Besides wanting to be closest to one of the best art museums in the world (Hi, Art Institute of Chicago!), one of the reasons I moved from Arizona to Chicago was because I wanted to experience the seasons.
I definitely regret this decision once winter comes around each year *shudders* BUT I LOVE THE FALL!
The trees are beyond gorgeous when they start to change colors, and the crispness in the air once fall hits is pure magic. It makes you want to snuggle up with a cozy blanket and a nice cocktail to watch Hocus Pocus for the millionth time.
And finding the perfect cocktail to wrap up with is no small task. It has to be the perfect combination of flavors in the perfect glass. (I’m borderline obsessed with finding the perfect cocktail glasses for each cocktail, so forgive me if I always talk about them. 🤭)
Anywho, that’s why I created these 4 recipes. I wanted to have something that I could cuddle up on the couch with while I’m watching my favorite Halloween movies or even when I’m working on some ideas for 60-Second Art History.
I hope these cocktails provide you with the same cozy feelings! They were a labor of love and I hope you feel all the love as you indulge in them. 🙂
The Recipes
While each of these recipes include alcohol, I did create mocktail versions of a few of these, so go check those out here! I haven’t been imbibing in alcohol for the past few months (mainly because I wanted to sleep better), so I’ve been tweaking all of my cocktail recipes into mocktails lately.
If you are imbibing in spirits, great! These cocktails are the bee’s knees! If you are not currently partaking in alcohol or just don’t drink in general, then you can make these recipes without alcohol and they’re still just as tasty.
Jeff rarely drinks alcohol, so I always create my cocktail recipes with a mocktail variant at the forefront of my mind for him to enjoy!
Two of these recipes (Candy Corn Martini & Witch’s Blood) are Halloween-centric, while the other two (Caramel Apple Old Fashioned & Pumpkin Pie Martini) are fall-centric. That said, though, you can totally enjoy each of these drinks throughout the fall season!
Without further ado, here are the recipes! 🙂
Caramel Apple Old Fashioned
If you’re a fan of caramel apples, then this drink is for you (go figure!)! I LOVE caramel apples, so I’m always down to ingest them, whether through eating or drinking.
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Caramel Apple Old Fashioned (Gluten-free, Dairy-free, & Vegan)
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 old fashioned 1x
- Category: Beverages, cocktails, drinks
- Method: Stirred
Description
If you’re a fan of caramel apples, then this drink is for you (go figure!)! I LOVE caramel apples, so I’m always down to ingest them, whether through eating or drinking.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Bulleit bourbon
- 3 oz. organic apple cider
- 1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
- 1 oz. organic maple syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters
- Organic cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
- Organic apple slices (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a lowball glass, add 2-3 ice cubes.
- Add your bourbon, apple cider, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and orange bitters to your lowball glass. Stir for about 25-30 seconds.
- Garnish with apple slices, cinnamon sticks, or both!
- Enjoy! 🙂
Candy Corn Martini
If candy corn was a food group, it would be the largest part of my food pyramid. I LOVE candy corn! As soon as it hits shelves in stores, I buy bags and bags of it (seriously, I think I have 5 bags in our pantry right now). Orange is a great complement to the unique flavor of candy corn. Plus, this recipe is super easy to make!
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Candy Corn Martini (Gluten-free, Dairy-free, & Vegan)
- Prep Time: 4-36 hours
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours and 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 martini 1x
- Category: Beverages, cocktails, drinks
- Method: Shaken
Description
If candy corn was a food group, it would be the largest part of my food pyramid. I LOVE candy corn! As soon as it hits shelves in stores, I buy bags and bags of it (seriously, I think I have 5 bags in our pantry right now). Orange is a great complement to the unique flavor of candy corn. Plus, this recipe is super easy to make!
Ingredients
For the candy corn-infused vodka:
- 4 oz. Tito’s vodka
- 2 oz. YumEarth candy corn
For the martini:
- 3–4 oz. candy corn-infused vodka
- 2 oz. organic orange juice
- ½ organic lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Pour your candy corn and vodka in a mason jar. Infuse for at least 4-6 hours, but preferably overnight.*
- Mix all your cocktail ingredients together in a cocktail shaker or mason jar with ice, and shake the demons out!
- Strain your candy corn martini into a spoopy martini glass and enjoy making corny jokes.
Notes
*The longer you let your candy corn infuse, the more robust flavor you get! I strongly recommend infusing for at least 36 hours, however, if you’re pressed for time you can do 4-6 hours at a minimum.
Pumpkin Pie Martini
So, I’m totally guilty of drinking the liquid pumpkin pie filling before it can be cooked into an actual pumpkin pie. This year, I created a drink so that I would stop and actually be able to make an entire pumpkin pie. Oh wowzers, did this cocktail hit the spot!
The best part about this drink is that the Pumpkin Spice Syrup is multifunctional! Use it to create this delicious martini or my Paleo Pumpkin Spice Latte! 🙂
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Pumpkin Pie Martini (Gluten-free, Dairy-free, & Vegan)
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 13-18 minutes
- Yield: 1 martini 1x
- Category: Beverages, cocktails, drinks
- Method: Shaken
Description
So, I’m totally guilty of drinking the liquid pumpkin pie filling before it can be cooked into an actual pumpkin pie. This year, I created a drink so that I would stop and actually be able to make an entire pumpkin pie. Oh wowzers, did this cocktail hit the spot!
Ingredients
For the rim:
- Lime wedge
- Organic ground cinnamon
- Organic coconut sugar
For the martini:
- 1– 2 oz. Tito’s vodka
- 3 tbsp. Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup*
- 3 oz. non-dairy milk**
- 1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine the coconut sugar and cinnamon to make your cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Rim your martini glass with the lime wedge and then coat with your cinnamon sugar mixture.
- In a cocktail shaker or mason jar filled with ice, combine the vodka, Pumpkin Spice Syrup, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract.
- Put the lid on and shake to combine (~30 seconds).
- Strain over your rimmed martini glass.
- Go hide in a pumpkin patch and whenever someone walks by scream out, “I’M DRINKING ONE OF THEIR RELATIVES!” while pointing at a pumpkin.
Notes
*You can use this syrup to make my Paleo Pumpkin Spice Latte! 🙂
**As I’ve mentioned in other recipes, I highly recommend Califia Farms Better Half!
Witch’s Blood
Don’t let the name cause you alarm! No witches were harmed in the making of this cocktail! 🙂
While this recipe is absolutely delicious, please be careful when you drink it in relation to when you take any type of medication: “Activated charcoal absorbs substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking activated charcoal along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs, and decrease the effectiveness of your medication. To prevent this interaction, take activated charcoal at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.“
Print
Witch’s Blood (Gluten-free, Dairy-free, & Vegan)
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Beverages, cocktails, drinks
- Method: Shaken
Description
Don’t let the name cause you alarm! No witches were harmed in the making of this cocktail! 🙂
While this recipe is absolutely delicious, please be careful when ingesting activated charcoal while taking any type of medication: “Activated charcoal absorbs substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking activated charcoal along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs, and decrease the effectiveness of your medication. To prevent this interaction, take activated charcoal at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.“
Ingredients
For the cocktail:
- ⅛ tsp. activated charcoal*
- 2 oz. blanco tequila
- 2 tbsp. cherry simple syrup
- ½ cup organic apple cider
- 1 tbsp. organic lemon juice
For garnish:
- 3 organic dark cherries
- 1 cocktail skewer
Instructions
- Combine all your ingredients, except for your cherries, in a cocktail shaker or mason jar filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously to combine.
- Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with cherries.
- Start cackling loudly because, congrats, you’re now a witch!
Notes
*”Activated charcoal absorbs substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking activated charcoal along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs, and decrease the effectiveness of your medication. To prevent this interaction, take activated charcoal at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.”
Show Me Your Fall & Halloween Cocktails!
How did your cocktail journey go? I hope it went super well and currently all snuggled up in the coziest of blankets with your cocktail or mocktail! 🙂
Let me know in the comments below or share a photo on Instagram and tag me @amara_andrew! I look forward to seeing your photos! 🙂
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