Cocktails
Halloween Poison Apple Cider Mule
A Halloween apple cider mule with dark rum, lime and ginger beer. Build one crisp autumn cocktail in five minutes and garnish with red apple slices.
- 5 min
- ≈ 210 kcal
- ≈ 10.6% ABV
THE DRINKS NOTEBOOK
Halloween drinks: cocktails, mocktails and kids' treats
7 Halloween drinks we made and tasted this season: 5 cocktails and 2 alcohol-free drinks that kids can share. Each recipe gives exact measures and a garnish that does the spooky work without food coloring or dry ice.
Halloween cocktails
Cocktails
Halloween Vampire Bite Margarita
A Halloween margarita with a pomegranate “blood” shot guests add themselves. Measured tequila, lime and orange liqueur; one drink in 10 minutes.
- 10 min
- ≈ 213 kcal
- ≈ 17.4% ABV
Cocktails
Halloween Ghost White Russian
Make a Halloween White Russian with coffee liqueur, cream and an edible marshmallow ghost perched above the glass. One cocktail, ready in 10 minutes.
- 10 min
- ≈ 349 kcal
- ≈ 20.8% ABV
Cocktails
Halloween Black Cherry Bourbon Smash
A dark cherry bourbon cocktail with fresh lemon and a little maple syrup, served over ice for a Halloween gathering.
- 5 min
- ≈ 211 kcal
- ≈ 13.5% ABV
Cocktails
Halloween Blackberry Witch Fizz
A dark purple blackberry and gin cocktail with lemon, ginger beer and a rosemary garnish. Ready in 10 minutes for a Halloween party.
- 10 min
- ≈ 236 kcal
- ≈ 10.2% ABV
Alcohol-free and kid-friendly
Mocktails
Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern Orange Fizz for Kids
Make two small jack-o'-lantern orange fizz drinks for kids with orange juice, pineapple juice and sparkling water. Decorate the outside of the cups.
- 10 min
- ≈ 56 kcal
- Non-alcoholic
Milkshakes & Creamy Drinks
Halloween Ghost Milkshake for Kids
Make two small banana vanilla ghost milkshakes for Halloween. A sweet, alcohol-free drink for kids with an optional whipped cream ghost decoration.
- 10 min
- ≈ 366 kcal
- Non-alcoholic
Halloween drinks at a glance
Per serving, as written in each recipe. Calories and alcohol are estimates; see how we estimate them.
| Drink | Type | Time | Calories (kcal) | Alcohol (ABV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poison Apple Cider Mule | Cocktail | 5 min | 210 | 10.6% |
| Vampire Bite Margarita | Cocktail | 10 min | 213 | 17.4% |
| Ghost White Russian | Cocktail | 10 min | 349 | 20.8% |
| Black Cherry Bourbon Smash | Cocktail | 5 min | 211 | 13.5% |
| Blackberry Witch Fizz | Cocktail | 10 min | 236 | 10.2% |
| Jack-o'-Lantern Orange Fizz for Kids | Alcohol-free | 10 min | 56 | 0% |
| Ghost Milkshake for Kids | Alcohol-free | 10 min | 366 | 0% |
Halloween drink questions
What Halloween drinks can kids have?
The Jack-o'-Lantern Orange Fizz for Kids and the Ghost Milkshake for Kids contain no alcohol and are made to share with children. Several of the cocktails here also give an alcohol-free version in their Common questions section.
What is the quickest Halloween cocktail to make?
The Poison Apple Cider Mule and the Black Cherry Bourbon Smash take about 5 minutes each. The others take a little longer, mostly for the garnish.
Which Halloween cocktail is the strongest?
The Ghost White Russian is the strongest here at about 20.8% ABV; the Blackberry Witch Fizz is the lightest at about 10.2% ABV. Both are estimates per serving from the measured ingredients.
How can I make Halloween cocktails ahead for a party?
Mix the still ingredients (spirits, juices and syrups) ahead and keep them in the fridge. Add ice, fizzy mixers such as ginger beer or sparkling water, and cream or whipped toppings only when serving, so the drinks stay bubbly and look fresh. Most garnishes can be made earlier in the day; cut apple is the exception because it browns.
How do you make a Halloween drink look spooky without special ingredients?
Let the garnish do the work: a marshmallow ghost with chocolate eyes, a red “blood” shot of pomegranate juice and grenadine, black paper jack-o'-lantern faces taped outside clear cups, the deep purple of muddled blackberries or a fan of red apple slices. None of these needs food coloring or dry ice.