If I could be anywhere on Halloween, it'd be the Hogwarts Great Hall, where the candles float overhead, the ghosts get sloshed, and the iced pumpkin juice is flowing. But until I get that invite, I’m making this spiked punch* inspired by the pumpkin juice of my adolescent imagination. This smooth, chilled concoction of pumpkin puree, apple cider, and ginger beer is lightly sweet with a base note of warm spice. The bourbon is optional, but don’t skip that dusting of pumpkin pie spice.
Ingredients
ice cubes
1 tablespoon canned pumpkin puree
2 ounces (1/4 cup) apple cider
1/2 ounce bourbon (optional)
2 ounces (1/4 cup) ginger beer
pumpkin pie spice
Directions
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add in the pumpkin puree, apple cider, and (if you’re spiking) bourbon.
Shake shake shake.
Pour the pumpkin potion through a sieve into a glass, then top with the ginger beer.
Use a sieve to garnish your drink with a light dusting of pumpkin pie spice.
*I've got a 2021 version of this recipe too. Here are the updates:
1. The earlier version called for 1/3 cup apple juice instead of 2 ounces (1/4 cup) apple cider. The update opts for the more subtle, natural sweetness of apple cider, and a little less of it so the pumpkin isn't overpowered.
2. The new recipe is spiked with bourbon (though the drink is delicious with or without it).
3. The new recipe is shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker as opposed to being poured over ice. This gives it a nice chill, but it won't get watered down by melting ice.
4. For the updated version, I pour the drink through a sieve to separate out some of the pumpkin pulp (there will still be some sediment that will naturally settle). If you don't mind a little extra pulp, skip the sieve!
5. Finally, I added a dusting of pumpkin pie spice to reinforce the pumpkin flavor. If you don't have PPS, you could dust your drink with ground cinnamon, ginger, and/or nutmeg.