This sweet and sparkling Halloween Witches’ Brew made with fruit juice is a fun party drink for all ages and can easily be made into an adult cocktail too.
My foodie-in-training kids went to an extraordinary preschool. One of the best parts about the school was how they taught the kids how important community is, and one of the methods in sharing that lesson is by having the class eat together. From age 2 all the way through early elementary school, the kids wouldn’t bring in their own snack (we called it mini meal) or lunch. The parents brought in the ingredients and then the parent helpers with the children would prepare the food and everyone would sit together and eat. This methodology stressed the importance of making healthy eating choices (probably one of the many reasons my kids love things like green smoothies and beet soup) as well as the significance of being able to sit around the table and maintain a social conversation (even with a toddler).
Every Halloween in the older kids’ classes, they would make Witches’ Brew. The trick to any witches’ brew is the dry ice. You have to go for the full effect. Its even more dramatic when you make it in a punch bowl or a pitcher. Just be sure to not fill it all the way with the liquid because the dry ice will make it bubble over (I speak from experience). Now, witches’ brew can really be made of whatever you want, but I found this combination to be best. The orange juice combined with the apple and white grape juices produces a cool orangy-yellow color – perfect for Halloween. It is a very sweet and flavorful drink – it is 100% fruit juice afterall. If its too sweet for you, just dilute it by as much as half with club soda. That will make it even more refreshing. Want to make it boozey for the adults? Easy. Just replace the sparkling grape juice with sparkling white wine, or dare I say vodka or rum. Any way you make it, everyone will be mesmerized by the spooky smoke coming from your brew.
Witches' Brew
Ingredients
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 750 milliliter bottle sparkling apple cider or 4 cups apple cider
- 1 750 milliliter bottle sparkling white grape juice or sparkling wine
- dry ice
Instructions
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In a punch bowl or large pitcher, combine orange juice and lemon juice. Add apple cider (or sparkling cider). Add sparkling white grape juice (or sparkling wine).
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Slowly add dry ice to punch bowl or pitcher and ensure fluid level is not all the way at the top, otherwise the dry ice may make it boil over. Reserve small chunks of dry ice for individual cups (only if serving to adults - dry ice should not be given directly to children).
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Serve immediately. Makes about 11 cups.
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This drink is very sweet (pure juice) and can easily be diluted with club soda.
I love this recipe! Where can you buy dry ice? I think I may have to to a recipe with dry ice for Halloween 🙂
Hi Christie, A lot of ice cream stores like baskin robins sell it. We have a store called Fred Meyer which is where I bought it. A pretty big chunk was like $2.50. Walmart might even carry it. -Krissy
Oh thanks. I will ask 🙂
Krissy,
This Witches Brew looks BREW-timous!!!
OMG – PINNING immediately!
Cheers!
🙂 Anna
What a fun and creative grown up drink for Halloween! Pinning!
~ Ashley
Oh that looks so cool! I never knew where to get dry ice either, but we have a Baskin Robbins close by – I’ll pop by and check!
Beautiful drink! Love your photos!
How or when do I use the dry ice? Will it harm me or the brew? Never used it before
Hi Shante, You must use gloves when handling dry ice because it can “burn” your bare skin (think of a REALLY cold ice cube). Just cut off a small chunk and plop it in your drink. Its okay to drink while the dry ice is in the liquid. Its just carbon dioxide which is what we breathe out. Hope that helps! Krissy
I thought dry ice if poisonous?
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide which is what we exhale.
I never have used dry ice before. My question is it safe in a punch bowl for a kids party, and what I mean is it safe to mix in with the punch? If so, just make sure no dry ice from the punch bowl gets into their cup, right?
Can you send me a reply by email, thanks!
Hi Sara, When I serve this I just ensure a grown up is dishing it up and I don’t put any dry ice in the individual cups for the kids. Its not bad to breath it in, I just wouldn’t want them to burn their mouth. -Krissy