These simple potions are perfect for spooky season! Some take a watchful witch’s eye over an open cauldron, while others let the freezer do the hard work. These sweet drinks are themed from some of your favorite magical characters ranging from evil queens to “The Boy Who Lived.” They make for a scary good time whether on your own or sharing with the whole graveyard.
Butterbeer
As any patron of a school of witchcraft and wizardry would know, this is the favorite drink of the magical world — even a muggle would enjoy it.
Ingredients
¾ cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
1/3 teaspoon butterscotch extract
4 12-ounce bottles cream soda, chilled
Directions
- In a small cauldron, combine brown sugar with 2 tablespoons water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and turn off the heat after about a minute of cooking. If the flames of the netherworld are not available for use, a stovetop is fine.
- Turn off the heat and add butter, salt, vinegar, butterscotch extract and 1/4 cup heavy cream. Stir until smooth with the wooden spoon carved from the limb of a cursed birch tree. Cool mixture to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining cream (1/2 cup) with 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar syrup until it becomes light and fluffy like an apparition.
- In each glass, mix 1/4 cup brown sugar syrup with 1/4 cup cream soda. Pour in the rest of the cream soda until it is nearly to the brim of the glass. Top with whipped cream.
Wormy Witches Brew
The spooky great thing about this potion is it can be made for a solo practitioner or given to the whole coven.
Ingredients
Green Hawaiian Punch
Lemon lime soda
Gummy worms
Directions
- Take one muffin tin and place a few gummy worms into each section. Pour in Hawaiian punch and cast a petrification spell on your brew — or place it in the freezer until solid.
- Place a frozen worm ice in your chalice.
- Mix in equal parts punch and lemon lime soda.
Tip: It’s more fun to not tell friends there are worms in the drink!
Poison Apple Punch
Whether attempting to get rid of your rival to be fairest in the land or entertaining seven dwarves and a huntsman, this potion is perfect for you.
Ingredients
2 quarts apple juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 ½ teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup orange juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1 ½ quart chilled ginger ale
Directions
- In a small cauldron, slowly heat 2 cups of apple juice with a cinnamon stick and allspice. Don’t let your cauldron bubble over.
- Stir in the light brown sugar while stirring counterclockwise and chanting a hex using your rival’s name until the sugar is dissolved.
- Let the mixture cool with a blow of magic breath that steals the heat from even the heart of your enemies — or just use the fridge.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and add the new mixture in a large potion pitcher with the remainder of the apple juice, orange juice and cranberry juice.
- Add ginger ale before serving over ice.
Tip: For a brighter color, add red food coloring or the blood of a sacrificial goblin!
Photo:I Martin
Written: Tava Boeckel
