Purple People Eater Drink (Halloween Cocktail Recipe)

What’s more Halloween than a purple cocktail drink? And that’s where the Purple People Eater Drink comes in. It’s the perfect spooky concoction to sip on while you’re partying the night away or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Two glasses of purple cocktail drink with a purple stripe straw and maraschino cherries.

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This vibrant and flavorful Halloween drink will be a perfect addition to your Halloween festivities. With its eye-catching purple hue and a mix of spooky ingredients, it’s as fun to make as it is to drink. So, grab your cauldron, and let’s get brewing!

A glass of Halloween themed cocktail with purple sanding sugar into the rim.

If you are searching for more colorful cocktail recipes, I have a few more you might want to try. Add blue to your cocktail bar with the blue raspberry jello shots recipe. Or, for a layered shot, make this Hulk Layered Jello Shot drink.

Still in the mood for more drinks? Add a fun slushie drink for the kids with this easy Gatorade slushie recipe.

Table of Contents

Reasons You’ll Love This Purple Vodka Cocktail

Vibrant and Eye-Catching: This cocktail’s deep purple hue is sure to impress your guests and make your Halloween party extra spooky.
Easy to Make: With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can whip up this bewitching brew in no time.
Festive and Fun: The Purple People Eater Drink is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit and add a touch of magic to your celebrations.
Deliciously Spooky: The combination of sweet and tangy flavors creates an eerie and irresistible taste.

What Is The Purple People Eater?

The Purple People Eater cocktail is a vibrant and spooky concoction perfect for Halloween festivities. Its origins are a bit mysterious, but it’s believed to have been inspired by the 1958 novelty song “Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley.

The song tells the story of a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater, and this cocktail captures the essence of that playful and spooky character. The drink’s deep purple hue and unique combination of ingredients make it a fun and festive choice for Halloween season or any occasion where you want to add a touch of whimsy and spookiness.

What’s in This Purple People Eater Drink Recipe?

Ingredients for purple people eater drink sitting on a black table.

Vodka: The base spirit of the cocktail, providing a neutral canvas for the other flavors to shine. Choose a good quality vodka for the best taste.
Sweet and Sour Mix: A pre-made mixer that adds a balanced blend of sweetness and tartness to the cocktail. You can use store-bought or make your own.
Blue Curaçao: This vibrant blue liqueur adds a pop of color and a subtle orange flavor that complements the other ingredients.
Cranberry Juice provides a tart and fruity flavor and contributes to the cocktail’s deep purple hue.
Grenadine: This sweet and slightly tart syrup adds a touch of red to the cocktail, enhancing its visual appeal and providing a subtle fruity flavor.
Ice (optional): Use ice to chill the cocktail and make it more refreshing, especially if you prefer a less intense flavor.
Light Corn Syrup (optional garnish): Drizzle a little corn syrup around the rim of the glass and dip it in purple sanding sugar for a spooky and festive touch.
Purple Sanding Sugar (optional garnish): This decorative purple sugar adds a sparkly purple color to the rim of your glass, making your perfect cocktail look extra special.
Maraschino Cherries (optional garnish): These bright red cherries add a classic cocktail garnish and a touch of sweetness to your drink.

The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

A cocktail glass with purple people eater drink with purple strip straw and garnish with maraschino cherries.

Substitutions and Additions

To make this drink non-alcoholic, you can omit the vodka and increase the amount of cranberry juice and sweet and sour mix. You can also add a splash of lemon-lime soda for some fizz.
Add a splash of simple syrup or increase the amount of grenadine for a sweeter drink.
Use less grenadine or add a squeeze of fresh lime juice for a more tart drink.
To make a single-serving drink, simply divide all the ingredients by 4.
For a larger batch, multiply the ingredients by the servings you need.
Get creative with your garnishes! You can decorate your spooky drink with gummy worms, plastic spiders, or other Halloween-themed candies.

How to Make The Purple People Eater Halloween Cocktail (step-by-step directions)

Collage of creating purple people eater drink.

Combine vodka, sweet and sour mix, blue curacao, cranberry juice, and grenadine in a cocktail shaker. If you prefer a chilled cocktail without ice in the glass, add ice to the shaker now. Stir briefly to combine the ingredients. (Photos 1, 2,3 & 4)

Collage of adding purple sanding sugar into the rim.

Prepare two small plates: one small plate for a shallow layer of light corn syrup, and on another place, a small mound of purple sanding sugar. (Photos 5 & 6)
Dip the rim of your serving glass into the corn syrup, allowing any excess to drip off, then gently roll the rim in the purple sanding sugar until evenly coated. (Photos 7 & 8)

Collage of assembling the purple people eater drink.

If desired, carefully fill the cocktail glass with ice cubes. This step is optional but adds a visually appealing touch.
Strain the cocktail mixture from the shaker into the prepared glasses. (Photo 9)
Add a maraschino cherry, a plastic spider, and a purple straw for a festive garnish, and enjoy your spooky concoction! (Photo 10)

Two halloween themed purple cocktail drinks garnished with cherry with Halloween eye and spider decoration on the background.

Recipe Tips

For a spookier look, use black sanding sugar instead of purple.
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar with a lid.
For a stronger drink, add an extra shot of vodka.
If you don’t have grenadine, you can achieve the purple hue by adding a few drops of red food coloring.
To make a frozen version of this spooky purple people eater cocktail, blend all the ingredients with ice until smooth.

Storing Tips

While it’s best to serve this cocktail immediately for the most vibrant color and freshest taste, you can store the leftover drink mixture in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Keep in mind that the color may fade slightly over time. Give it a good stir before serving to recombine any settled ingredients.

Serving Suggestions

This Halloween cocktail is perfect for pairing with a variety of spooky snacks. For savory options, try deviled spider eggs, mummy jalapeno poppers, or witches’ broomsticks made from pretzel sticks, cheese, and chives.

If you’re looking for something sweet, graveyard dirt cups, ghostly cupcakes, and meringue bones are all festive and delicious choices. Consider serving pumpkin chili, spiderweb pizza, or jack-o’-lantern stuffed peppers alongside this vibrant drink for a heartier meal.

A glass of purple cocktail drink sitting on a book with a Halloween eyes decoration on the side.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this cocktail ahead of time?

While best served fresh, you can mix the base ingredients (vodka, sweet and sour mix, blue curacao, cranberry juice, and grenadine) up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator and add ice just before serving.

Can I use a different type of alcohol?

Vodka is the traditional choice for this cocktail, but you can experiment with other spirits, like white rum or gin for a different flavor profile.

What can I use instead of blue curacao?

If you don’t have blue curacao, you can substitute it with another blue liqueur like Hpnotiq or Parfait Amour. However, this will slightly alter the flavor of the cocktail.

Can I make a big batch of this cocktail for a party?

Absolutely! Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you need and mix in a large pitcher. Remember to adjust the ice accordingly.

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Purple people eater drink in a cocktail glass with purple sanding sugar on the rim garnished with maraschino cherries.

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