Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in October 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in October 2019.
Whether you're a seasoned host or throwing a Halloween party for the very first time, you'll already know that no event is complete without a punch bowl. We've got just the thing for this spooky time of year!
Today we're showing you how to make an eerie eyeball punch that looks extremely life-like but is actually made from basic kitchen cupboard ingredients. If you're looking for a Halloween punch that'll take hardly any time or effort, look no further.
How to make Halloween punch
1. Gather your ingredients
You'll need:
- Vimto cordial
- Lemonade
- Cranberry juice
- Limes (optional)
- Vodka (optional)
- Radishes
- Blueberries
- Glasses or large punchbowl
- Small knife or peeler
Most supermarkets sell small bags of radishes for around £1 and blueberries can be bought fresh or frozen.
2. Prepare the radishes and blueberries
Wash your radishes and then take a small knife and chop the end off. You should have a flat surface.
Leave the green root on the other end, it will look like optic nerve hanging off the eyeball.
3. Carve out the middle
Taking your knife, very carefully, dig a hole out of the radish. You want to scoop out enough to fit a blueberry snuggly in it, but still have a nice thick rim to create the effect of the white eyeball.
4. Skin the radish
Now even more carefully, slice the radish skin in uneven strips to create the effect of veins running across the eyeball. It doesn't need to be perfect, in fact, the more uneven and wonky the better!
5. Place the blueberries inside
Find a blueberry that fits snuggly inside the radish. Make sure that you keep the side of the blueberry that has the dot in the middle facing outward so that it looks like a pupil.
If you're struggling to squish them in, you can add a dab of water in-between the berry and radish before popping them into the freezer. They'll act as ice cubes and the taste of radish shouldn't effect the drink too much.
6. Make the punch
To make a delicious Halloween punch, all you need to do is:
- Mix 1 part Vimto cordial with 4 parts lemonade.
- Add a splash of cranberry juice and a squeeze of fresh lime.
- If you're after a Halloween punch, you can add a good glug of vodka (or gin). It's up to you how much you add.
Who knew a bunch of basic kitchen ingredients could create such a fantastic effect! We've served this punch in a glass, but you could make enough to fill a punchbowl! Give it a go yourself.
Alternative ways to make edible Halloween eyeballs
1. Lychee eyeballs
If you don't fancy the idea of radishes or prefer an edible eyeball, you can also make them with lychees, blueberries and stuffed olives. Grab a tin of lychees and some pimiento-stuffed olives - they should red in the middle.
Start by draining your lychees. Strain as much syrup as you can from the lychee then take a blueberry and push it into the middle. You may need to double up on blueberries depending on the size of the lychee.
2. Olive eyeballs
With the olive version, cut your olive in half and push it into the lychee. You want to show the side with the pimiento pepper, so it looks like a creepy red pupil.
Lychees can become loose so it's best to pop them into the freezer to harden - they'll also double up as ice cubes then. If you'd rather serve them fresh then stick a cocktail stick through to hold it all together and serve as a garnish in your punch tumblers or cocktail glasses.
While you're looking for Halloween inspiration, don't miss out on our spectacular no-carve pumpkin and delicious pumpkin spice cupcakes.
Thanks for reading! Please share our eyeball punch with your friends and family using the share tools above and below the article.
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