Balanced sweet and tart flavors with a hint of autumn aroma from infused cloves. This Halloween punch is kid-friendly, but can also be spiked with a healthy dose of vodka.
With just days until Halloween, the excitement in our household is mounting. This pandemic is NOT taking Halloween from us! Many in our neighborhood are planning to wear masks, stay distanced, and relish in the trick-or-treating tradition.
It feels like a major win when Halloween lands on a Saturday. No need to rush home from school to hurriedly scramble into costumes. No concern about staying up too late or suffering an awful candy hangover while facing schoolwork the next day. This year, we also win an extra hour of weekend due to daylight savings.
The weather report in Chicago looks favorable (unlike the snow storm last year), and we plan to trick-or-treat, enjoy a backyard fire with some friends, and finish the night with the all-important candy inventory and sort.
On Sunday, we can sleep in, wake up to the candy, and sort it all over again initiating important trade negotiations, analysis, and a few generous donations to parents.
Ahhh… in this crazy time with a pandemic and an unprecedented presidential election just days away, these simple rituals are more treasured than ever.
If you will be home with family, or safely gathered with friends, try this Witches Blood Punch. When I tested the recipe, my neighbors and kids gave it very positive reviews!
The flavorful, fruity punch can really be served any time of year. To make it ghoulishly perfect for Halloween, fill your pitcher and/or your cups with edible lychee eyeballs. Find out how to make them here.
Witches’ Blood Halloween Punch
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 12–15 1x
- Category: Drinks
Description
A spooky Halloween punch for ghoulish gatherings. Garnish with edible lychee eyeballs.
Ingredients
2 cups black cherry juice
2 cups lemonade (I used Simply Light Lemonade for less sugar)
10 whole cloves (optional)
1 12-ounce can ginger ale
1 1/2 cups vodka (optional)
For the lychee eyeball garnish:
1 can lychee fruit
Strawberry or raspberry jelly
fresh blueberries
Instructions
- If you have time, infuse the cloves in the cherry juice by putting the whole cloves in the juice the night before you make the punch. Remove the cloves after 12-24 hours.
- In a pitcher, combine the cherry juice and lemonade. If you are using alcohol, add the vodka as well.
- Just before serving, add the ginger ale and lychee fruit eyeballs.
- Serve over ice.
- For lychee eyeballs, drain the lychee fruit. Fill the hole with jelly. Press a fresh blueberry into the hole. It’s okay if jelly oozes out! Even more spooky.