With a gummy worm garnish, the Purple People Eater is a hit on Halloween. It can be adapted for the underage set by substituting fruit juices for the alcohol.
Spirits to warm undead hearts this Halloween
October 21, 2008
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Whether you're hosting a party or just warming up after tricking-and-treating, "spirits" are a fine way to get your ghoul on.
This recipe for a Warm Harvest Martini gets a sweet start from a caramel sauce coating on the rim of the glass, then goes down smooth and toasty. Use a jarred caramel sauce intended for topping ice-cream sundaes (if it's too thick, heat it briefly).
The Purple People Eater is a sweet, easy cocktail with plenty of spook appeal. For a variation, fill an ice-cube tray with gummi worms, add water and freeze. Use the frozen worm cubes instead of the worms called for in this recipe.
For a kid-friendly version of the Purple People Eater, ditch the alcohol and serve a blend of grape soda and cherry juice in the prepared glasses with gummi worm garnish.
Warm Harvest Martini
60 ml (2 oz) apple cider
60 ml (2 oz) vodka
15 ml (1/2 oz) vanilla liqueur
30 ml (2 tbsp) caramel sauce
Pinch cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick, for garnish
In a 250-ml (1-cup) microwave-safe measuring cup, combine cider, vodka and vanilla liqueur. Heat mixture in microwave until warm, but not boiling, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
Pool caramel sauce in a shallow bowl. Overturn a wineglass and dunk the rim in the sauce, twisting it to coat well. Turn the glass right side up. Pour martini into the wineglass, then sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Makes 1 serving.
Purple People Eater
1 lime wedge
Orange crystal or decorating sugar
2 gummi worms
90 ml (3 oz) tequila
90 ml (3 oz) triple sec or other orange liqueur
45 ml (1 1/2 oz) Chambord
Ice
Use lime wedge to wet the rim of 2 martini glasses by rubbing it along the edges.
Spread orange crystal sugar evenly in a small plate. Overturn glasses, then one at a time dip them in the sugar, twisting gently until the sugar coats the rims. Turn glasses right side up, place one gummi worm in each and set aside.
In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, triple sec and Chambord. Add ice and shake well. Strain mixture into prepared glasses. If desired, add fresh ice.
Makes 2 servings.