Hocus Pocus Cocktail Recipe

Get ready for Halloween with this Hocus Pocus Cocktail, inspired by the Sanderson sisters! This beautiful sparkly, purple cocktail is perfect for spooky season. You just need a few simple ingredients to make this witch’s brew!

I promise this drink is not just a bunch of hocus pocus! It’s sure to be the hit of your next Halloween party. Or, it would be perfect for a cozy movie night watching the movies. 

As far as witches are concerned, if you’re more of an Owens sisters fan, you might want to try my Practical Magic Midnight Margaritas. Or if you’re partial to ghouls instead of witches, try the Beetlejuice Margarita. 

There’s also always my IV Bag Cocktails. I have several more Halloween cocktails listed in my Best Glitter Cocktails.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Not only is a Hocus Pocus Cocktail easy to make, but it also makes for a fun party trick or “spell”. It is made with a butterfly pea flower tea infused liquor, (like Empress 1908 gin) which gives a distinct purple or indigo color and has a color-changing property in the presence of an acid (like lemon juice). It is a subtle color shift, but it’s still pretty to watch the shade of purple change.

Ingredients Notes

Butterfly pea flower-infused gin or vodka: You can use a ready-made butterfly pea flower infused gin such as Empress 1908, or if you prefer vodka, you can make my Butterfly Pea Flower Infused Vodka recipe. If you’re more of a tequila person, feel free to substitute blanco tequila in my infusion recipe and make this recipe into a margarita!

Orange liqueur: My go-to is Cointreau or Grand Marnier – but you can use your favorite orange liqueur or triple sec. Orange liqueur is worth spending a little extra to get the good stuff. 

Edible glitter (optional): You can find this gel form in the baking aisle or buy edible glitter powder on Amazon. 

Lemon juice: Always use freshly squeezed juice whenever possible.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Steps 1-2: Start by adding the butterfly pea flower-infused vodka (or gin), orange liqueur, and lemon juice (see optional step below).

Steps 3-4: Add the edible glitter, if using. Add ice to the cocktail shaker, shake well, and then strain into a coupe or martini glass.

Tips for serving

Optional step for serving: Instead of pouring the lemon juice in with the liquor, you can leave it out and pour over right before drinking. This will give a subtle color shift that I find very pretty.

Plus, I like to feel extra witchy and put the juice in a vial or old bottle (I’ve linked some options below) and pour over the top like a “potion.”

If you are using the cocktail for a party or get-together, guests will love the participating in making a “potion.”

Garnish: I used a rolled lemon peel with a toy spider on top – but this is strictly optional.

Making a Big Batch for a Crowd and Make Ahead Tips

A Hocus Pocus Cocktail is very easy to scale, and I’ve included measurements for a batch of 8 in the recipe card notes below. 

To make a large batch, add everything to a large pitcher or punch bowl and stir very well. If you are serving right away, pour the cocktail into glasses filled with ice. Or, you can pour a bit into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake a few portions at a time in the shaker. 

You can make this up to 1 day in advance, and keep it chilled in the fridge. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving as the glitter may settle to the bottom of the pitcher.

You can still do the lemon juice “potion” addition detailed above. Simply, leave it out and add it right before guests are ready to drink. You can do this in one big pour into the pitcher or you can still have each guest pour an individual vial of lemon juice into their cocktail.