The Ultimate Pumpkin Bourbon Halloween Punch Is Spooky-Delicious

, Whether you’re planning a raucous Halloween party, or having a few friends over to watch scary movies, your gathering deserves a festive Halloween punch. It’s the perfect way to toast the holiday and enjoy fall flavors like pumpkin, brown sugar, and baking spices. And, while bourbon is always in season, we find it’s especially suited to autumnal palates.

Halloween punch recipes abound on the Internet, so choose yours wisely. Are you looking for something boozy? Or, do you prefer bubbly Halloween drinks to keep things feeling festive?

If you answered “yes” to both questions, then this is the Halloween punch recipe for you.

To create this fun Halloween drink, combine a rich, warming mix of bourbon, apricot brandy, pumpkin purée, and homemade pumpkin spice syrup.

As with most cocktails, you can tweak this Halloween punch recipe to your taste. If you want smokier flavors, try swapping part or all the bourbon for rye. Similarly, you can substitute Tennessee whiskey for a sharper kick.

Consider the homemade pumpkin spice syrup recipe a jumping-off point for customization, too. Use your own ratio of nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger—or, eliminate one of the spices entirely if you’re not a fan—to calibrate the flavors of both the syrup and finished cocktail. Keep in mind, however, that certain spices like cloves tend to come across as stronger than commercially packaged cinnamon.

Right before you plan to serve the drink, top it off with sparkling apple cider for a fizzy, festive finish. It’s key to hold off on this step until the end because, otherwise, the cider will flatten and your drink will lose its effervescent sparkle.

You can use a regular punch bowl for this recipe, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, we recommend hollowing out a pumpkin and using it as a show-stopping serving vessel. Sure, it’s slightly more work than rinsing out that old pitcher or punch bowl in the back of your kitchen cabinet. But it’s an utterly unforgettable touch and absolutely worth the effort.

Plus, if you save the pumpkin seeds, you can roast them for a party snack. Simply clean the seeds of the pulp orange pulp, lay them out to dry on a baking sheet, preheat your oven to 350°F, and then toss the seeds with salt and olive oil. Roast for 25-35 minutes, and you have the perfect, crunchy complement to all that Halloween candy.