liquid luck halloween cocktail;

Who’s ready for Halloween? I usually love Halloween. Handing out candy, the neighborhood feel. Everyone’s in good spirits, and hopped up on sugar. But this year will probably be different with COVID-19. Guess we might need some liquid luck this year, am I right? These cute potions are a perfect way to make this crazy year’s Halloween super fun. Throughout the next few weeks, I’ll share 5 different recipes, and break down the specifics. Some creative ideas, fun colors, and some non-alcoholic alternatives for the kiddos!

This first Halloween cocktail is inspired by my love of Harry Potter. I’m a big Harry Potter nerd, although I’m not a fan of JK Rowling’s now publicized transphobic comments. But the Harry Potter series really holds a place in my childhood and heart. My family read the books when they first came out, and we always anticipated the next book. We would only have one hard-backed copy of a book, which meant we were all desperate to read it. So our compromise was to read them out loud together, which was really fun. It’s actually a favorite childhood memory of mine.

We’ve even been to Harry Potter World in universal studios in Florida–twice! I highly recommend visiting if you can, it’s so immersive and fun. But if you can’t or are waiting for COVID to allow you to travel again, this Halloween cocktail is sure to brighten your day, and just maybe your luck!

I had the most fun photographing this potion, trying to get the swirls and sparkles of the cocktail. If you think it looks cool in photographs, just wait until you see it in person. The sparkles do sink to the bottom if you let it sit for a while, but I think it actually makes it more fun. Every time you take a swig or move it around, the sparkles whirl and catch the light, making it a delight to drink. Because who doesn’t need a little luck from their Halloween cocktail? Who knows, maybe it’ll help you get a sweet treat instead of mean tricks!

If I had to pick one potion from my Halloween cocktail series to serve at a party, this would be it. It’s just so darn cool looking. You’ll be making the golden syrup in a batch, so you’ll have enough for a whole tray of mini potion bottles. It’s super easy to provide the mocktail alternative as well, and it looks just as cool as the alcoholic version. Plus apple cider is just so autumnal. Perfect for Halloween.

If you choose to make your own apple pie moonshine, you’ll also have a huge batch of that. But if that’s too much work, then apple cider mixed with liquor is also pretty easy. So the whole recipe, even in all variations, lends itself to a party while still having that wow factor.

To serve them at a big party, I would buy a whole batch of these round potion bottles from Michael’s to serve them in. The round bottles are my favorite shape from this series. They hold around 7 oz or 225 ml of liquid each.
The golden sparkles basically come from simple syrup made with gold sprinkles. An easy way to get the gold into your drink, and the best part is the golden syrup is non-alcoholic. Make-ahead, simple, AND glamorous? What more could you want? I’ll spell out several variations for this Halloween cocktail at the recipe below.

For the non-alcoholic version, use apple cider. It’s really just sugar and apple cider so it will definitely be extra sweet. If you can find an apple cider with a hint of tartness, I think it would go well to balance out the extra sugar. For the alcoholic version, we love making this apple pie moonshine. We actually served it at our wedding as favors for people to take home! But it does involve some commitment to make, so if you’re not keen on standing over a pot for an afternoon… Instead, sub 4 oz apple cider and 1oz bourbon, rum, or mead.

It’s actually a fun twist to use spicy mead if you can get your hands on it. We love mead from Orchid Cellars, a local Maryland meadery. I recommend the Fish Hunter mead if you’re looking for spice. It has a perfect heat level without being overpowering or underwhelming. They actually make a whole series of spicy mead, ranging from mild to intense. They even do some crazy spice limited batch releases, usually around Father’s Day. If you’re into that sort of thing, check them out! We love visiting, and love their mead. Love them even more when you can find a spooky Halloween cocktail to use mead in.

Secrets for Success

• Guys, if you’re into the alcohol thing, you need to make this apple pie moonshine. If you’re looking for a one-time investment for a big batch of delicious alcoholic drink, I highly recommend. We actually served this exact recipe as our wedding favors! (Not to kids though, they just got cider.)
• This Halloween cocktail is perfect for parties. If you’re making your own apple pie moonshine, you’ll have a huge batch. The recipe makes around 8oz of golden simple syrup using Wilton’s gold sprinkles. If you’re going the mocktail route, it’s easy to buy gallons of cider.
• I suggest a glass bottle to store the simple syrup (I use mason jars). Make sure to keep the outside clean because it can get sticky. Since it’s just sugar and water it will keep for a long time, just store in a cool place at room temperature. Refrigeration not required.
• You could probably do with less than 2oz of golden syrup per serving. I wanted the gold color to shine through for photographs, so I went a little heavy-handed. I suggest starting with 1 oz and then adjusting based on preferred sweetness and color.

Looking for other festive Halloween cocktails? Check out the whole series. (Check back, recipes and links are coming soon!)

• Dragon’s Milk
• Elixer of the Night
• Phoenix Breath
• Witches’ Brew