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
- 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).
- 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).
- Serve immediately. Makes about 11 cups.
- This drink is very sweet (pure juice) and can easily be diluted with club soda.
Christie @ Practical Princess Diaries
October 17, 2014 at 9:59 amI love this recipe! Where can you buy dry ice? I think I may have to to a recipe with dry ice for Halloween 🙂
spfoodie
October 17, 2014 at 10:34 amHi 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
Christie @ Practical Princess Diaries
October 17, 2014 at 1:35 pmOh thanks. I will ask 🙂
Anna
October 17, 2014 at 10:31 amKrissy,
This Witches Brew looks BREW-timous!!!
OMG – PINNING immediately!
Cheers!
🙂 Anna
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods
October 17, 2014 at 12:05 pmWhat a fun and creative grown up drink for Halloween! Pinning!
~ Ashley
Sylvie Roy
October 18, 2014 at 11:47 amOh 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!
Shinee
October 21, 2014 at 4:41 pmBeautiful drink! Love your photos!
shante
October 17, 2015 at 1:33 pmHow or when do I use the dry ice? Will it harm me or the brew? Never used it before
Krissy
October 18, 2015 at 5:35 amHi 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
Jana
October 5, 2016 at 6:15 pmI thought dry ice if poisonous?
Krissy
October 18, 2016 at 12:13 pmDry ice is solid carbon dioxide which is what we exhale.
Sara
October 10, 2016 at 12:04 amI 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!
Krissy
October 18, 2016 at 12:11 pmHi 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
Jane Saunders
October 11, 2018 at 1:08 amThis is so cool. I made the mistake of thinking from the photos that it would be alcoholic, but why shouldn’t the kiddies have a fun drink too. The preschool sounds like a great one.
Wilhelmina Wessel
October 11, 2018 at 4:23 amThis is such a fun party punch! So spooky cool!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites
October 17, 2018 at 10:08 amMy son was just asking if I could make a special drink for them on Halloween. I think I just found it – this looks delicious and so fun!
Caroline
October 17, 2018 at 10:42 amWhat a fun idea and great being family friendly too.
Carissa Shaw
October 17, 2018 at 11:01 amThis is so cute! My daughter will love this so much. Always fun to have a kid-friendly cocktail!
Pam
October 17, 2018 at 11:31 amWhat a fun and versatile idea! And your photos are just crazy good!
Lisa Bryan
October 17, 2018 at 11:32 amThis is adorable and perfect for kids! Though I think all of the adults would like it as well! 😉