Every Halloween table deserves a showstopper, and this one happens to be easy. Fill a punch bowl with apple cider, then float a handful of apples on top, each one carved into a grinning skull or pumpkin.
The whole thing comes down to two ingredients, apples and cider, plus a few happy minutes at the cutting board. With Halloween just around the corner, it's a good one to make the night before a party, or on an afternoon with a few helpers at the kitchen table.
Any apple cider will do. It's both the drink and the setting for the skulls and pumpkins. Pressing cider from scratch is a wonderful project for another weekend, but a jug is all this bowl needs. We love the one from Barsotti Juice Company!
Use whatever apples you have on hand. Tart or sweet, red or green, they all work, and the color of the peel doesn't matter since it comes off anyway. A firmer apple holds its shape a little better under a knife, but any variety can become a spooky addition to your cider.
Peeled apples turn brown as they sit, which only adds to the spooky effect, but if you'd like them to stay pale, brush the carved halves with a little lemon juice.
Spooky Apple Cider
Ingredients
- Apples, about 3 to 4, or as many as will float comfortably in your bowl
- Apple cider, about 1 gallon depending on the size of your bowl
Directions
- Peel the apples and cut them in half. Remove the seeds and scoop out the core.
- Using a round tip, scoop out two small circles for the eyes. With a knife, cut out a mouth.
- Pour the cider into a punch bowl and float the apple heads on top.
Ways to dress it up
Plain cider is lovely, and a few extras turn it into a party. Float cinnamon sticks in the bowl for their scent, or let a few steep in the cider in the fridge for several hours beforehand so the flavor comes through. Whole cloves and star anise do similar work, and a few slices of fresh ginger bring a little warmth. Orange slices look bright beside the pale apples and add a hint of citrus, and fresh cranberries scattered on top give the bowl a pop of red.
For a little fizz, add sparkling water or ginger beer right before serving so it stays lively. For the grown-ups, a splash of bourbon or spiced rum goes well with apple cider. Add it to individual glasses so the bowl stays friendly for everyone.
Set the bowl on the table, dim the lights a little, and wait for the first guest to spot the skulls and pumpkins. Chances are, they'll go and get someone else to come look.
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