Devilish drinks, boo brews

A night of rampant tricking and treating calls for boo!-inspired brews to wash down all that sugary booty.

If there’s a chill in the air, why not warm ghouls and guests alike with a haunting hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallow ghosts rising from the steam?

This recipe works equally well with white and milk chocolate. If you’re serving a crowd, consider making batches of both for a nice visual effect. And if you’re pressed for time, instant hot chocolate is fine (though not nearly as devilishly decadent).

This hot chocolate looks best in clear mugs. Or channel your inner witch and purchase inexpensive crystal ball-shaped clear glass candle holders (many craft stores sell mug-sized versions). Be sure anything you use is food safe.

For an adult treat, consider spiking this drink with Irish cream or chocolate liqueur.

If it’s ick-factor you’re after, try a batch of orange ooze, a thick and chilly concoction of orange soda, orange juice and vanilla yogurt. It looks like neon and drinks like a melted Creamsicle.

Shop science and craft supply stores for beakers, test tubes and other unusual glass containers to serve up this experiment gone bad. And for adult tastes, mix in a bit of orange or vanilla liqueur just before serving.

But for maximum gross-out appeal, go with black Halloween punch, a dark and fruity blend of cola, ginger ale and juice drinks. Dismembered floating hands add a real chill to this drink – literally.

This punch is kept cool with ice “hands” made by filling rubber gloves with water, then freezing them overnight. Float one hand in the black brew and hook the other over the side of the bowl. Food coloring also can be added to the water in the hands.

And for grown-ups, a bit of vodka mixes well with these severed appendages.

Orange Ooze

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

6-ounce container vanilla yogurt

1 cup orange juice

3 cups orange soda, divided

Whipped cream, optional

In a blender, combine the yogurt, orange juice and 1 cup of orange soda. Puree until creamy. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays (it should take about three) and freeze, at least two hours.

Once the mixture has frozen, place the cubes in the blender. Add remaining orange soda and puree to frappe consistency. If desired, serve topped with whipped cream.

Yield: 6 servings

Approximate nutrition per serving, without whipped cream: 102 calories, less than 1 gram fat (less than 1 gram saturated, 4 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 23 grams carbohydrate, 1 milligram cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 34 milligrams sodium.

Haunting Hot Chocolate

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

2 1/2 cups whole milk, divided

2 cups milk or white chocolate chips (about 1 bag)

1 teaspoon almond extract

Whipped cream

6 purchased marshmallow ghosts

In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of milk over medium heat. Add the chocolate chips and cook until completely melted, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes.

Add remaining milk and almond extract and cook, stirring frequently, until very hot, but not boiling. Ladle into individual mugs, then top each with whipped cream and a marshmallow ghost.

Yield: 6 servings

Approximate nutrition per serving: 377 calories, 21 grams fat (13 grams saturated, 50 percent fat calories), 7 grams protein, 41 grams carbohydrate, 30 milligrams cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, 103 milligrams sodium.

Black Halloween Punch

2 rubber gloves

One .16-ounce envelope unsweetened grape drink mix (such as Kool-Aid)

One .16-ounce envelope unsweetened orange drink mix (such as Kool-Aid)

2 cups white sugar

3 quarts cold water

1 liter ginger ale

1 liter cola

Fill the gloves 3/4 full with cold water. Tie the open end in a knot, as you would a balloon. Lay one flat in a small baking pan. Arrange the other palm down on a freeze-safe jar, allowing the fingers to hang down the side. Freeze both overnight.

Once the hands have frozen, combine the drink mixes, sugar and water in a large punch bowl. Stir until the mixes are completely dissolved. Stir in the ginger ale and cola.

Briefly run the ice hands under cool water then cut away the glove. Add the hands to the punch and serve immediately (the fingers melt quickly).

Yield: About 20 servings

Approximate nutrition per serving: 116 calories, no fat, 29 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, no dietary fiber, 10 milligrams sodium.