Hey mom — you’ve probably spent all month getting your kids’ costumes together, baking dozens of Halloween cupcakes, and rearranging the fake spider web on the front yard shrub a million times. Now how about doing something for you?
It’s time to put up your feet, sip on a pumpkin pie martini and have a couple of those cupcakes you’re always making for someone else. We’ve got some delicious cocktails and other adult Halloween treats for you to indulge yourself with this Halloween. Those shrub decorations can wait.
Witch’s brew that’s fun for you: Adult Halloween drinks
When you’re done passing out the juice boxes, here are a few beverages for the grownups.
Pumpkin Pie Martini #1 (using real pumpkin!)
Why not use the real thing? This martini from Life’s Ambrosia uses real pumpkin purée instead of pumpkin liqueur. And the graham cracker crumb rim is such a clever touch.
Gather up these ingredients:
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup ice
1-1/2 ounce vanilla vodka
1-1/2 ounces cream liqueur like Bailey’s
1/3 cup half and half
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Then click on over to Life’s Ambrosia for the how tos and the special tips for making the best Pumpkin Pie Martini.
Pumpkin Pie Martini #2
But hey, we get it — not all of us have pumpkin puree laying around for our cocktail needs. This one from The Spruce Eats uses pumpkin liqueur and vanilla vodka — and they even have instructions for making your own pumpkin liqueur which might be a really fun addition to your usual pumpkin spice latte.
Important martini tip: Whether it’s straight up, stirred, shaken or infused with pumpkin, always serve a martini in a proper martini glass; its precarious shape only adds to its beauty and not-for-kids allure. “It is a glass from which a drink is easily spilled,” Lowell Edmunds, martini expert, and author of Martini, Straight Up, told Eater.
Blood Moon
Who can resist a cocktail that just screams Halloween? Essence has the recipe for this intriguing cocktail that gets its name from one of its ingredients — blood orange syrup — and is an enticing mix of rum and ginger beer. This is one moon that’ll surely make you howl.
No candy corn here: Adult Halloween food ideas
Remember not to drink all of those martinis on an empty stomach. Here are some not-so-spooky food ideas to serve up to yourself and your family.
Mummy-Wrapped Brie
Since brie goes with any occasion, why not wrap it up, mummy-style, to keep on-theme. This cheesy appetizer from Taste of Home uses puff pastry and apricot jam and will probably be a hit with the kids, too, so make sure and keep some for yourself.
Bell Pepper Jack-o-Lanterns
I love this idea, for its simplicity and also for its versatility. Chef Julie Yoon shows you how to make adorable little jack-o-lanterns from bell peppers, and has recipes for a variety of simple dips you can fill them with. Healthy, fast and easy, which you’ll appreciate after spending hours carving real pumpkins.
Jack Skellington Ricotta Olive Tarts (gluten-free)
Not only are these savory tarts adorable, they’re gluten free! This recipe from Snixy Kitchen uses rice, millet and oat flours for the crusts, and then fills them with a decadent mix of ricotta, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and greek yogurt. Tim Burton would be proud.
Ideas for adult an Halloween party
Chances are, you’ve got a lot of parent friends looking for some Halloween festivities that don’t involve candy bars and punch, so why not have a party — virtual, or in an outdoor setting — for the adults? They’ll probably appreciate the interaction for a few hours that doesn’t involve chasing small humans around — and it might even be helpful in nailing down that costume for your kid that’s been haunting you.
“I have a small, adults-only get together every year a couple of weeks before Halloween,” Christine H. told Mom.com. “It’s just a fun time for us to hang out and take a break from what is usually a really hectic season with the kids. It’s even been a great time for us to help each other out if our kids need something for their costumes. One year I was able to pass on my kid’s Transformer costume to a parent who hadn’t been able to find one.”
Note: If you are planning to gather with others this Halloween, remember that we’re still in the midst of a pandemic and take appropriate safety measures. Keep gatherings outside — preferably with vaccinated guests only — wear masks and have hand sanitizer available. Guidelines change frequently, so keep abreast of your local state, county, and city laws and make sure you’re following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Party planning website Let’s Roam has these fun ideas for an adult Halloween get-together that can be done virtually or in-person outdoors:
Hallow-wine tasting party: Wine tasting with a Halloween theme? Sign me up!
Murder Mystery Party: This will satisfy both your murder-mystery fans and your Halloween fans.
Haunted Forest: Turn your backyard or outdoor space into a scary wonderland with lights and spider webs. It’ll be the perfect place to relax and sip your pumpkin pie martini.
