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    Home » Beverages » Mocktails

    Vampire Margarita Mocktail

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on October 15, 2020, updated September 7, 2022 - 6 Comments

    Total time: 5 minutes minutes
    5 from 6 votes
    Jump to Recipe

    With the deep red color of blood and an ashy rim - this Vampire Margarita Mocktail looks just like what a vampire (real or fake!) would enjoy. A quick, easy & delicious drink that tastes like a vampire's bite - earthy, salty, spicy - and just what you need for a non-alcoholic Halloween treat!

    vampire margarita with a candle and cob webs in the background.
    Jump to:
    • Why you will love this recipe
    • What you need to make it
    • How to make it
    • Tips & tricks
    • Recipe FAQ
    • More easy mocktails
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Why you will love this recipe

    • A perfect halloween mocktail that looks and tastes just like what a vampire would enjoy
    • It's quick - done in under 5 minutes
    • It's easy - blacken the salt, salt the rim, mix the drink and pour
    • It's super tasty with a salted rim and an earthy base, followed by a spicy kick

    What you need to make it

    ingredients needed to make a vampire margarita.

    Ingredient notes & substitutions

    • Black food coloring - the best option is to use gel food coloring, but liquid food coloring also works
    • Fine table salt can be swapped for sea salt flakes that you crush a bit, but these work best together with gel food coloring
    • Ginger shot is the same as ginger juice
    • Apple cider - I used still for this recipe. You can use sparkling - but then don't shake it, add it straight to the glass instead.

    How to make it

    collage showing how to color salt and salt the rim of a margarita glass.
    1. Place the salt in a small container with a lid and pour in a drop of food coloring
    2. Close the lid tightly and shake the container vigorously so combine the salt and color
    3. Pour the salt on to the lid or a plate, and rub the rim of a margarita glass with the lemon wedge
    4. Roll the edge of the glass in the salt until the rim is coated
    5. And then you have a nice, ashy rim
    collage showing how to make a vampire margarita.
    1. Bring out a cocktail shaker and pour in the beet juice, ginger shot and (still) apple cider. Add an ice cube to cool the drink.
    2. Shake well
    3. Pour into the glass
    4. Serve!

    Tips & tricks

    • Use a very small amount of liquid food coloring or the salt might get too wet and not stick to the rim
    • Use gel food coloring for a deeper color
    • Make it for a crowd by salting your rims and mixing your drink beforehand, then shake with ice and pour into glasses just before serving
    • Make it a cocktail by adding a shot of tequila to the shaker before mixing

    Recipe FAQ

    What type of food coloring should I use?

    You can use either liquid food coloring or gel food coloring. I prefer gel food coloring as it gives a deeper color and doesn't make the salt as wet as liquid food coloring.

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    Can I add alcohol to this mocktail?

    Yes! And for an authentic margarita choice I recommend tequila.

    top down view of a vampire margarita.

    More easy mocktails

    Looking for more quick & easy mocktails to try?

    • Black Widow Martini
    • Blue Lagoon Mocktail
    • Mojito Mocktail [Sugar free]
    • Cucumber Tom Collins Mocktail
    • Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch

    Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
    ...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

    Recipe

    vampire margarita with a candle and cob webs in the background

    Vampire Margarita Mocktail

    5 from 6 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: North American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 15kcal
    Cook time: 5 minutes mins
    Total time: 5 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 drop black food coloring
    • fine table salt
    • 1 lemon wedge
    • 1 ounce beet juice
    • 2 ounces ginger shot
    • 4 ounces still apple cider
    • ice cube
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Place the salt in a jar or small container and add one drop of black food coloring. Close the lid tightly and shake vigorously for the salt and food coloring to combine. Then open and pour the salt onto the lid or a plate.
      1 drop black food coloring, fine table salt
    • Bring out a margarita glass and rub the lemon wedge around the rim. Then dip the rim in the salt and roll until the rim is covered in salt.
      1 lemon wedge
    • Bring out a cocktail shaker and pour in beet juice, ginger juice and still apple cider. Add in an ice cube. Cover tightly and shake. Then pour into the glass, and serve!
      1 ounce beet juice, 2 ounces ginger shot, 4 ounces still apple cider, ice cube

    Equipment (may contain affiliate links)

    • Cocktail shaker (not required)*
    • Jar or small container that you can close tightly
    • Margarita glass

    Video

    Notes

     

    Ingredient notes & substitutions

    • Black food coloring - the best option is to use gel food coloring, but liquid food coloring also works
    • Fine table salt can be swapped for sea salt flakes that you crush a bit, but these work best together with gel food coloring
    • Ginger shot is the same as ginger juice
    • Apple cider - I used still for this recipe. You can use sparkling - but then don't shake it, add it straight to the glass instead.
     

    Tips & tricks

    • Use a very small amount of liquid food coloring or the salt might get too wet and not stick to the rim
    • Use gel food coloring for a deeper color
    • Make it for a crowd by salting your rims and mixing your drink beforehand, then shake with ice and pour into glasses just before serving
    • Make it a cocktail by adding a shot of tequila to the shaker before mixing

    Nutrition

    Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2330mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 382IU | Vitamin C: 10mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

    More Mocktail Recipes

    • A blue lagoon mocktail next to some lemons.
      Blue Lagoon Mocktail
    • ginger beer mocktail decorated with a sprig of mint with a bottle of ginger beer in the background
      Ginger Beer Mocktail with Mint & Lime
    • lemon ginger mocktail in a martini glass
      Ginger Lemon Mocktail
    • apple cider vinegar tonic decorated with a lemon slice
      Sparkling Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jacque

      October 21, 2020 at 8:33 pm

      This is my kind of cocktail! It’s perfect for Halloween and will fit the theme of our gathering to a T. Can’t wait to start brewing it soon.

      Reply
    2. Lisa

      October 20, 2020 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a fantastic drink for Halloween -- and I appreciate the Mocktail aspect as I've been cutting back on alcohol. This is sophisticated and absolutely tongue tingling!

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        October 21, 2020 at 8:04 pm

        Thank you, Lisa!

        Reply
    3. Maria

      October 20, 2020 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing combination! Perfect for this holiday <3

      Reply
    4. Sue

      October 20, 2020 at 6:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is perfect for Halloween! Tequila in mine please!

      Reply
    5. Nathan

      October 20, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love how festive and easy this is! With the way this year is going I think I'll take that optional addition of tequila as well 🙂

      Reply
    5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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