This vampire’s kiss cocktail is a quick, easy and fun Halloween cocktail – all without added sugar and food coloring! It’s naturally gluten-free, too.

I feel justified posting this cocktail here because as far as cocktails go, I think it’s pretty healthy for a Halloween cocktail! They’re usually colored with food coloring and/or have other funky ingredients in them for a fun Halloween effect.

This cocktail is just raspberries, vodka, Chambord and lime juice. There’s no added sugar, other than what’s already in the Chambord.

And that gorgeous color comes from the raspberries and the Chambord! There isn’t any artificial food coloring or artificial flavor in Chambord.

I think this definitely counts as a healthier Halloween cocktail!

And the flavor is amazing. I like things pretty sweet and was totally happy with the sweetness level of this cocktail, but if your raspberries are even tarter than mine were, then you can add whatever sweetener you’d like.

Maple syrup would be perfect, but you can use simple syrup or quick dissolve sugar if you prefer.

The rim

I’m super excited about this drink. One of the reasons is that I was able to think of a way to make that bloody-looking rim without any junk. I feel victorious. 😆

It’s just maple syrup and freeze-dried raspberry powder. If you don’t have the powder, you can grind some freeze-dried raspberries in a (clean!) coffee grinder or a small food processor until they’re powdery.

But that’ll be hard to do if your bag has already been opened. I find that freeze-dried berries go soft very quickly after opening, even if you seal them back up properly. If they’re soft, you won’t be able to pulverize them.

I don’t think you’ll be able to get the raspberries as fine as store-bought powder, though. If you’re planning ahead for Halloween, I would really recommend getting the powder. What you see in the photos is the homemade powder version.

If you don’t want to use maple syrup, then agave works. Most people use corn syrup plus food coloring to make the “bloody” rims, so I’m guessing corn syrup would also work if you’re not against using that.

Honey might also work, depending on how runny it is, but I don’t think it’d taste as good as with maple syrup.

You’ll want to make the raspberry + maple syrup quite thick. It droops down with time. My photographer didn’t use quite enough raspberry powder.

You can see what happens when you look at the photos from top to bottom. It takes quite a while to photograph things.

What is Chambord?

Chambord is a fruity French brandy-based liqueur that is made from black raspberries, vanilla, citrus peel, honey (making this drink not vegan!), and herbs and spices. Thinking of it as simply raspberry liqueur is missing some complex notes of citrus, vanilla and spice. Although raspberry is the star, it’s a lot more than that when it comes to taste.

It’s rich and fruity with hints of citrus. It works well to sweeten a margarita or champagne and even more enticing in this Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail.

It has only 16% alcohol, so it has much less alcohol content than your other spirits like rum, vodka or tequila.

It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but store it out of direct sunlight, and it will last indefinitely. I would use it up within the year once it is opened, but it’s such a great taste that I’m sure you won’t have any problem doing so.

Dry ice tips

Using dry ice creates a magical setting for a super outrageous drink. It’s smokey and bubbly and a crowd pleaser, but there are some essential things you need to know when handling, storing and disposing of dry ice.

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Please read all of the tips before handling dry ice! ⚠️⚠️⚠️

First off, my stance is not to use it with kids around or have an adult standing guard at the punch bowl.

That being said there are some important precautions to take when handling dry ice if you decide to use it.

Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide. When it melts, it turns into a gas creating that smoking effect. Dry ice is so cold, that it can cause burns and frostbite, so here’s what you need to know.

You cannot drink dry ice! Do not swallow dry ice or touch it with your bare hands. It will cause frostbite or burns.
It’s ok to use in cocktails IF you let it completely sublimate (turn into gas) before drinking your cocktail.
If you’re making the drink for kids, have an adult ladle out servings without the dry ice cubes in the glass.
Do not touch or handle the dry ice with bare hands! Use gloves and tongs!

How to store it

Do not put it in your freezer! It will make the freezer too cold and could break it.
It’s best to store in a styrofoam cooler. Plastic coolers can break due to the extreme cold.
Wrap the dry ice in newspaper, towels or plastic bags. Styrofoam coolers won’t crack, are insulative, and it lets the carbon dioxide disperse safely.
Ventilation is key so do NOT put it in an airtight container! Carbon dioxide gas is released as it “melts” so minimize the risk of explosion by leaving the lid ajar.

Safety First!

Keep away from children and pets. Store it out of sight until you are ready to use it.
Always wear gloves and goggles when handling dry ice and also use tongs. You might also want to wear a long sleeve shirt.
If you serve it in small chunks in adult cocktails, take the dry ice wrapped in plastic bags and drop the bag on the ground a few times to make it into chunks. This way there is no touching it. Wear protective shoes and long pants.
To break it down even more, you can use an ice pick or screwdriver, but use goggles and gloves and other protective measures.
Wrap the chunks in a towel and place them in the cooler until you’re ready to serve.
Do NOT store in the freezer! Remember it’s not regular ice; dry ice doesn’t melt into a liquid, but into a gas, carbon dioxide, so take extreme precaution when handling and using.
Glass, ceramic, stoneware, plastic and other surfaces can crack if they come into contact with dry ice.

How to dispose of it properly

Safely dispose of dry ice by letting it turn into vapor if you have some left over.
Let it vaporize to avoid frostbite, explosion and carbon dioxide overexposure.
Choose a well-ventilated space away from kids and pets.
An outdoor area is best. For the fastest results, let the dry ice in a styrofoam cooler sit in a warm, sunny spot if possible. Leave the lid slightly ajar so that the carbon dioxide can safely escape into the atmosphere.
Do not linger in the vicinity!

Recap

⚠️Never leave it unsupervised with children and pets.
⚠️Never touch dry ice with bare skin.
⚠️Never swallow or ingest dry ice.
⚠️Never lay it directly on a solid surface or tiled countertop as it could crack the surface.
⚠️Never store in the freezer or plastic cooler or any airtight container.
⚠️Never dump dry ice in sewer lines or down garbage disposal, trash cans, toilets or sink drains as pipes could freeze and burst.
⚠️Always use gloves and protective ware when handling.
⚠️Always store it properly.
⚠️Always use with adult supervision.
⚠️Always allow it to turn to vapor and properly dispose of gloves and container afterwards.

Use safety first precautions, and you can have a safe and spooky cocktail for your Halloween event.

Other Halloween treats

Whether you’re looking for cute and adorable or spooky and scary, I’ve got some great Halloween treats.

If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic punch for the kids, this Halloween Punch with Eyeballs does the trick! Made with real ingredients – even the eyeballs are all natural. It can be spiked for the adults. This Dirty Shirley Cocktail is another bright red cocktail that could be fun.

And for something savory, this Halloween charcuterie board is a great choice!

Below are some of my favorite Halloween desserts:

Happy Halloween (planning)! I hope you like this Vampire’s Kiss Cocktail! If you make it, leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

5 from 63 votes