• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About

Boulder Locavore® logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Free Bonus
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cocktails » Vampire Vodka Cranberry cocktail

    PUBLISHED: September 29, 2022 • By Toni Dash 6 Comments

    Vampire Vodka Cranberry cocktail

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    vampire vodka cranberry cocktail.

    This spooky spin on a classic Vodka Cranberry cocktail is perfect for Halloween entertaining! A black-colored vodka float hovers eerily over blood red cranberry in a tall glass with dripping ‘blood’ running down the glass. It’s perfect for your holiday party!

    vampire vodka cranberry cocktail.

    Vodka Cranberry is one of the easiest cocktail recipe to make. This sweet-and-tart flavor festive drink is made with two simple ingredients with some ice cubes! There’s no question why it’s a favorite any time of the year.

    Our Cranberry Vodka Punch recipe has been a very popular recipe for years. It’s the perfect cocktail for the holiday season. But this Vampire Vodka Cranberry recipe starts the holiday season with Halloween. This cranberry cocktail recipe is a refreshing cocktail (and a simple cocktail) with a presentation that’s undeniably sinister and fantastic!

    With a couple easy tricks you’ll have a fun cocktail that’s layered for dramatic effect complete with a delicious textured bloody rim. Halloween happy hour has never been so fun!

    halloween vodka cranberry cocktail with fake blood rim.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • How to make this spooky Vodka Cranberry Cocktail
    • Expert Tip
    • Using Dry Ice
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More recipes you’ll love!
    • Recipe

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    halloween vodka cranberry cocktail labelled ingredients.

    Freeze dried raspberries. These make up the spook rim of the cranberry vodka cocktail. You can find them in most stores where the dehydrated fruits are located, or online.

    Agave nectar. This sweetened helps keep the ‘blood’ on the glass rim.

    Vodka. Use an unflavored vodka. We add a drop of black food coloring to color the vodka. You can also use a black vodka like Blavod and then no coloring is needed.

    Black food coloring. See note above. We used Americolor Super Black Gel Food Coloring.

    Cranberry juice. Use a 100% cranberry juice which has been sweetened with other fruit juices instead of sugar (we used Ocean Spray). Unsweetened cranberry juice has a very tart cranberry flavor that overwhelms the cocktail. Cranberry juice cocktail has been sweetened with sugar and often high fructose corn syrup which is sweeter than desired for this classic cocktail.

    How to make this spooky Vodka Cranberry Cocktail

    STEP 1. Make the ‘blood’ for the rim of the glass

    Pulse the freeze dried raspberries in a food processor or spice grinder until they form a fine powder.

    Place the powder in a small bowl and add the agave. Stir until a thick paste forms. Set aside until ready to use.

    STEP 2. Make the vodka cranberry cocktail

    Add the vodka and black food coloring to a jar with a tightly fitting lid. Shake to combine (photos 1-2).

    Fill two highball glasses or tall glasses halfway with ice. Add ½ cup cranberry juice to each glass (photo 3). Very carefully pour 2 ounces of vodka over the cranberry juice (photo 4).

    vodka cranberry cocktail recipe steps 1-4.

    TIP: Hold a dining spoon at an angle over the cranberry juice in the glass. Pour the vodka slowly onto the back of the spoon so it spreads out more evenly over the cranberry juice to create layering and doesn’t disturb the colors (see an example here of this pousse cafe cocktail).

    Spoon the “blood” around the edge of the rim (photo 4) and enjoy.

    STEP 3. Dry ice option

    Adding a very small piece of dry ice will cause the drink to create a spooky fog. Do not consume a drink with dry ice in it as it can cause burning. It will also disturb the layering of the cocktail. More on dry ice below.

    halloween vodka cranberry cocktail with dry ice.

    Expert Tip

    Chill ingredients before starting. Chilling the ingredients before starting will make the ice last longer or give the option to not use ice for a more noticeable layering effect.

    Using Dry Ice

    Working with dry ice is a lot of fun but should be done carefully! If using dry ice for Halloween festivities please read our Dry Ice Guide for details on where to buy, how to handle and store and how to use safely. Some highlights:

    • Never touch dry ice with your bare hands
    • Always use temperature proof gloves and silicone utensils.
    • Never ingest dry ice.
    • Allow cocktails to stop smoking before consuming.
    • Never store dry ice in a sealed container.
    • Keep away from children and pets.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use freeze dried strawberries instead of freeze dried raspberries?

    You can although they will be a pinker color versus the bright red the freeze dried raspberries produce.

    How can I change this to serve it after Halloween?

    Skip the rim and coloring the vodka black. You can stir the ingredients together and add a splash of lime, orange slice for garnish. You can even change it up with a splash of ginger ale or club soda for some fizz. A bit of orange juice, grapefruit juice or pineapple juice gives it a whole new fresh flavor too.

    More recipes you’ll love!

    • oreo cookie bars on white plate.
      Oreo Bars
    • marble cake close up.
      Marble Cake with Fudge Glaze
    • chocolate chip pecan cookies close up.
      Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
    • baked italian meatballs title
      Easy Italian Baked Meatballs recipe

    Recipe

    halloween vodka cranberry cocktail side view.

    Vampire Vodka Cranberry cocktail

    Tart, refreshing classic Vodka Cranberry cocktail is dressed up for Halloween sipping. Black vodka, blood red cranberry juice with a (raspberry) bloody rim make this a Halloween party favorite cocktail.
    5 from 46 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktail
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 2 cocktails
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    For the “Bloody” Rim

    • 1/4 cup freeze dried raspberries
    • 2 teaspoons agave nectar

    For the Cocktail

    • 4 ounces unflavored vodka chilled
    • 1 drop black food coloring
    • 1 cup (8 ounces) 100% cranberry juice chilled

    Instructions

    To Make the “Bloody” Rim

    • Pulse the freeze dried raspberries in a food processor or spice grinder until they form a fine powder.
    • Place the powder in a small bowl and add the agave. Stir until a thick paste forms. Set aside until ready to use.

    For the Cocktail

    • Add the vodka and black food coloring to a jar with a tightly fitting lid. Shake to combine.
    • Fill two highball glasses halfway with ice. Add ½ cup cranberry juice to each glass.
    • To create a layering effect: Place a dining spoon upside down at an angle just above the cranberry juice in the glass. Gently pour the black vodka over the back of the spoon so it floats on the cranberry juice without mixing.
    • Spoon the “blood” around the edge of the glass rims and enjoy.
    • (Optional) Carefully place a very small pellet of dry ice into the drink.
      It will smoke a lot for the first few minutes and will stop after about 5 minutes. Remove the dry ice before consuming the drink. NOTE: the dry ice will cause the drink layers to blend together for a black cocktail.

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes
    Freeze dried raspberries. You can find them in most stores where the dehydrated fruits are located, or online.
    Agave nectar. This sweetened helps keep the ‘blood’ on the glass rim.
    Vodka. Use an unflavored vodka. We add a drop of black food coloring to color the vodka. You can also use a black vodka like Blavod and then no coloring is needed.
    Black food coloring. See note above. We used Americolor Super Black Gel Food Coloring.
    Cranberry juice. Use a 100% cranberry juice which has been sweetened with other fruit juices instead of sugar (we used Ocean Spray).
    Start with chilled vodka and cranberry juice.
    Using dry ice
    Please read our Dry Ice Guide for details on where to buy, handle and use dry ice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 53IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
    « Spicy Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus
    Furry Monster Cupcakes »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

    Free Email Course

    5 FAST & EASY 15-MINUTE RECIPES
    Spending too much time in the kitchen?
    These recipes are fast, easy, and perfect for every occasion.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Diane V says

      September 29, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      So fun!! And even more important, it is DELICIOUS!! Love it!

      Reply
    2. Tara says

      September 29, 2022 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      Such a fantastic drink for Halloween! I love that color and particularly the tips on handling the dry ice.

      Reply
    3. Nikki says

      September 29, 2022 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      This is so fun and festive! Love a good vodka cranberry, spooky or not.

      Reply
    4. Gloria says

      September 29, 2022 at 7:56 am

      5 stars
      What a fun adult drink for a Halloween party. Looks so cool. Perfect for the day.

      Reply
    5. Dana says

      September 29, 2022 at 7:46 am

      5 stars
      This is such a cool drink for halloween! So spooky but so so tasty! Really creative!

      Reply
    6. Jen says

      September 29, 2022 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
      This is so perfect! Such a fun and festive cocktail!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Toni Dash

    Toni Dash BoulderLocavore.com Head Shot

    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

    AS FEATURED ON….

    BoulderLocavore.com Featured By Press

    Easy Dinners

    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs with lime wedges on a pewter platter Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs
    • Korean BBQ Chicken title image Easy Korean BBQ Chicken recipe
    • Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket title image Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket: an Easy One Pot Meal
    • Shrimp Salad title image Shrimp Salad Recipe
    • Green Chile Stew title image Hearty New Mexican Green Chile Pork Stew

    TRENDING RIGHT NOW

    • Hummingbird Cake title image The Best Hummingbird Cake recipe
    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • LIMEADE IN A GLASS WITH ICE Fresh Homemade Limeade recipe
    • How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast title How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast Recipe
    • cilantro lime rice title image Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
    • Easter Rice Krispie Treats title image Easter Rice Krispie Treats: Fast & Festive with a Surprise Ingredient!

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact | About | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Accessibility Statement | Cookie Policy


    SIGN ME UP to get FREE recipes directly to my inbox!

    Don't miss our TRAVEL SECTION!


    Copyright © 2010-2023 All Rights Reserved

    Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.