, converting this recipe is simple and yields a refreshing beverage suitable for any occasion. To make it into a cocktail, you’ll want to adjust the proportions to fill a larger glass while maintaining the signature gummy bear taste. Here’s how to do it:
For a single serving, start with a highball glass or a tumbler filled generously with ice. Combine 2 ounces of raspberry vodka, 1 ounce of peach schnapps, and 1 ounce of sweet & sour mix. Give these ingredients a good stir directly in the glass to ensure they are well combined and chilled. Finally, top the mixture with 3-4 ounces of lemon-lime soda, like Sprite, to add that characteristic fizz and lengthen the drink. Give it one last gentle stir, and you’ll have a wonderfully effervescent and incredibly delicious White Gummy Bear Cocktail. Feel free to garnish with a few gummy bears on a cocktail skewer or a lemon or lime wedge for a touch of citrus aroma. This cocktail version is fantastic for sipping slowly, making it ideal for relaxed evenings or as a less intense party drink.
Tips for the Perfect Gummy Bear Shot
Achieving the perfect White Gummy Bear Shot is all about attention to a few details. While the recipe is straightforward, these tips will help you elevate your shots from good to truly exceptional, ensuring everyone at your party is asking for more:
- Chill Your Ingredients: Beyond just using ice in the shaker, consider chilling your raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, and even the sweet & sour mix in the refrigerator prior to mixing. This helps achieve a colder, smoother shot with less dilution, as the ice in the shaker won’t have to work as hard to bring down the temperature.
- Quality Matters: While you don’t need top-shelf spirits, choosing decent quality vodka and schnapps will make a noticeable difference in the smoothness and overall taste of your shots. Likewise, a good sweet & sour mix can significantly impact the balance of flavors.
- Adjust Sweetness and Tartness: The ‘splash’ of sweet & sour mix and lemon-lime soda can be adjusted to your preference. If you like a sweeter shot, use a little less sweet & sour mix or a sweeter soda. For a tangier profile, increase the sweet & sour. Taste as you go when making a batch.
- Batch Preparation for Parties: To streamline serving at a party, you can pre-mix the raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, and sweet & sour mix in a large pitcher. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. When guests are ready for a shot, pour the chilled mixture into individual shot glasses and then top with a splash of cold lemon-lime soda. This keeps the fizz fresh and prevents the drinks from becoming flat.
- Creative Garnishes: Beyond just a single gummy bear, consider using different colors of gummy bears, a twist of lemon or lime peel, or even a sugared rim (using fine granulated sugar) to add visual appeal and an extra layer of sweetness.
- Non-Alcoholic Version: Don’t want alcohol? You can easily create a virgin version that still captures the fun flavor. Use raspberry syrup or raspberry-flavored sparkling water in place of vodka, and peach nectar or peach-flavored soda instead of schnapps. Keep the sweet & sour mix and top with lemon-lime soda for that signature fizz. It’s a fantastic option for all guests to enjoy.
- Experiment with Flavors: While the classic White Gummy Bear (pineapple) is the inspiration, feel free to experiment. You could try cherry vodka for a red gummy bear shot, orange vodka for an orange gummy bear shot, or even watermelon liqueur for a watermelon gummy bear variation.
- Serve Immediately: For the best experience, White Gummy Bear Shots should be consumed shortly after they are prepared and topped with soda. This ensures the carbonation is at its peak and the drink is perfectly chilled.
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to consistently create delicious and impressive White Gummy Bear Shots that are the highlight of any celebration.
White Gummy Bear Shot Recipe
If you’re looking for an easy, fruity, and fun shot, this White Gummy Bear recipe is exactly what you need! It perfectly captures the nostalgic taste of the popular candy with a delightful fizz, making it an instant hit at any gathering. Simple to make with readily available ingredients, you’ll be shaking, pouring, and enjoying these sweet treats in no time.
5 mins
5 mins
cocktails, shots
American
1 shot
157 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 oz raspberry vodka
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- Splash of sweet & sour mix
- Splash of lemon-lime soda (like Sprite)
Instructions
- Start with ice: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice so everything stays cold and crisp.
- Add raspberry vodka: Pour in raspberry vodka. This is your fruity base.
- Pour in peach schnapps: Add peach schnapps for that sweet gummy flavor.
- Add sweet & sour mix: Add a splash of sweet & sour mix for a little tang to balance the sweetness.
- Shake it up: Pop the lid on the shaker and shake well, about 10 to 15 seconds until it’s nice and chilled.
- Strain into shot glasses: Strain the mixture evenly into shot glasses.
- Top with Sprite: Add a splash of Sprite on top of each shot for a fizzy finish.
- Optional garnish: If you’re feeling extra, you can rim the glasses with sugar or pop a pink gummy bear on a cocktail stick for garnish.
Notes
Raspberry vodka is what gives this shot its signature flavor. If you only have regular vodka, you can compensate by adding a splash of raspberry syrup or a raspberry-flavored liqueur to achieve a similar taste profile.
A cocktail shaker is ideal for getting all the ingredients perfectly cold and mixed. However, if you don’t own one, a mason jar or any container with a tight-fitting lid that can safely handle ice and shaking will work just as well. The goal is to ensure thorough chilling and mixing.
Nutrition
Calories: 157 kcal
Carbohydrates: 13 g
Nutrition Data Disclaimer
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using a standard online nutrition calculator. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information for any given recipe, it is recommended to calculate the nutritional details with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful for your dietary needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a delightful fusion of sweet and fruity flavors, with a smooth finish and a hint of tang. It closely resembles the taste of a pineapple or peach gummy bear, enhanced by a slight tartness from the sweet & sour mix and a refreshing fizz from the soda.
Absolutely! This recipe is perfect for scaling up. Simply multiply the ingredient quantities by the number of shots you need. You can mix the raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, and sweet & sour ahead of time and chill it in a pitcher. Then, just before serving, pour into shot glasses and top each with a splash of fresh lemon-lime soda to maintain the fizz.
Raspberry vodka is crucial for achieving the signature White Gummy Bear flavor. However, if you only have regular vodka on hand, you can substitute it. To still get that fruity kick, add a dash of raspberry syrup or a raspberry-flavored liqueur along with the regular vodka. This will help maintain the desired taste profile.
Peach schnapps provides the most authentic gummy bear flavor, which typically has a strong peach or apricot note. You could experiment with apricot or mango liqueurs for similar fruity sweetness, but the classic peach schnapps is highly recommended for the best resemblance to the candy.
As with any shot, it contains alcohol. However, the White Gummy Bear Shot doesn’t taste particularly strong due to the generous amount of fruity flavors from the raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, and sweet & sour mix, all balanced by the fizzy soda. This makes it go down very easily – perhaps a little too easily, so always enjoy responsibly!
A cocktail shaker is highly recommended as it helps to quickly chill and perfectly mix all the ingredients. If you don’t have one, don’t worry! You can easily use a mason jar with a secure lid or any other lidded container that can be shaken vigorously with ice. The key is to ensure the mixture gets thoroughly cold before serving.
Absolutely! To create a non-alcoholic version, replace the raspberry vodka with raspberry lemonade or raspberry sparkling water. For the peach schnapps, use peach juice, peach nectar, or a peach-flavored soda. Keep the sweet & sour mix and top with lemon-lime soda for that refreshing fizz. It’s a fun and fruity option for everyone to enjoy.
Garnishing is a fantastic way to add a playful touch and enhance the presentation. A small gummy bear threaded onto a toothpick or cocktail stick placed on the rim of the glass is a classic choice. You can also rim the shot glasses with fine sugar for an extra layer of sweetness and sparkle.
White Gummy Bear Shots are incredibly versatile and perfect for a wide range of social gatherings. They are a huge hit at house parties, birthday celebrations, game nights, bachelorette parties, or any event where you want to add a fun, sweet, and memorable drink to the menu. Their vibrant flavor and easy drinkability make them an excellent choice for casual get-togethers and festive celebrations alike.
Explore More Delicious Cocktail Recipes
If you loved the White Gummy Bear Shot, you’re sure to enjoy these other fantastic cocktail creations:
Jungle Juice Recipe
Ninja Slushi Margarita
Hennessy Margarita
Ninja Slushi Piña colada