We are less than 3 weeks from Halloween – and I present to you this spooky, ready-for-Halloween Blackberry Thyme Prosecco Fizz! If you haven’t already, it’s time to bust out all your creepy decorations and get those Halloween recipes ready for the big night. Which happens to be on a Thursday this year, can we all be excited that it’s not on a dumb day like Tuesday? Anywho, I decided to give this fall cocktail a little smoky, spooky look which will be perfect for your partaaaay.
I love adding herbs to my cocktails for the amazing complexity and aromas they lend to them – with the thyme, it adds that amazing aromatic touch without adding more sweetness or tanginess. The blackberry syrup lends a gentle sweetness and brightness to the drink, with the thyme riding in on it’s coattails with it’s floral herbaceousness. Top it off with a dry prosecco, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
If you’re going to be hosting a Halloween party, you could definitely make a big batch of this cocktail – it’s easy enough to make a lot, plus you can just stick it in a punch bowl add some dry ice to get the smoky/spooky look. Just be sure none of your guests drink the dry ice!! That would be seriously bad.
how to use
Dry Ice in Cocktails
Let’s start with a safety note, shall we? Dry ice is actually frozen carbon dioxide and has a surface temperature of -109.3°F, so NEVER ingest it or handle it without gloves! It can cause frostbite or burns to the skin. Be careful of inhaling too much of the “smoke” – it can make you dizzy.
The safest way to use dry ice in cocktails at a party is to put the dry ice and some water into a larger punch bowl (or witches cauldron), then set your smaller punch bowl filled with the cocktail on top…the dense dry ice fog will just ooze out from under the bowl and create a really cool spooky effect.
For individual cocktails, use tongs to place a small chunk of dry ice directly in the drink. It will bubble and fizz, so be careful not to use too big of a chunk – one or two 1/2″ chunks worked for this recipe. This ice will evaporate instead of melting, so no need to worry about watering down your drink. Once it’s evaporated, it’s safe to drink!
Where to Buy Dry Ice
A lot of major grocery retailers like Walmart, Safeway, and Harris Teeter sell dry ice at the front of the store, usually near the freezers that house the regular ice. Unlike regular ice, dry ice is sold in block or pellet form and will probably be in a box or styrofoam. A lot of party stores sell dry ice as well. Keep an eye out at your local store next time you’re in and you might see a shorter cooler, maybe with a penguin and a big ole’ “dry ice” sign on it! If all else fails, just Google “where to buy dry ice near me” and you’ll figure it out.
Shop for This Recipe
Blackberry Thyme Prosecco Fizz
Ingredients
- 12 oz prosecco
- 2/3 cup blackberries
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 5-10 sprigs thyme
Instructions
- Add blackberries, water, and sugar to a small pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling for 5 minutes or until blackberries can be easily mashed with the back of a spoon. Mash the blackberries until they are all burst.
- Turn off heat and add thyme sprigs. Allow to steep for 3-5 minutes, then strain out liquid with a fine mesh.
- Divide blackberry syrup among 3 coupe glasses. Top with prosecco and garnish with additional blackberries and thyme, if desired.
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