Seven Spooky Cocktails for Your Halloween Party

If you’re a creative party planner, then Halloween is most likely one of your favorite holidays to celebrate. The colors and spooky undertones of the day bring out our most clever and artistic sides. And that goes double for crafting unique cocktails.

If you’re planning your cocktail list, look no further! We’ve rounded up seven of the best Halloween cocktails that are sure to wow your guests. Check it out.

Boozy Screamsicle Shakes

Source: Delish

Serves: Four

Why we love it: Anytime we can multitask is a great time, indeed. Alcoholic milkshakes that can double as dessert? Yes, please!

Ingredients:

• 6 Oreos, finely crushed
• 1 qt. orange sherbet
• 3/4 c. milk
• 8 oz. vanilla vodka

Garnishes:

• Whipped cream
• Chocolate sauce
• Orange & black sprinkles

Instructions:

• Pour 2 tablespoons of chocolate sauce onto a small, shallow plate.
• Place Oreo crumbs on a second small plate.
• Dip rims of serving glasses first in chocolate sauce, then in Oreo crumbs.
• Combine sherbet, milk, and vodka in a blender and blend to combine.
• Drizzle some chocolate sauce on the inside of each serving glass, then fill with the milkshake.
• Garnish with whipped cream, remaining Oreo crumbs, and sprinkles.

Black Magic Margaritas

Source: Delish

Serves: Two

Why we love it: The classic margarita gets a spooky, goth upgrade thanks to the food coloring and exotic black sanding sugar. If you can’t find sanding sugar, try using coarse grain sugar and gel (not liquid) food coloring.

Ingredients:

• 2 T. black sanding sugar
• 2 c. ice
• 4 oz. silver tequila
• 2 oz. triple sec
• 1/2 c. lime juice
• Red food coloring
• Blue food coloring
• Green food coloring

Garnish

• Lime slices

Instructions:

• Rim two glasses with a lime slice and dip in black sanding sugar.
• Divide tequila, triple sec, and lime juice between two glasses and stir to combine.
• Add food coloring until desired black color is achieved.
• Add ice and garnish with a slice of lime before serving

Witch’s Potion Cocktail

Source: Woman’s Day

Serves: Eight

Why we love it: The red decorating gel gives this light and fizzy drink a little bit of ghoulish flair. Try decorating the pitcher and glasses with the gel for extra effect.

Ingredients:

• 8 c. ice
• 1 1-liter bottle lemon-lime soda
• 1 qt. lemonade
• 1 c. pomegranate juice
• 2 tubes red decorating gel

Garnishes

• Red decorating gel

Instructions:

• Place ice cubes in a large pitcher or glasses.
• Add soda and lemonade and stir to blend.
• Gently add pomegranate juice at the top of the pitcher or glasses to keep the color concentrated.
• Squeeze some gel on the lip of the glasses and pitcher.

Pomegranate Rum Punch

Source: Country Living

Serves: Eight

Why we love it: The blood-red coloring of the pomegranate seeds and hibiscus tea make this a stunning-looking cocktail that’s especially suited for Halloween. As a bonus, it’s also great for the winter holidays, too.

Ingredients:

• 4 hibiscus tea bags
• 1 small cinnamon stick, smashed
• 1 c. pomegranate juice
• 1 c. spiced rum
• 1/2 c. fresh navel or blood orange juice
• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled

Garnishes

• Pomegranate seeds
• Orange slices

Instructions:

• Place tea bags and cinnamon stick in a large measuring cup.
• Top with 1 cup boiling water; let steep for 5 minutes.
• Strain and cool to room temperature.
• Combine tea, pomegranate juice, rum, and orange juice in a pitcher.
• Slowly stir in prosecco.
• Serve over ice garnished with orange slices and pomegranate seeds.

Death in the Afternoon Cocktail

Source: Country Living

Serves: One

Why we love it: We didn’t forget you, Halloween brunchers. This champagne cocktail is so simple but packs a punch thanks to the addition of exotic absinthe. Sometimes a simple recipe is all it takes to wow your partygoers. 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 to 1/2 oz. absinthe
• 4 oz. chilled Champagne or other sparkling wine

Garnishes:

• None

Instructions:

• Pour absinthe into a Champagne flute
• Top with Champagne.

The Witch’s Heart Cocktail

Source: The Flavor Bender

Serves: One

Why we love it: The dry ice presentation of this deep purple cocktail is sure to be a party favorite. If you’re a beginner cocktail enthusiast, though, you might want to skip it. Be sure to use the dry ice responsibly by handling it with gloves on and do not let your guests ingest it.

Ingredients:

• 1 jigger apple brandy or apple vodka, chilled
• 1 tsp. grenadine
• 2 jiggers (or to top up) Homemade Blackberry Shimmery Liqueur or Viniq, chilled
• Martini glass to serve

Garnishes

• Powdered dry ice
• Blackberries
• Raspberries

Instructions:

• Add about 1/2 - 1 tsp. of powdered dry ice to the bottom of the glass (optional).
• Place the apple brandy and purple shimmery liqueur in a shaker.
• Add 1 ice cube and shake for a few seconds to chill the drink.
• Strain the drink into the martini glass.
• Top up with more purple shimmery liqueur if necessary.
• Add 1 tsp. of grenadine syrup, holding it about an inch from the surface of the drink - the grenadine should sink to the bottom, creating a "bleeding" effect.
• Add about 1/2 tsp of powdered dry ice on top and serve with a stirrer, so that your guests can stir the "potion" to create that shimmery, smoky effect.

Pumpkin Old Fashioned Cocktail

Source: A Couple Cooks

Serves: One

Why we love it: If you’re looking for something more fall-centric, consider giving this delicious pumpkin-based cocktail a go. The pumpkin puree blends surprisingly well with the bourbon and bitters.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 T. pumpkin puree
• ½ T. maple syrup
• ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• ¼ tsp. vanilla
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Ice, for serving

Garnishes:

• Rosemary
• Orange peel

Instructions:

• Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add a handful of ice and shake until cold.
• Strain the drink into an ice-filled lowball glass.
• Garnish with rosemary and an orange peel, if desired.

Is there a Halloween cocktail you think we should know about? Leave a comment below and tell us why you love it.