Blackberry Halloween Party Punch

Halloween party punch on table with punch bowl.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 15

Cooling and Chilling (approx.): 1

Total Time: 1 35

Servings: servings (approximately 7–8 oz each)

Calories: 361kcal

Author: AGT Editorial Team

A dark berry Halloween party punch for adults that is bubbly, not overly sweet, and easy to make ahead for a crowd. Add vodka for the alcoholic version or use the alcohol-free variation.

Print Recipe

Equipment

saucepan
Fine-mesh strainer
Large punch bowl and ladle room for 12–14 cups per original batch, plus headroom; see Notes
Skull ice molds optional; food-safe molds

Ingredients

Blackberry Syrup

3 cups fresh blackberries
1 cup water
1 ½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Punch

2-3 cups vodka optional; see alcohol-free variation
2-3 cups blackberry syrup from the homemade batch above; start with the lower amount
4 cups club soda
2 cups RW Knudsen black cherry juice (or any cherry juice)
2 cups Ocean Spray cranberry/pomegranate juice
purple Brew Glitter edible drink glitter optional; use according to package directions

Instructions

Add the blackberry syrup ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes, until the berries soften. Allow about 15 minutes total on the stove. Strain into a heatproof container, pressing gently, and cool and refrigerate until completely chilled. Allow about 1 hour for cooling and chilling; longer may be needed. You can make the syrup the night before.
Combine the chilled juices, vodka and the lower amount of syrup in a large punch bowl. Taste and add more syrup or vodka within the listed ranges if desired. Save any leftover syrup. For an alcohol-free punch, replace the vodka with an equal volume of extra chilled club soda.
Just before serving, gently stir in the club soda. If using edible drink glitter, add it according to the package directions and stir gently. Add ice to individual glasses to avoid diluting the whole batch.
Serve chilled with fresh blackberries or skull-shaped ice made in food-safe molds. Keep craft spiders, fake eyeballs and other non-food decorations outside the punch and glasses. Stir gently if the glitter settles.

Video

Notes

Yield: The original batch makes approximately 12–14 cups before ice, depending on the syrup and vodka amounts. Divide into about 14 servings of 7–8 ounces, or pour smaller portions. Double or triple the batch volume when scaling.

Alcohol-free version: Replace the vodka with an equal volume of extra chilled club soda. For the original batch, use 6–7 cups of club soda in total instead of 4 cups plus vodka. Add all club soda just before serving.

Make ahead: Prepare and chill the syrup the night before. Combine the chilled syrup, juices and vodka ahead if desired and refrigerate. Add club soda and ice only at serving time. Cooling time is an estimate; the syrup should be completely chilled before mixing.

Serving equipment: A Viski 2.5-gallon punch bowl provides room for serving. A FineDine 1-gallon dispenser holds one original batch before ice, with limited headroom. Keep fruit out of its spigot and add ice to glasses. Use separate containers or chilled refills for a double batch.

Spooky extras: Try Tovolo skull ice molds and optional purple Brew Glitter. Use glitter labeled edible with an ingredient list and follow its package directions. “Non-toxic” alone does not mean edible. Keep craft glitter, plastic spiders and other non-food decorations outside drinks.

Nutrition