Fall and Halloween Mocktails

Spice Up Your Fall with These Great Mocktails

The fall season offers a great palate of spices and flavors. If you're having family and friends over for a fall get-together or Thanksgiving feast, consider these great mocktails for a fun, softer alternative to alcohol:

Apple Cider Sangria

All the fresh flavors of summer with the spicy aromas of fall. A perfect drink to slowly prepare you for the cooler weather.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8oz. servings

• 1 bottle chilled sparkling apple cider
• 2 12 oz. cans club soda
• 1 12 oz. can ginger ale
• 2 apples, cored and thinly sliced
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup blueberries
• Ice

Utensils:

• 1 1 qt. pitcher
• Knife
• 8 8 oz. glasses

Directions:

1. Place apple slices, raspberries, and blueberries into the pitcher.
2. Add ginger ale and club soda, then sparkling apple cider.
3. Stir and serve over ice.

Tips:

• Use honey crisp apples for a sweeter taste.
• Let the berries and sliced apples sit in the club soda for an hour or so for the flavors to mingle. When ready to serve, add the ginger ale and sparkling apple cider.
• Add a few pinches of cloves, ginger, or cinnamon for a flavorful pumpkin taste.

Creamy Butterbeer

A warm, foaming mug of the popular wizarding beverage more than satisfies the sweet tooth.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 2 10-12oz. servings

• 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup butterscotch topping
• 2 tbsp. whipped butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups vanilla cream soda
• 2 butterscotch candy sticks, optional

Utensils:

• 2 glass, heat-safe measuring cup
• 2 10-12 oz. mugs

Directions:

1. Combine the condensed milk, butterscotch topping, and butter in a glass, heat-safe measuring cup. Heat in microwave for 1 minute. Remove and stir until butter has melted.
2. Heat vanilla cream soda in another measuring cup for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
3. Divide butterscotch mixture between 2 10-12 oz. mugs. Fill mugs with heated cream soda and stir thoroughly.
4. Serve garnished with an old-fashioned butterscotch candy stick.

Tips:

• Prefer your butterbeer on the cooler side? Substitute the butter for the same amount of butter-flavored extract and room temperature or chilled vanilla cream soda.
• Use evaporated milk instead of condensed milk for less sweetness. Top the drink with whipped cream for more.

Ginger Cranberry Tea

Ginger and cranberry bridge fall and Thanksgiving. Pair with turkey or a slice of pumpkin pie.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 4 8oz. servings

• 4 cups water
• 4 bags rooibos tea, white tea, or green tea
• 2 thin slices fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup sweet cranberry sauce or canned whole berry cranberry sauce

Utensils:

• 1 medium saucepan
• Blender
• 4 8oz. mugs or glasses

Directions:

1. In medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags and ginger. Steep tea for 3-5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place cranberry sauce in blender. Cover and blend until almost smooth.
3. Remove tea bags and ginger from water. Stir blended cranberry mixture into tea until well-combined.
4. Serve hot in mugs, or cover and refrigerate to serve cold. Stir well before serving.

Tips:

• Make this drink into a punch by substituting the 2 cups of water for 2 cups of cranberry juice an adding several slices of lemon and orange. Serve over ice.
• Make a sparkling tea for a few more people by adding 4 cups ginger ale and 2 cups sparkling cranberry juice.

Pumpkin Smoothie

For true pumpkin lovers everywhere.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 4 8oz. servings

• 1 15oz. can pumpkin puree
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Whipped cream, optional

Utensils:

• 1 freezer-safe bag or container
• 1 microwave-safe dish
• Blender
• 4 8oz. glasses or mugs

Directions:

1. Place the pumpkin puree in a freezer-safe bag or container. Store in freezer for at least 24 hours.
2. To soften, remove pumpkin puree from the bag and place in a microwave-safe dish. Heat the pumpkin puree in the microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Pour the milk into the blender. Add the brown sugar, spices, and pumpkin.
4. Garnish with whipped cream and extra spices on top, if desired.

Tips:

• Short on time? Rather than freezing the pumpkin, heat all the ingredients through and simmer for a few minutes for a delicious hot drink.
• Add more nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves for a more flavorful pumpkin pie taste.
• For less emphasis on the pumpkin taste, add half of a frozen banana.

Warm Pumpkin Spice Au Lait

Cozy up by the fireplace with your favorite mug full of this delicious fall combination. We'll be honest - you may not want to share this one.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 6-8 8oz. servings

• 4 cups whipping cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 15oz. can pumpkin puree
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp. ground allspice
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Utensils:

• 1 medium saucepan
• Whisk
• 6-8 8oz. mugs

Directions:

1. Combine cream, milk and sugar in a saucepan over meadium heat.
2. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Whisk in pumpkin until well-blended. Add spices and vanilla extract.
4. Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes.
5. Garnish with fresh whipped cream and more spices, if desired, and serve immediately.

Tips:

• Adjust the levels of sweet and savory by increasing or decreasing the amounts of sugar and spices.
• For a dairy-free version, use equivalent amounts of coconut or almond milk and 4 tsp. maple syrup.
• Mix in freshly brewed coffee to taste for a delicious kick-start to your morning.

Spooky Drinks for Your Next Halloween Party

Halloween is a great opportunity to get together and show off your creative costumes while having a good time. We know most adult Halloween parties will have alcoholic drinks, but there are some softer alternatives that can add a "ghastly" flair to your next affair. Consider the following Halloween Mocktails:

Radioactive Blue Slime

A slimy favorite slurped by kids of all ages.

Ingredients

This recipe makes 8 8 oz. servings

• 1 6 oz. package blueberry Jell-O, chilled
• 4 cups lemonade, chilled, divided
• 1 2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda, chilled, divided

Utensils

• 1 large bowl
• 1 large spoon or fork
• 8 clear 8 oz. glasses

Directions

1. To make the Jell-O, follow the instructions on the package. Cover and chill for 3-4 hours or until the Jell-O is set.
2. Remove Jell-O from the refrigerator and stir with the large spoon or fork until it's broken up into small pieces.
3. Pour 1/2 cup lemonade into each glass.
4. Add 1/2 cup of Jell-O.
5. Top off the drink with up to 1/2 cup of lemon-lime soda. Stir gently.

Tips:

• Don't mix the ingredients until you're ready to serve - the "slime" has a tendency to settle.

Candy Corn Punch

A sweet take on a somewhat-sweet traditional Halloween candy.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8 oz. servings

• 1 3 oz. package of lemon flavored Jell-O
• 2 cups mango nectar
• 3 1/2 cups orange soda, chilled
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. honey
• Candy corn (optional)

Utensils:

• 1 clear 2 qt. pitcher
• 1 large bowl
• Electric mixer or large whisk

Directions:

1. To make Jell-O, follow the instructions on the package. Stir mango nectar into Jell-O mix and pour into the 2 qt. pitcher. Cover and chill for about 2 hours, or until thickened but not set.
2. Gently pour orange soda over the Jell-O layer.
3. Combine whipping cream and honey in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer or large whisk until peaks form.
4. Spoon whipped cream over the layers in the pitcher. Add candy corn if desired.

Tips:

• To make sure the Jell-O and orange soda layers are separate, pour the orange soda over the back of a wooden spoon above the Jell-O.

Frankenstein's Brew

Kiwi and mint was what awoke the original Frankenstein. Don your bolts and walk with outstretched arms and straight legs.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8 oz. servings

• 1 cup water, boiling
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 cups mint leaves, packed
• 6 kiwis, peeled and quartered
• 1 liter bottle club soda
• Cheesecloth
• Ice

Utensils:

• 1 glass, heat-safe measuring cup
• Blender
• Cheesecloth
• Small strainer
• 1 large pitcher
• 8 clear 8 oz. glasses or chemistry flasks
• Straws or chemistry stirring rods

Directions:

• Boil 1 cup water in microwave in the glass, heat-safe measuring cup.
• Pour water over sugar and stir until sugar has dissolved. Place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Puree 2 cups packed mint leaves with ¼ cooled sugar mixture in a blender.
• Add kiwi quarters and blend until just smooth.
• Add remaining sugar mixture.
• Pour through cheesecloth-lined strainer into pitcher; discard solids.
• Stir in ice and 1 liter bottle of club soda.
• Pour into glasses or flasks, and serve with straws or stirring rods.

Goblin Goo

A grape-flavored treat preferred by goblins and ghouls. Just a few sips and you'll howl with the best of them.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8oz. servings

• 1 6 oz. package grape-flavored Jell-O, chilled
• 4 cups grape Kool-Aid or about 3 12 oz. cans of grape-flavored soda, divided

Utensils:

• 1 large bowl (for Jell-O)
• 1 large spoon or fork
• 8 clear 8 oz. glasses

Directions:

1. Follow the instructions on the package to make the Jell-O. Cover and chill for 3-4 hours, or until the Jell-O is set.
2. Prepare the Kool-Aid according to the instructions, unless using grape-flavored soda.
3. Remove Jell-O from the refrigerator and stir with the large spoon or fork until it's broken up into small pieces.
4. Spoon 1/2 cup Jell-O into each glass.
5. Add 1/2 cup Kool-Aid or soda to each glass.

Golden Beetlejuice Slush

Fruit flavors abound in this slushy drink. Don't say the name three times, or you know what will happen.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 12-15 8oz. servings

• 1 12oz. can orange juice concentrate, thawed, divided
• 1 46oz. can apricot nectar, divided
• 2 16oz. packages unsweetened peaches, thawed, divided
• 1 2 liter bottle lemon-lime soda, divided

Utensils:

• Food processor or blender
• 2 freezer-safe containers
• 12-15 tall 8 oz. glasses

Directions:

1. Place half of the orange juice concentrate, half of the apricot nectar, and 1 bag of peaches into the food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze until firm.
3. Repeat with the remaining orange juice concentrate, apricot nectar, and peaches.
4. Seal mixture in the remaining freezer-safe container and freeze until firm.
5. Once the mixture reaches a slushy-like consistency, remove from the freezer and scrape about 1/2 cup into each glass.
6. Top off with an equal amount of lemon-lime soda. Stir to combine.

Tips:

• Garnish your glasses with a few plastic spiders, ghosts, or beetles to wow your guests.
• You can serve as much or as little of this drink as you want - just scoop enough in your glass and place the container back in the freezer.
• Use quality freezer-safe containers to preserve the fruit flavors if you plan on freezing for a few days.

Jolly Vampire

This Dracula-inspired treat tastes even better when you're wearing vampire fangs.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 6-8oz. servings

• 1 liter bottle of cherry-infused lemon-lime soda
• 12 cherry or watermelon Jolly Rancher candies
• 1 12oz. package red licorice
• Ice

Utensils:

• 6-8 clear 8oz. glasses

Directions:

1. Let the cherry or watermelon Jolly Rancher candies sit in the cherry lemon-lime soda for 1-2 hours for the flavors to mingle.
2. Add ice and cerry lemon-lime soda with Jolly Ranchers to glasses.
3. Garnish with a few sticks of red licorice for sipping.

Tips:

• Crush leftover Jolly Ranchers and use as a rim garnish.
• To darken the color of the drink, add black food coloring to ice cubes

Swamp Juice

The best kind of caviar comes in lemon-flavored Swamp Juice with gummy fish and worms.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8oz. servings

• 6 cups water
• 1/2 cup small tapioca pearls
• 4 tbsp. sugar, divided
• 8 gummy fish
• 8 gummy worms
• 1 2 liter bottle of seltzer water, chilled
• 2 cups lemonade, divided
• Yellow, green, and blue food coloring

Utensils:

• 1 small-medium pot
• 2 medium, heat-safe bowls
• Cheesecloth
• 8 clear 8oz. glasses
• 8 spoons

Directions:

1. To make the "fish eggs," bring 6 cups water to a boil. Slowly stir in tapioca pearls so they don't stick together - after 1 minute, they should float.
2. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover for 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and divide the pearls, with water, between 2 bowls.
4. Add 3 drops of yellow food coloring + 1 drop of green food coloring and 2 tbsp. sugar tp 1 bowl.
5. Add 4 drops of blue food coloring and 2 tbsp. sugar to the other bowl.
6. Stir the food coloring into the pearls and let them sit uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
7. Drain and rinse the pearls with cold water.
8. Spoon 2 tbsp. of pearls into each glass.
9. Fill the glasses with seltzer water.
10. Add 1/4 cup lemonade to each glass.
11. Garnish with a gummy fish and gummy worm wrapped around the spoon.

Wednesday's Bat Juice

A mocktail created in honor of the Addams Family and everyone who enjoys the taste of black licorice.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8oz. servings

• 1 2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda
• 1 12oz. package of black licorice, divided
• Ice

Utensils:

• 8 clear 8oz. glasses

Directions:

1. Add 10-15 pieces of black licorice to the 2 liter bottle of soda. Leave in the refrigerator for a few hours to infuse.
2. After resting, the soda will turn dark black.
3. Fill each glass with ice and pour in 1 cup of the soda.
4. Garnish with 1-2 pieces of black licorice for sipping.

Tips:

• Accent the rims of your glasses with black sugar: add 1/4 cup black food coloring to 1 cup sugar, mixing together until color is consistent. Dip the rims of your glasses in water and then coat with the sugar mix.
• Don't really like black licorice? Add black food coloring to a glass of water until it reaches the desired color, and then pour into an ice tray. Put the cubes into each glass and fill with soda.

X-Ray Tonic

The perfect potion for a glow-in-the-dark skeleton or a mad scientist.

Ingredients:

This recipe makes 8 8oz. servings

• 1 2 liter bottle of tonic water, chilled, divided
• Grenadine syrup, or other flavoring syrup

Utensils:

• 8 clear 8oz. glasses
• Black light

Directions:

1. Fill each glass with 1 cup tonic water.
2. Add grenadine or other flavoring syrup to taste.
3. Turn off the lights, place by the black light, and serve immediately.

Tips:

• Avoid stirring completely to allow your "chemical solution" to sit at the bottom of the glass.
• Use clear plastic or glass beakers and chemistry rods to really get in the Halloween spirit.

‍