Frighteningly Good Pumpkin Cocktails

Every Halloween in my house, we spend hours scooping out the insides of numerous pumpkins and carving spooky faces into the outsides (with varying degrees of success). And every year, I always lament at the amount of pumpkin pulp that is thrown away.

So, you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the pumpkin could be used in cocktails to make some truly delicious and vitamin-rich drinks that can be enjoyed at Halloween and beyond!

Pumpkin Caipirinha

Pop some pumpkin pieces in a blender to make a smooth pumpkin puree. Then, muddle together half a lime, half an ounce of agave nectar and a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. You then need to add one and a half ounces of cachaça and the same amount of pumpkin puree with a scoop of ice and thoroughly shake the mixture to combine. Strain over ice and garnish with nutmeg and a lime wheel.

Spiced Pumpkin Punch

If ever a cocktail was made to be served as punch at a Halloween party, then it was the Spiced Pumpkin Punch. Made with one ounce of pumpkin puree combined with a teaspoon of honey, an ounce of fresh lemon juice, two ounces bourbon, a tiny bit of fresh grated ginger and ground cinnamon in a cocktail shaker, all the ingredients are then strained over ice. The glass is topped up with ginger beer and the whole thing is garnished with a cinnamon stick and a few sage leaves.

Pumpkin Spice Margarita

These tasty beverages are great at any time of the year, especially if you are enjoying a particularly mild autumn so far. They are created by combining an ounce of fresh lime juice, an ounce of fresh lemon juice, two ounces of tequila, a tablespoon of pumpkin puree and a splash of Cointreau with a scoop of ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain the concoction over ice and a splash of water and garnish with an orange twist and a pinch of cinnamon.

Even if you don’t intend to carve any pumpkins this year, with the abundance of the fruit in the shops, it would be a shame to pass up such a great opportunity to enjoy these delicious drinks. The pumpkin adds a creaminess to the cocktails without being overpowering or too sweet, and tastes amazing with bourbon. We guarantee that you will be craving these drinks all year round!