This buttery nipple shot is a delicious cocktail made with butterscotch schnapps and Irish cream! Serve this as a shot or full size cocktail any time you want a little something special.
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I’m not usually one to make fancy shots. I’d rather sip a cocktail for a while to enjoy it. But after trying this buttery nipple recipe (also known as a butterball) I knew I had to share it with you guys!
This is a simple, two layered cocktail that is pretty sweet. It would make a great after dinner drink, or enjoy it on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s. It’s so versatile!
Butterscotch has always been my favorite candy flavor (I know, I’m an old lady at heart), and the cream on top makes the whole thing taste like butterscotch pudding. These shots go down dangerously smooth, so be sure to drink responsibly!
I don’t drink a lot of Irish cream, so I was excited to find these little mini fridge bottles at the liquor store! They hold just enough for a couple shots and you don’t have a ton of leftovers sitting around.
Irish cream does stay good for about 6 months once opened if kept in a cool, dry place or the refrigerator, so if you have a big bottle you’ll be enjoying these for months!
Buttery nipple ingredients
- Butterscotch schnapps (affiliate link)
- Irish cream
How to make a buttery nipple shot
- Add 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps to a chilled shot glass.
- Pour ½ ounce Irish cream over the back of a bar spoon to float it on top of the schnapps (be sure to watch the video and see tips below for more on how to do this).
Top tips and questions
What kind of shot glass to use
Since this is a layered cocktail, it looks great in a tall, clear shot glass (affiliate link). If you’re mixing your drink you can use whatever shot glass you’d like.
How to layer a cocktail
Use a bar spoon or other small spoon. This helps make sure the spoon can fit inside the shot glass.
Hold the spoon so that it touches the inside of the glass just above or touching the first layer, tilting it slightly down.
Pour the liquid slowly over the back of the spoon, raising the spoon gently with the liquid in the glass as it rises.
Can I make this a full size cocktail?
You can make a buttery nipple cocktail that isn’t a shot by shaking up the same proportions of the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, then straining into a rocks or martini glass. It is very rich, so I would recommend starting with 3 ounces of schnapps and 1 ½ ounces of Irish cream.
Can I make this non-alcoholic?
If this sounds good but you don’t drink alcohol, I would really just recommend getting yourself a bag of Werther’s. However, if you really want a drink you could try using Torani Butterscotch Syrup with homemade Irish cream (leaving out the whiskey).
Substitutions
- Make it a slippery nipple by substituting the butterscotch schnapps for sambuca. It has an anise flavor that will give you a shot that tastes a little more like a cocktail than candy while still being incredibly smooth.
- Add a drop of grenadine at the end to create a “nipple” look.
- Reduce the schnapps to 1 ounce and add ½ ounce of vodka, Fireball, or Goldschlager before floating the Irish cream.
- Reduce the schnapps to ½ ounce and add ½ ounce amaretto before floating the Irish cream.
- Change the proportions of schnapps and cream to your liking.
Tools needed
- Mini measuring cup – I like using these little guys for measuring cocktail ingredients
- Jigger – If all you have is a jigger, you can measure with that instead
- Shot glass – I love these classic, heavy bottomed glasses
- Bar spoon – this is important for floating your cocktail, if you will be mixing it you won’t need it
More cocktail recipes
- Sparkling Greyhound Cocktail
- Spiced Vodka Orange Juice
- Apple Cider Cocktail
- Vegas Bomb
- Lemon Drop Shot
- Pineapple Margarita
- Margarita Pitcher
- Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
- Gold Rush Cocktail
- Blackberry Gin Smash
- Mojito Pitcher
- Rum Punch
- Gin and Tonic
- Christmas Gin Cocktail
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Buttery Nipple Shot
Ingredients
- 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps
- ½ ounce Irish cream
Instructions
- Add butterscotch schnapps to a chilled shot glass.
- Slowly pour the cream over the back of a bar spoon to float it on top of the schnapps.
Notes
Substitutions
- Make it a slippery nipple by substituting the butterscotch schnapps for sambuca. It has an anise flavor that will give you a shot that tastes a little more like a cocktail than candy while still being incredibly smooth.
- Add a drop of grenadine at the end to create a “nipple” look.
- Reduce the schnapps to 1 ounce and add ½ ounce of vodka, Fireball, or Goldschlager before floating the Irish cream.
- Reduce the schnapps to ½ ounce and add ½ ounce amaretto before floating the Irish cream.
- Change the proportions of schnapps and cream to your liking.
Kimberly says
Awesome
I loved it
Anne Moyers says
Love these at a bar they are like 5.00 so if I can make at home would save a lot of money this way
Lindsay Moe says
Yes, they are so much cheaper to make at home!
Mona Washington says
Try making these things when you are feeling it they are delicious thank you 😍😍😍🤪🤪🤪🤪
Vivian says
I love, love LOVE these tasty little shots!!
I was served my very first one, many years ago, just after an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. It was love at first shot. . And sharing them with friends. Since that day, has been great fun. I have lost count of how many different names I’ve heard this drink called thru the years. Some not even a little PC. LoL I think Butterball and Buttery Nipple are good ones that will stick with me.
I’ve always referred to it as cold weather shot perfection!
They’re a tad sweet and heavy for me to truly appreciate in the warmer times of the year. During which I steer more toward a good single malt, ice cold beer, Margarita rocks, or a well made Paloma.
But much in the way people like to joke about women and their pure love for autumn, and pumpkin spice,, well, everything! LoL
Is like that for me in how autumns first chill, brings on cravings for the seasons first buttery nipple! They’re my go-to for taking the chill off. Either as a shot, added to my hot cocoa, evening coffee, or poured over a tasty scoop of ice cream! And there was that one time with that buttery delicious pound/poke cake…
So simple. But just next level delicious!
I was intrigued by a suggested variation I read just a tonight. They suggested adding a splash of cinnamon schnapps. One reviewer described as a liquid oatmeal cookie. And I was in.
I look forward to trying it out and judging for myself!
B says
I made these for my guest as an after dinner cocktail desert and they loved them.
MICHAEL says
IM SO GLAD THAT I SCROLLED THROUGH THE STORY OF HOW ALCOHOL WAS CREATED AND THE LONG NOVEL ABOUT HOW EVERY SINGLE PART OF THIS RECIPE WAS CREATED ON THIS EARTH. AFTER DAYS OF SCROLLING AND LOSING 2 FINGERS IN THE PROCESS I HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED ON THE RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WEB PAGE BUT BY THE TIME I GOT THERE I WAS NO LONGER IN THE MOOD TO MAKE THIS DRINK. THANKS FOR WASTING DAYS OF MY LIFE THAT ILL NEVER GET BACK.
TRY PUTTING THE RECIPE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ARTICLE BEFORE I DIE OF OLD AGE. THANK GOD THIS RECIPE HAS TWO INGREDIENTS OTHERWISE I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE LOST CONCIOUSSNESS FROM STARVATION OR DEHYDRATION.
Lindsay Moe says
You sure do have a lot of time on your hands for not being able to scroll! Sounds like you really could have used that drink, sorry it didn’t work out for you. I would explain to you why I can’t put the recipe at the top of the post but wouldn’t want you to suffer any further. Grow up.