Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita

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Cocktail History

The Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita is a Halloween cocktail that was created in 2022 by Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest. Somewhat of a cross between a Moscow Mule and a Margarita, the recipe mixes apple cider, tequila, and citrus liqueur with a delicious and thick pumpkin butter and tops it all off with spicy ginger beer.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with fresh-pressed apple juice that’s typically unfiltered to produce a sweet, slightly tangy fruit flavor.

Tequila Blanco: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then left unaged to develop a bright, agave-forward flavor.

Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter orange peels, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, bright citrus flavor.

Spiced Pumpkin Butter: This is a spread made with pumpkin purée, spices, vanilla, salt, maple syrup, apple cider, and brown sugar, which are blended and cooked down into a smooth, rich condiment.

Ginger Beer: This is a carbonated beverage made with ginger root, and yeast or ginger culture, water, and sugar, which are infused with carbon dioxide gas to develop a fizzy, spicy flavor.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet flavor.

White Sugar: This is a sweetener made with refined sugar that has a soft, fine texture and clean, sweet flavor.

Ground Cinnamon: This is a spice. I used Simply Organic Ground Cinnamon.

Ground Cayenne Pepper: This is a spice made from dried and ground cayenne peppers that has a fine texture and hot, spicy flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 The Glass Orchard Apple Cider
• 🔗 Casamigos Tequila Blanco
• 🔗 Cointreau L’Unique Orange Liqueur
• 🔗 Liber & Co. Classic Pure Cane Gum Syrup
• 🔗 C&H Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar
• 🔗 Simply Organic Ground Ginger
• 🔗 Simply Organic Ground Cayenne Pepper

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Mixing Bowl: This is a kitchen vessel made from glass, metal, or plastic that’s used for mixing and preparing ingredients.

Stemless Wine Glass: This is a stemless glass with a rounded bowl and flat base that’s used for serving wine and cocktails in a casual, easy-to-hold style.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Brilliant burnt orange color

• Aroma: Sweet pumpkin layered with subtle earthy agave

• Taste: Thick, milkshake-like texture that blends creamy pumpkin sweetness with the vibrant bite of tequila

• Finish: Lingering apple and warm baking spices round out the sip

Kendall’s Take
“This is pumpkin in all its glory—thick, rich, and packed with seasonal flavor. The pumpkin butter gives the Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita a creamy, velvety texture that feels indulgent, while still leaving plenty of room for the tequila-and-citrus base the iconic Margarita template’s known for to shine. Whether you top it with the optional ginger beer or not (I didn’t), this Halloween cocktail’s a festive, flavorful sipper that celebrates the season in every way.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the publication Half Baked Harvest.