Witches' brew punch is a green Halloween party punch you mix in one bowl and serve to a crowd. Our version for 12 combines blanco tequila or white rum with melon liqueur, pineapple juice and fresh lime, and you top it with ginger ale just before guests arrive. For a bubbling-cauldron look, set the punch bowl inside a larger cauldron and put dry ice in warm water in the outer container only. Dry ice should never go into the drink or anyone's glass.
It's the drink of the moment. Google's Halloween trends report for 2026 named "witches brew punch" the top trending Halloween drink, with searches for "how to make a bubbling cauldron" breaking out and "cauldron crock pot" at an all-time high. Halloween itself keeps growing, too: the National Retail Federation expects a record $13.5 billion in spending this year, with 74 percent of Americans taking part.
Witches' brew punch (serves 12)
- 12 oz (1½ cups) blanco tequila, such as G4 Blanco or Lunazul Blanco, or a white rum like Copalli White
- 4 oz (½ cup) Midori melon liqueur, which gives the brew its green color
- 16 oz (2 cups) pineapple juice
- 6 oz (¾ cup) fresh lime juice, from about 6 to 8 limes
- Up to 2 oz (¼ cup) simple syrup, to taste
- 24 oz (3 cups) chilled ginger ale, added at serving
- To garnish: lime wheels and frozen green grapes
Method
- The morning of the party: stir the tequila or rum, melon liqueur, pineapple juice and lime juice together in a pitcher. Taste, and add simple syrup a little at a time if it's too tart. Cover and refrigerate. Lime juice is best used the same day, so don't mix this the night before.
- The day before: make an ice ring. Freeze water in a bundt pan or loaf pan with lime wheels and green grapes in it. One big block melts far more slowly than cubes, so the punch stays cold without getting watery.
- At serving time: pour the base into the punch bowl, add the ice ring, and top with the chilled ginger ale. Stir once gently so the bubbles stay lively.
- To serve: ladle into punch cups or rocks glasses over fresh ice, and drop in a few frozen grapes. For a dark, layered look, float a splash of The Kraken Black Spiced Rum on top of each cup.
Each serving is about 5 ounces. Need more? Double everything, and keep the second batch of base in the fridge to refill the bowl.
How to make a bubbling cauldron, safely
The fog effect comes from dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide at about −109°F. It's safe for decoration when you handle it properly, and dangerous when it's swallowed or touched. The FDA's guidance for food service is clear: dry ice should never be eaten or touch bare skin, and it shouldn't be served in a drink. Here's how to get the look without putting it anywhere near a glass:
- Use two containers. Set your punch bowl inside a larger plastic or metal cauldron, leaving a gap around the outside.
- Put the dry ice in the outer cauldron only. Pour warm water into the gap, then add a few chunks of dry ice with tongs. Fog rolls over the rim of the punch bowl, but none of the dry ice touches the drink.
- Handle it with gloves and tongs. Never touch it bare-handed. Store it in an insulated cooler with the lid resting loosely on top, never in a sealed container or in your freezer.
- Keep the room ventilated. As dry ice turns to gas it releases carbon dioxide, which can build up in a small closed room.
- Keep kids and pets away from the cauldron, and top up the warm water and dry ice as the fog fades.
Would you rather skip the dry ice? A slow cooker dressed up as a cauldron (the "cauldron crock pot" that so many people are searching for) is perfect for a warm brew. Try our mulled wine on the lowest setting.
Prefer bourbon? Blood Moon Punch
Our other Halloween punch is the ruby-red Blood Moon Punch: bourbon, blood orange, apple cider, cranberry and ginger ale, made ahead for 10 to 12. Put out both bowls, green and red, and let guests choose.
An alcohol-free brew for kids and non-drinkers
Make a second bowl with 2 cups of pineapple juice, 2 cups of white grape juice, ¾ cup of lime juice and 3 cups of ginger ale, garnished the same way. Put a clear label on each bowl, and serve the alcohol-free one in different cups so nobody mixes them up.
Spooky garnish ideas
- "Eyeballs": peeled green grapes, frozen overnight.
- Floating limes: thin lime wheels frozen into the ice ring.
- A dark float: a splash of black spiced rum over the back of a spoon.
- Gummy worms hooked over the rim of the cups, for a party with kids around.
For more on batching ahead and garnishing live, see our guide to batching cocktails for a party. And make sure everyone has a safe ride home: settle rides and designated drivers before the first cup.
FAQ
Can you put dry ice in punch?
Not in the drink itself. The FDA says dry ice should never be eaten or touch bare skin, and a piece scooped into a cup can cause serious burns. Put it in warm water in an outer container around the punch bowl so the fog rolls over the top without touching the drink.
How far ahead can I make witches' brew punch?
Mix the spirits and juices the morning of the party and keep them in the fridge. Lime juice is best used the same day. Add the ginger ale and ice only when you serve.
Should I use tequila or rum?
Either works. Blanco tequila gives a brighter, more herbal punch, and white rum gives a softer, rounder one. Use the same amount of either.
How do I make witches' brew punch without alcohol?
Replace the tequila and melon liqueur with white grape juice and keep the pineapple, lime and ginger ale. Serve it from a separate, labeled bowl.
How many people does one batch serve?
About 12 servings of 5 ounces each. Double the recipe for a bigger party and keep the extra base in the fridge for refills.