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Fruity, refreshing and curiously purple coloured, this rum Halloween cocktail is one of the most spooky alcoholic drinks you can make. It’s never too early to start finding themed mixed drink ideas for Halloween, and this is definitely one you should add to the shortlist. The sour grape schnapps and strawberry rum combine to make a tasty Halloween drink.
The unusual combination of sour grape schnapps and strawberry rum, fruit juice and even activated charcoal results in a devilishly delicious Halloween drink.
More Halloween treats to consider include ice cream floats, this lunar elixir haunted cocktail or what about Halloween mummy hot dogs?
Rum Halloween Cocktail Ingredients
This spooky alcoholic Halloween drink calls for fruit juice cocktail, sour grape schnapps and strawberry rum. Pearl dust decorating powder and star-shaped glitter are optional ingredients, and then you will need activated charcoal.
Choose a light-coloured fruit cocktail for this themed mixed drink. White cran-strawberry juice is great, or else you could go with white grape juice or similar. Pink cranberry or white cranberry juice would also work. Oh, and make sure your grape schnapps is purple, so it can add that creepy look!
There are different brands of strawberry rum to choose from, including Malibu strawberry rum which is dangerously delicious!
How to Make this Themed Mixed Drink
First fill a shaker halfway with ice and then add the fruit juice and schnapps. Shake until chilled then pour into martini glasses. Next add some edible pearl dust if you want, to add some shimmer.
Combine the strawberry rum and the contents of a charcoal capsule, then divide this between a pair of test tubes. Put each one in the rum Halloween cocktail then add edible star glitter if you like.
Activated Charcoal: What You Need to Know
This sour grape schnapps and strawberry rum drink calls for activated charcoal to make it look black and festive. But what exactly is activated charcoal and is it safe?
It’s a black substance with various uses. Activated charcoal isn’t only a component in this spooky alcoholic drink. It’s also used as an emergency anti-poison. Some people take it to reduce gas, improve kidney function and lower cholesterol. Others use it to filter water or even whiten their teeth.
When charcoal is treated at a high temperature with oxygen, it becomes ‘activated’ charcoal. You should use only food-grade activated charcoal for this Halloween drink. This isn’t the same thing as those charcoal briquettes you throw on the grill!
Activated charcoal binds to toxins as well as other things such as nutrients and vitamins. It’s perfectly safe to use in small doses and short-term. If you prefer not to use it though, simply leave it out of the recipe.
Rum Halloween Cocktail FAQs
You can prepare the drink in advance but, if you’re going to do that, keep the purple mixture and black mixture separate (and don’t add any ice). Keep them in sealed containers in the refrigerator and use within 3 days. Oh, and if you’re using pearl dust, shake the mixture well so it redistributes.
This ingredient is optional but it looks so pretty in the rum Halloween cocktail! Offering a shimmery, pearlescent look, edible pearl dust, also known as luster dust, comes in various colours and can be used to decorate drinks or brush over food.
Added to this sour grape schnapps and strawberry rum, it turns an otherwise simple drink into a mystical looking potion! Make sure you’re using clear martini glasses, so the shimmer is clearly visible.
Ingredients vary by brand but iron oxide, titanium dioxide, mica, and carmine feature in some. In small amounts these ingredients are perfectly safe.
Black Magic Rum Halloween Cocktail Recipe
Black Magic Rum Halloween Cocktail
Ingredients
- ice
- 9 Ounces juice, white cranberry-strawberry, such as Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry*
- 4 Ounces schnapps, purple-colored grape, such as DeKuyper Grape Pucker**
- pearl dust, decorating powder, optional
- 4 Ounces rum, strawberry-flavoured, such as Malibu Strawberry Rum
- 1 activated charcoal capsule, *** 260 mg
- edible glitter, star-shaped, optional
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail mixing glass (or shaker) about halfway with ice. Add white cranberry-strawberry juice and grape schnapps. Mix until chilled throughout (15 to 20 seconds). Strain into martini glass. Stir in a sprinkle of edible pearl dust, if desired. Use a little or a lot, depending on how much shimmer you want.
- In a small container with a pour spout, mix together strawberry-flavored rum and the contents of one activated charcoal capsule. Carefully divide the black rum between two test tubes. Insert test tube into filled martini glass and serve.
- To turn the cocktail black, just pour in the contents of the test tube. Add edible star glitter for an extra magical touch, if you’d like.
Notes
Nutrition
A rum Halloween cocktail will help get any Halloween party started on the right note. Choose this spooky alcoholic Halloween drink and you’ll love how simple it is to make and how cute and unique it looks!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I love love LOVE the test tube serving idea and couldn’t wait to make these. The color was soooo pretty and I’d never had grape schnapps before but I think it’s my new favorite drink! You have to try this recipe, folks, it’s so easy to drink (oh, and to make!)
Pinning this for my Halloween party this year!