My spooky Halloween mocktail is a fun, family friendly drink that kids and adults both love! Let me show you how to create it in just five minutes.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my fall apple cider mocktail, too!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Quick and Easy - You only need five minutes to make this simple non-alcoholic drink. And whether or not you have cocktail tools at home, I've gotchu covered with my pro tips below!
Festive and Fun - This virgin Halloween drink is pitch black and a lil creepy with a fruity floating googly eye to take it over the top. I was inspired by the one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater we sang about during my childhood for this one.
Crafting creative homemade mocktails is kinda my thing so I have plenty more for you to check out: autumn pumpkin juice mocktail, relaxing tart cherry juice mocktail, hydrating coconut water mocktail, and tangy grapefruit mocktail!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Tart Cherry Juice is fruity and not too sweet and plays perfect with all the other flavors in the mix here.
Activated Charcoal makes the beverage black as night to resemble a scary witches potion. I just use activated charcoal capsules from the store for this effect.
Lychee and Blueberry for the lychee zombie eye. You can use fresh, frozen, canned fruits for this and be sure to add a spoon of cherry jam to make it look bloody!
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Fruit Juice - If you can't get sour cherry juice, pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, or hibiscus tea can work instead because of their color. Just note that the flavor will be different.
Alcohol - Add a splash of your favorite spirit or switch out the bubbly water with champagne or Prosecco to turn this drink into a Halloween cocktail potion. Peep my Halloween martini for an alcoholic version!
Sweetener - I use cinnamon syrup to add sweetness and subtle fall spice but you can use the sweetener of your choice including your favorite zero sugar option.
Try my turmeric ginger honey syrup or masala chai simple syrup for other warmly spicy options!
How to Make a Spooky Mocktail
- Step 1: Add the juice, spiced syrup, and charcoal powder to cocktail shaker over ice.
- Step 2: Seal, shake, and strain the mixture into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Pro Tip #1
If you don't have a cocktail shaker, a mason jar makes a good substitute. Just tilt the lid open when you pour out the mocktail to retain the ice. And a shot glass can work in place of a jigger!
Pro Tip #2
Give this drink an extra shake to dissolve as much of the charcoal powder as possible. Some residue will likely make it into the bottom of your glass but you can double strain with a mesh strainer to prevent that, if you prefer.
- Step 3: Top up the glass with sparkling water or club soda.
- Step 4: Spoon a bit of cherry jam into the hole of a lychee then press a blueberry into it to make the garnish.
I gotchu covered with non-alcoholic beverage options for all the big holidays, from my strawberry rose mocktail for Valentine's Day to the pomegranate grapefruit Merry Christmas mocktail, and my spiced Thanksgiving mocktail!
Pro Tip #3
Use any kind of unflavored sparkling water you like, including mineral water, soda water, and club soda. So if you're a Topo Chico girl, go ahead and grab that.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prep this zero-proof drink ahead of time but I don't recommend adding the sparkling water until you're ready to serve it because it will go flat over time.
To make into a non-alcoholic punch, add three cups tart cherry juice, three ounces cinnamon spice syrup and powder from four activated charcoal capsules to a pitcher filled halfway with ice. Top up with sparkling and stir vigorously to combine. Finish each glass with lychee berry eyeballs. Serves four.
How to Serve
Serve this mocktail for your Halloween party ice cold with the edible zombie eyeball. Add a striped straw to make it more fun and use a uniquely shaped glass if you can!
More Favorite Mocktail Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I hope you and yours enjoy a round of Halloween themed mocktails soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Spooky Halloween Mocktail
Equipment
- 1 jigger or shot glass
- 1 Cocktail Shaker or mason jar
- 1 bar spoon or spoon
- 1 rocks glass
Ingredients
- ¾ cup tart cherry juice
- ¾ ounce cinnamon syrup
- 1 activated charcoal capsule
- ice
- sparkling water
- 1 lychee
- 1 teaspoon cherry jam
- 1 blueberry
Instructions
- Add cherry juice, cinnamon syrup, and powder from inside activated charcoal capsule into cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice.
- Seal cocktail shaker and shake until liquid is chilled to the touch. I recommend giving a few extra shakes to dissolve as much of the charcoal powder as possible.
- Strain mocktail into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Spoon cherry jam into hole of lychee then place a blueberry inside to create the eye. Add to drink as garnish.
Notes
-
Add one cinnamon stick (or two teaspoons ground cinnamon), 1 ½ cup brown sugar, and one cup water to a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until dissolved.
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Bring the mixture to a boil then remove it from heat and steep until cooled.
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Strain out any solid pieces and transfer the cooled syrup to a container to store. Makes 18 servings.
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