Witch’s Brew

A sweet and frightful Halloween cocktail, this witch’s brew can be whipped up with only 5 ingredients: shredded lime jello, pineapple juice, vodka, and Sprite.

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About Witch’s Brew

There’s nothing more Halloween-y than serving up a cocktail called a “witch’s brew” – other than drinking a witch’s brew, of course. But those that taste this drink will be pleasantly surprised just by how delicious it is.

As for me, my favorite part about enjoying this drink is the very thing that gives it it’s bright, vibrant hue: the green jello.

It’s a simple ingredient, but the potent color looks beautiful in any kind of clear glass.

Plus, some pretty cool things happen when you mix jello and carbonated soda. The fizz is intensified, making it extra frothy on top, which is like the standard protocol for any spooky drink. Plus, the bubbles in the soda make the jello move around, causing the drink to look like it’s in motion.

And how perfect is that for a creepy holiday party?

Can you serve this drink in a dispenser with a spout?

Readers have asked this question many times before, and sadly, I have some bad news.

Because of the texture and nature of the jello, I would not recommend passing this drink through a spout. At times the jello will “settle” at the bottom of the container and possibly get stuck in the spout. This also means that this drink is best when it can be stirred before pouring, which isn’t always possible with some of the cute dispenser jars.

So for the best results, serve this drink in a bowl with a ladle for serving or in a tall pitcher.

What type of jello should you use?

For this recipe, you should use Jell-o brand jello, and you can use either the 3.9 ounce or the 6 ounce box. The different amounts will be noticeable in the texture.

The 3.9 ounce box will make less jello, but the drink will appear more separated, with an obvious layer of liquid floating above the jello. With the 6 ounce box, more of the liquid will fit between the pieces of the jello, giving the drink a more uniform look – but with that much jello, you’ll be eating it as much as you are drinking it. Feel free to pick whichever type of drinking experience you’d prefer.

Can you use a different flavor of jello?

Yes, you totally can! The only liquid that has pigment in this recipe is pineapple juice, and the pineapple flavor should complement just about any Halloween-friendly color of jello. My suggestions:

• Orange – A perfectly acceptable color for Halloween and should work well with pineapple juice.
• Grape – The color will change slightly, but not so much that you won’t be able to easily tell that the color is purple. However, be cautious of grape and pineapple flavors together – I can’t say I’ve tried this to know if it’d be any good.
• Cherry, Strawberry, or Raspberry – A bright bold red would be perfect for Halloween and the flavors should work well together.

Do you have to use vodka?

If you’d prefer to make this drink nonalcoholic, you totally can! You can either completely omit the vodka altogether or you can substitute it for an equal amount of Sprite.

Can you make witch’s brew in advance?

Yes, you can prepare most of this drink up to 24 hours in advance.

Follow the recipe instructions, but hold off on adding the Sprite – wait to add this until just before the drink is served. This way the carbonation from the Sprite will still be active in the drink.

How long does this drink last?

You can store this drink, but it comes with a catch:

It can be stored for two to three days before the Sprite has been added.

If you’ve already added the Sprite, I would recommend drinking it the same day it was prepared.

Notes & tips for this witches brew

• Every year a reader asks where to buy the flasks in these photos, and sadly, every year I’m not able to find a link to them online. I originally bought them in the $5 bin area in Target but I haven’t seen them there since. SO, if you’re on the hunt for some fun glasses to serve this drink in, I’d suggest checking craft store holiday or glassware displays (like Michaels) or searching your favorite online store for things like beaker glasses, round bottom flask, chemistry set glasses, or potion bottles.
• When serving this drink, you can either use standard straws or boba straws. The standard ones will come in more festive colors, but the boba ones will make it easier to drink up the shredded jello.

More great Halloween recipes

How to make witch’s brew

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Before mixing this drink, you’ll need to prepare the lime jello per the box instructions and allow it to completely set (about four hours).

Step 2 – When the jello is ready, use a fork or two to shred the jello into very small pieces. Remember, guests will be tackling this cocktail with a straw, so the jello should be able to fit inside one without getting stuck.

Step 3 – Add the shredded jello to a large pitcher or punch bowl, then pour in the pineapple juice, vodka, and sprite.

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!