Forgive our frank(enstein)ness, but basic Halloween parties are boo-sheet. Don’t fear. You don’t want to dig yourself into an early grave over the stress of hosting! Let us share a secret: if you whisper “ABC” 3 times, you’ll summon some help to banish the boring and conjure the extraordinary. Let us be your spirit guide to party greatness this spooky season with five hauntingly good hacks to enhance your Halloween get-togethers.
Forgive our frank(enstein)ness, but basic Halloween parties are boo-sheet. 👻
Don’t fear. You don’t want to dig yourself into an early grave over the stress of hosting! Let us share a secret: if you whisper “ABC” 3 times, you’ll summon some help to banish the boring and conjure the extraordinary. Let us be your spirit guide to party greatness this spooky season with five hauntingly good hacks to enhance your Halloween get-togethers.
If you're dying to create an eerie exhibition of textures and tastes, look no further than our collection of sinister sweets and savory showstoppers.
There’s nothing worse than a candy bowl filled with “blah.” Grab these spirit-infused candies for your sweet offerings instead:
For your Halloween party this year, try featuring the Baked Amaretto Brie Pumpkin along with some autumn-inspired charcuterie classics like a selection of cheeses, meats, fresh berries, crackers and boiled eggs made to look like gazing eyes with sliced olives. And the best part? You can conjure up all your ghostly grazing board needs from your local ABC’s gourmet section.
We've got a gourd-geous cheeseboard trick for your upcoming fall shindig: a Baked Amaretto Brie Pumpkin. It's the ultimate autumn cheeseboard attraction - check out the recipe below.
Inject an extra dose of spookiness into your Halloween gathering spread with our chilling Chambord Spider Eggs. This arachnid-inspired appetizer is all about crafting an unforgettable, shiver-inducing culinary experience for your guests. From the unexpected pop of dark berry flavor to the creatively presented dish, these spider eggs are sure to have everyone squirming with excitement.
We contacted ABC’s wine experts for our next party hack. They guided us to five hauntingly delicious Halloween-themed wines that all fit the spooky spirit of the season. Grab a few of these bottles for your fright night party. Watch our full review of them here.
This Halloween, don't let your drinks be the scariest thing on the menu. Whether you're throwing a monster mash or having a chilling night in with your spook squad, it's time to raise the bar with some scream-worthy sips. These creepy cocktails and ghastly garnishes are delicious and dark.
Color Changing Cocktails
To create a collection of color-changing cocktails to thrill your thirsty party guests, try out one of our tried-and-true mad scientist techniques:
Layering Liquids: Layering different colored liquids with varying densities can create a visually appealing color-changing effect as the ingredients mix when sipped. Want to learn how to layer liquids like a master mixologist? Watch here.
Colorful Ice Cubes: Freeze fruit juices or food dye into large ice cubes trays. As they melt, they'll release their color and transform the cocktail.
Fruit Extracts: Adding natural fruit extracts like beet juice, blueberry juice or turmeric can create color changes when mixed with other ingredients due to their natural pigmentation.
Glittery Gaze: Use an edible glitter to create a shimmering and spook-tastic cocktail.
Magical PH Pigment Play: Ever seen a drink change color like magic? Toss in butterfly blue pea flower tea extract to make your cocktail react to the drink's acidity. These pigments will alter the color of your cocktail, but not the flavor, like in the Sorcerer’s Secret cocktail recipe below.
Abracadabra! The Sorcerer's Secret is a magic color changing concoction that will leave your guests spellbound. It uses butterfly pea flower extract to create a purple elixir and transforms into a pink masterpiece with the addition of lemon juice. You'll feel like a wizard whipping up this dazzling drink at your next Halloween party.
1 ½ ounces gin
¼ ounce orange liqueur
¾ ounce simple syrup
5 drops of butterfly pea powder extract, or until drink reaches desired color
¾ ounces lemon juice
2 ounces lemonade
Edible gold glitter (optional)
Lemon wheel
In a shaker, add gin, orange liqueur, simple syrup and ice. Shake and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Add butterfly pea powder extract on top and stir. In a mixing glass, add lemon juice, lemonade and edible gold glitter. Stir to combine and slowly pour mixture over the drink. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Illuminate your cocktail offerings with a touch of mystery. Tonic water, which contains quinine, creates an otherworldly fluorescent effect when exposed to UV light. Use the recipe below to create a classic gin and tonic with a captivating glow. Find the full recipe here.
Learn the science behind the Glowing Gin & Tonic by clicking here…if you dare.
Enhance the allure of any Halloween cocktail with an ingenious touch—a marshmallow spider web. This garnish is perfect to stick atop any martini, rocks or highball glass. All you need to do is microwave one cup of mini marshmallows in a microwave-safe dish for 15 seconds. With gloved hands, stretch the melted marshmallow between your fingers until web strands form and place the web on top of any desired cocktail glass.
For this next cocktail, harness the vibrant color of Aperol to give your guests a classic Italian spritz with some syringe-y fun. Rather than adding the Aperol directly to the cocktail, your guests will be thrilled to push the plunger to release this delightfully bitter liqueur into their own glass. Click here for the perfect Aperol Spritz recipe.
For our hosts throwing a horror movie marathon, you'll want some creature-based cocktails in your arsenal. Check out our video below to mix up an IT, Beetlejuice or Halloween-inspired villain concoction. With these spine-chilling drinks in hand, you’ll be set to sip and shriek through every scary scene.
Ready to take your party favors from "meh" to "muahaha"? Send your guests home with a goodie bag full of minis to open and enjoy once they’ve reached their final destination. Try a combination of these add-ins:
For our final hack, make sure you have all the glassware, shakers and bar tools you need to keep everyone sipping and screaming. Consider grabbing some new cocktail accessories like a muddler, ice trays or a new strainer that’ll help create your potions as if by magic. With these mystical tools at hand, you'll be weaving spells and crafting cocktails like a true potion master.
