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Warm Witch’s Blood is a spiced, alcohol-free cranberry drink made for chilly Halloween nights. Cranberry and orange juice are simmered with sugar, cinnamon, allspice and cloves until the whole kitchen smells like autumn, then served warm in the most ghoulish cups you can find. The original recipe even suggests muttering incantations while you stir, which we fully endorse.
It tastes like a cozy cross between mulled wine and hot apple cider, tart from the cranberry, bright from the orange and warmly spiced without being too sweet. With no alcohol at all, it is perfect for trick-or-treaters coming in from the cold, designated drivers and anyone taking the night off. The recipe makes about six servings.
Glass: Irish coffee cup | Strength: Non-alcoholic | Serves: 6 | Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bartenders tip: Use whole spices rather than ground ones so the drink stays clear and you can strain them out easily. Keep it warm in a slow cooker on low for a party. For an adult version, add a shot of spiced rum or bourbon to each cup, but keep that batch separate and clearly labeled.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Cranberry Juice
- 2 cups Orange Juice
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 4 Whole Allspice Berries
- 1 tsp Whole Cloves
- Orange Slices, for garnish (optional)
Steps
- Combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon stick, allspice and cloves in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring and muttering appropriate incantations.
- Strain out the spices and ladle into heatproof cups.
- Garnish with an orange slice if desired and serve warm.
