28 Scary-Good Halloween Cocktails

Brown Cannon III

Bottoms up for delicious, fun, and frightfully good Halloween cocktails. Having a signature Halloween drink is the easiest way to save money on a party, and it lets you really have fun with the theme. Decide whether you want a single drink idea, like Zombie Brain Shots, or an easy punch loaded with eyeballs. Whatever you choose, don't skip the Olive Spiders! They're every Halloween cocktail's best friend!

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Red Pepper Bourbon Glow

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Blakeslee Giles; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Red Pepper Bourbon Glow Recipe

What better way to use gifted peper jelly than to spice up your cocktails? This beverage is sweet and sour with a sublte hotness. Serve a drink that is fun, different, and just plain smart at your next fall or holiday get-together.

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Butterbeer

Photo: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: Callie Blount

Butterbeer Recipe

Fancy a trip to the Wizarding World? This classic favorite drink of witches and wizards alike will be enough to put some magical pep in your step! This drink is a decadent, rich, and buttery experience. Top this popular wizarding beverage with plenty of homemade whipped cream before serving to family and friends.

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Spooky Sangria

Photo: Carol Shih; Styling: Margo True and Carol Shih

Spooky Sangria Recipe

What could be more fun than a cauldron full of seething, smoking sangria? It's delicious and wickedly strong (use more sparkling water if you want to dilute it a little). Although dry ice is not toxic, it's dangerous to swallow chips because of the extremely low temperature. Using a chunk of the ice, and wrapping it in cheesecloth, avoids that problem.

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Autumn Punch

Photo: Thayer Allyson Gowdy; Styling: Miranda Jones

Autumn Punch Recipe
"Punch" is a good description of this one--a couple of glasses pack a wallop. Add extra cranberry juice if you want it weaker.

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Drogon’s Breath Cocktail

Time Inc. Food Studios

Drogon’s Breath Cocktail Recipe

In Game of Thrones lore, the dragon has three heads. And each would love to sate their thirst on this libation. A hint of bright citrus perfectly balances the rich earthy element the wine in this cocktail delivers. Refreshing, delicately sweet, and tangy, this drink if fit for a queen. Serves 1 Khaleesi

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Carrot-Citrus Crush

Scott Rounds

Carrot-Citrus Crush Recipe

Brighten up winter happy hour or Sunday brunch with this citrusy cocktail. Leafy carrot tops lend an herby backbone similar to parsley, and blood oranges infuse a berrylike sweetness. Plus, this drink boasts half your daily vitamin A and more than a third of your daily vitamin C goal.

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Sorghum-Cider Punch

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Sorghum-Cider Punch Recipe

Fizzy hard cider and spicy ginger ale add a subtle effervescence. Start with chilled beverages so it's nice and refreshing, and consider adding a decorative ice ring to keep it that way.

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Honey Cider-Beer Cocktails

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Honey Cider-Beer Cocktails Recipe

The cider-honey base of this fall beverage makes enough for both adult and kid twists: one with pale ale, the other with sparkling cider. Beer and cider are refreshing and lower in sugar and alcohol than stronger potions, which tend to go down a bit too easily.

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Vampire Punch

Photo: Charles Schiller; Styling: Lynn Miller

Vampire Punch Recipe

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Blood Orange Martinis

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lydia Purcell

Blood Orange Martinis Recipe

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Blood Orange-Bourbon Coolers

Photo: Tara Donne; Styling: Erin Swift

Blood Orange-Bourbon Coolers Recipe
Blood Orange-Bourbon Coolers are an adults-only treat featuring three different fruit juices, bourbon (of course), and the perfect Halloween hue.

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Black Cauldron

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Black Cauldron Recipe

This adults-only float is a must-make for a festive fall gathering. Depending on your crowd, you may want to provide straws, spoons, and refills. This beer float makes for a perfect dessert cocktail to finish of a great party or meal.

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Zombie Brain Shots

Photo: ItsTammy

Zombie Brain Shots Recipe

Horror fans rejoice! We've found the perfect shot to kick off your Halloween party in true zombie apocalypse fashion.

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Bloody Mary Punch

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Bloody Mary Punch Recipe

Instead of stirring all the ingredients together, serve optional shots of vodka on the side, and let guests add it or not.

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Eyeball Punch

Eyeball Punch Recipe

Keep it simple by preparing just about everything ahead of time.

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Blood-Bath Punch

Blood-Bath Punch Recipe
Let the adults enjoy the Halloween party too by serving this tangy blood-colored punch alongside other spooky treats.

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Midori Lemon Gin Fizz

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Julia Levy; Prop Styling: Blakeslee Giles

Midori Lemon Gin Fizz Recipe

Egg whites form a spooky, frothy top, giving the cocktail a mad-scientist makeover. The cocktail gets its green hue from Midori liqueur, a super sweet muskmelon-flavored liqueur. Serve in beakers or test tubes to up the Halloween aura.

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Pumpkin Steamers

Photo: Kat Teutsch; Styling: Jerrie-Joy for Pat Bates and Associates

Pumpkin Steamers Recipe

On a cold fall day, all you need to warm up is this steamy, rich, pumpkin treat. Reminicient of a rich pumpkin pie, this creamy drink is the perfect addition to your next fall party or gathering. If serving a crowd, adjust the recipe to increase the amount that's made, and don't forget plenty of whipped cream, if desired!

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Brew-Ha-Ha Punch

Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Brew-Ha-Ha Punch Recipe

With lime drink and pineapple juice, this party punch isn't scary at all–for the kids or the adults. But putting the punch in a second bowl of dry ice gives it that eerie feeling that's perfect for a spooky party.

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Ghoul-Aid Punch

Ghoul-Aid Punch Recipe
Give your guests a scare by float a creepy ice face in your punch bowl. Fill a Halloween mask with water (seal the openings with sturdy tape), freeze overnight, then remove the ice from the mask and float face up.

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Transylvanian Hot Toddy

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Transylvanian Hot Toddy Recipe

This lemonade takes away the goose bumps and smoothes raised hairs.

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Witches' Brew

Oxmoor House

Witches' Brew Recipe
Scare them silly by floating a frozen hand in this yummy brew!

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Apricot-Apple Cider Sipper

Apricot-Apple Cider Sipper Recipe
Make the perfect cool-weather party punch. This warm fruity sipper is sweet and spicy, and guaranteed to warm you from the toes up.

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Apple Bobbing Punch

Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Apple Bobbing Punch Recipe

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Candy Apple Punch