9 Hauntingly Hot Halloween Cocktail Recipes

We hit so many Halloween highs and lows throughout our college years. On the one hand, we’ll never outgrow parties or our favorite paranormal movies. On the other hand, though, our neighbors would probably be confused if we came by in costume to collect some of their candy. Being too old to trick-or-treat is a total bummer, but it also means that we’re finally old enough for a more spirited way to celebrate the holiday. These cocktail recipes will kick your Halloween into high gear. (If you’re not 21, don’t worry—we’ve got a few alcohol-free variations!)

1. Magic Cotton Candy Martini

Is there anything more fun than a cup full of cotton candy? This is the perfect drink for satisfying your sweet tooth! To pull off the disappearing act in a non-alcoholic way, all you have to do is skip the vodka. 

Recipe courtesy of The Cookie Rookie

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 4 cups cotton candy, divided
• 4 cups grape juice
• 6 ounces vanilla vodka

Directions

1. Pour juice and vodka into a shaker. Add ice, and shake to combine.
2. Place 1-cup portions of cotton candy into 4 martini glasses.
3. Pour shaken mixture over cotton candy. The cotton candy should dissolve immediately.
4. Enjoy!

2. The Poisoned Apple

The name is equal parts fun and low-key frightening. However, rest assured that not a single drop of poison goes into the making of this drink! Speaking of leaving things out, all you need to do to shake up a virgin version is pass on the tequila and add an extra ounce each of apple cider and pomegranate juice. 

Recipe courtesy of Minted

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 2 ounces apple cider
• 1 ounce pomegranate juice
• 2 ounces tequila
• (Optional) Minted recommends small chips of dry ice

Directions

1. Add the apple cider, pomegranate juice, tequila and regular ice to a martini shaker.
2. Shake to combine.
3. Pour mixed drink into a martini glass. If using dry ice, drop a few chips into the glass just before serving.

3. Goosebumps Halloween Punch

Collegiettes beware, you’re in for a scary good drink! This punch is jam-packed with shades of green and yummy gummy worms. The base recipe doesn’t include alcohol, so, to booze it up a bit, we suggest shots of lime vodka.

Recipe courtesy of Sugar & Soul

Ingredients (Serves 12)

• 3 liters lemon lime soda
• 12 drops green food coloring
• 1 container rainbow sherbet
• 30 gummy worms

Directions

1. Add lemon-lime soda and food coloring to a large punch bowl and stir to combine.
2. Place scoops of sherbet into the punch bowl.
3. Drop 18 of the gummy worms into the punch bowl.
4. Ladle the mixture into drinking glasses and serve with remaining gummy worms. 

4. Candy Corn Cocktail

Take a second to admire this beautiful beverage. The layers of orange and yellow set the scene, and the whipped cream finale truly brings this candy corn masterpiece to life!

Recipe courtesy of Tammilee Tips

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 1 1/2 ounces whipped cream vodka
• 3 ounces sour mix
• 2 ounces pineapple juice
• 1/2 ounce grenadine
• Whipped cream

Directions

1. Add whipped cream vodka, sour mix and pineapple juice to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake to combine.
3. Pour mixture into a martini glass.
4. Slowly pour grenadine into the glass, allowing it to settle at the bottom.
5. Top with whipped cream and serve.

5. Halloween Express

It’s sweet. It’s perky. It’s even got a dose of edge. This cocktail offers a blend of ingredients that’ll really get you pumped for pumpkin carving—or something a little more mysterious.

Recipe courtesy of Creative Culinary

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 3 ounces espresso
• 1 ounce rum
• 1 ounce maple syrup
• 1 ounce half and half
• Cinnamon sugar

Directions

1. Coat the rim of a glass with a few drops of maple syrup.
2. Dip the rim into cinnamon sugar and fill the glass with ice.
3. Add espresso, rum, half and half and remaining maple syrup to a shaker with ice.
4. Shake to combine.
5. Pour mixture into glass and serve.

6. Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Martini

Your favorite peanut butter/chocolate flavor takes on a feisty twist in this deliciously rich drink. You’ll definitely want to pair it with cookies or, for a true treat adventure, a fistful of fun-sized chocolate bars.

Recipe courtesy of Whitney Bond

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 4 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
• 2 ounces milk
• 1/4 cup ice cubes
• 1/2 ounce chocolate syrup
• 2 mini peanut butter cups

Directions

1. Add the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and vodka to a blender.
2. Cover and blend until smooth.
3. Pour 2 ounces of mixture into shaker. Set the rest aside.
4. Add chocolate liqueur, milk and ice to shaker.
5. Shake to combine.
6. Drizzle chocolate syrup into martini glass.
7. Pour contents of shaker into glass.
8. Garnish with mini peanut butter cups and serve.

7. Liquefied Ghost

Surprisingly simple, yet supremely spooky, this cocktail will help you channel your inner ghost hunter. Hope you’re ready to put the BOO in booze!

Recipe courtesy of Cooking Channel

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce vanilla simple syrup
• 1 ounce cream
• 2 ounces soda (works best with clear soda)

Directions

1. Add vodka, vanilla simple syrup, cream and soda to shaker with ice.
2. Shake until combined.
3. Pour into martini glass and serve.

8. Hard Cider Pumpkin Float

Looking for a float that’s both sophisticated and seasonal? Lucky for you, all it takes is two ingredients, a tall glass and tons of passion for all things pumpkin.

Recipe courtesy of Dine & Dish

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 12 ounces hard pumpkin cider
• 1-2 scoops pumpkin pie gelato/ice cream/frozen yogurt

Directions

1. Pour hard pumpkin cider into a chilled glass.
2. Add pumpkin pie gelato/ice cream/frozen yogurt and serve.

9. Walker Blood Sangria

If you’re a diehard fan of The Walking Dead, then allow us to channel our inner Sadie Saxton by saying you’re welcome. This sangria is sure to spice up your best walker-related drinking games.

Recipe courtesy of Cravings of a Lunatic

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Merlot
• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur OR orange juice
• 2 cups sparkling water
• 2 cups ice

Directions

1. Add Merlot, pomegranate juice and orange liqueur/juice to pitcher.
2. Stir until combined.
3. Store mixture in fridge for at least 4 hours.
4. Remove mixture from fridge and add sparkling water.
5. Stir and add ice.
6. Pour mixture into glasses and serve.

Have a happy Halloween! Drink up, get down and make this year’s celebration one for the record books.