Haunted Pumpkin Parade Margarita Mocktail
/Originally published October 2023
Mixing non-alcoholic tequila with pumpkin spice seemed dubious but it actually turned out to be a great combo for a Halloween mocktail.
This mocktail is a perfect homage to Halloween with the flavours of fall mixed with spicy mezcal heat. It’s confusing but satisfying all at the same time!
What do you get when you marry a margarita with pumpkin pie? A cozy margarita!
For some reason, the heat and the smoke of non-alcoholic tequila or mezcal pairs so well with pumpkin spice. It’s the coziest flavour combo that makes this drink worth making, especially if you have all the ingredients on hand. It’s a cinch to pull together!
Non-alcoholic tequila
Not all n/a tequilas are created equal. We tried this recipe with several different versions and only the ones with a spicy kick really shone. There are so many flavours in this mocktail, you need a solid option to cut through the sweet and bring the tequila heat. We settled on Free Spirits Spirit of tequila because it really dupes the real thing to a tee. There’s smoke and agave and a bit of heat. It really makes this Halloween mocktail spooky - because it’s such a perfect dupe of a real fall-flavoured margarita!
Pumpkin in mocktails is a bit of work
There are two options for getting pumpkin flavour to integrate into mocktails. The first is through a syrup (recipe at the bottom) and the second is through pumpkin butter, which is what we’re using here in this mocktail. If you can’t find a jar at your local stores, making one at home is a breeze. We used a basic recipe from the internet and it was really easy.
Pumpkin Butter Recipe
1 cup pumpkin purée
¼ cup maple syrup
½ lemon, juiced
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Making the Haunted Pumpkin Parade Halloween Mocktail
2 oz Free Spirits Spirit of Tequila
2 tbsp pumpkin butter
3 oz apple cider
1 oz Lyre’s Orange Sec
Ginger beer to top up
Add the first four ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake to combine. Strain into a margarita glass with ice, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
For a tasty rim:
Mix cinnamon, sugar and cayenne pepper in a bowl; rim your glass with maple syrup - and roll it in the cinnamon spice mix!
Cheers!
EXTRA: MAKING PUMPKIN SPICE SYRUP FOR YOUR MOCKTAILS
How to make pumpkin spice syrup
If you have 5 minutes, you can make this syrup, it’s that easy! And it makes about six drinks. Or you can pour it on pancakes!
½ cup maple syrup
⅓ cup water
⅓ cup pumpkin puree
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Sea salt (pinch)
Add all the ingredients together on the stove and bring it to a simmer for about 4 minutes until everything is integrated.
Note: Keep an eye on it, stir often and don’t simmer it too long or it becomes too thick to work in a drink.
Remove from heat and let it cool before straining it into a small mason jar or glass bottle. Keeps up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Haunted Pumpkin Parade
Ingredients
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup water
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree
- ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Sea salt (pinch)
- 2 oz ISH non-alcoholic tequila (or HP Agave)
- 2 oz pumpkin syrup
- ½ cup apple cider
- 4-5 dashes of bitters
- 1 oz orange juice
- Ginger beer to top up
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients together on the stove and bring it to a simmer for about 4 minutes until everything is integrated. Keep an eye on it, stir often and don’t simmer it too long or it becomes too thick to work in a drink.
- Add the first five ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake to combine.
- Strain into a margarita glass with ice, and top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
