Ahh, Halloween. That special time of year when all of your favorite candies come in jumbo bags, and they're usually on sale. If you want to up your Halloween candy and libation sophistication, you'll want to try these Halloween candy and drink pairings for Halloween 2017. A few days ago, after a candy buying spree at the drug store (four boxes for $4!), I discovered that Skittles and Pinot Noir are a perfect pairing for a marathon of American Horror Story, My Roanoke Nightmare, which was just released on Hulu.
If you plan to serve candy as hors d'oeuvres at your Halloween bash you'll want to pair them with beers, booze, and non-alcoholic beverages that will bring out the unique flavors of your Halloween 2017 favorites. A perfect candy-drink pairing can also ensure that your guests don't go into sugar shock from drinking and eating too many sweets. There are a few things that can dictate if your candy-drink pairing will help your monster's ball be a beastly upbeat bash or a bummer that has everyone going into a cranky sugar crash.
"What makes a good beverage pairing is similar to what makes a good friend," Joshua David Stein reported for Esquire. "The ideal companion has considerable character, and that character will allow you to get the most out of your interactions." Basically you want to bring out the best flavors of both your candy and your drinks. Check out these candy-drink pairings that you might have never expected for Halloween 2017. And, bonus — most of these drinks can also be made without alcohol.
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1. Café Y’ Churro & Pumpkin Spice Candy Corn
This perfect fall pairing was brought to my attention by craft beer experts Growler USA, which sent Bustle their favorite candy and beer pairings compiled by craft beer experts who want to make sure you get the most out of your Halloween 2017.
If you haven't heard of Café Y’ Churro, it's a golden imperial coffee cream ale finished with vanilla and cinnamon from Carton Brewing Company. Pair this ale with some Brach's Pumpkin Spice Candy Corn for a sweet Halloween 2017 that really does taste just like fall. If coffee-infused ale isn't your jam, pair your candy corn with a can of Six Point Brewery Sweet Action. Made with Huell Melon hops, an innovative strain first bred in 2014, this cold brew has a unique melon-y aroma, and a smooth Canadian white-wheat finish.
2. Peach Candy Corn Cocktail
This delicious drink also doubles as a dessert, and since you're combining candy and a drink in one glass you'll still have one hand free to do the monster mash. The IZZE Peach Candy Corn Cocktail recipe was shared with Bustle by sparkling juice experts from IZZE, and it's next level. Here's how to make this cocktail for your annual monster's ball. If you want to make some mocktails for your guests who don't drink, just skip the vodka.
- Ingredients: 1 oz pineapple juice, 1 and 1/2 ounces of whipped cream vodka, 2 ounces of IZZE Sparkling Juice Peach, 3/4 ounces of grenadine, whipped cream, 4-6 pieces of candy corn.
- Instructions: Add pineapple juice and whipped cream vodka to shaker. Shake and strain into martini glass. Top with IZZE Sparkling Juice Peach. Sink grenadine down the side of the glass. Garnish with whipped cream and candy corn.
Since the candy corn is in this drink, you can also put out bowls of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Candy Corn Kettle Corn for guests to snack on.
3. Pumpkin Spice Cocktail & Pumpkin Spice Madeleine Cookie
If you're totally obsessed with pumpkin spice food and drinks, consider making your party a pumpkin spice haven by pairing a Pumpkin Spice Cocktail from IZZE with Pumpkin Spice Madeleine Cookies from Sugar Bowl Bakery. While this might seem like pumpkin spice overload for even the most dedicated pumpkin spice aficionado, the heaviness of the drink is contrasted by the light-as-air cookies. And, here's how to make the drink. If you want to make some mocktails for your guests who don't drink, just skip the whiskey.
- Ingredients: 6 ounces of IZZE Sparkling Juice Clementine, cinnamon, sugar, 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin pureé, 1 and 1/2 ounces of whiskey.
- Instructions: Mix cinnamon and sugar together and rim a glass. Then combine IZZE Sparkling Juice Clementine, pumpkin pureé, and whiskey. Pour over ice.
If you want to go even further with your pumpkin spice passion, put some bowls of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn out for everyone to enjoy.
4. Chocolate Bars & Dark Roast Malt Beers
OK, I'm learning a lot from these beer and candy pairings from Growler USA. These craft beer experts have suggested a chocolate lovers dream combo. Basically, you can pair any of your favorite chocolates with your favorite stout. And, if you want to go even further check out one of the many, many chocolate stouts available for your Halloween 2017.
"For candy lovers who prefer the simplicity of milk chocolate candies, this year, try pairing a Hershey’s Bar with the dark-roasted malts found in stouts and porters to complement the chocolate-flavors, like a Rogue Brewing Co. Chocolate Stout or a Left Hand Brewing Co. Milk Stout," Growler USA tells Bustle.
5. Green Apple Matcha Smoothie & Old-Timey Apple Candies
If you're the designated driver, or you just don't drink alcohol, this Green Apple Matcha Smoothie recommended to Bustle by Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a perfect way to still enjoy and epic Halloween 2017 candy-drink pairing. And, you can totally make this smoothie at home. All you need is green apples, banana, matcha green tea, kale, spinach, basil, and lime, all of which you can grab at your local grocery store.
And, since October is also National Apple Month, it's a perfect fall favorite. Consider pairing your smoothie with some old-timey apple candies from Old Time Candy where you can choose from candy crazes dating all the way back to the 1920s.
6. Candied-Apple Cocktail
Since it's national Apple Month, here is another apple drink for your Halloween 2017. The IZZE Candied-Apple Cocktail is basically a dessert in a glass, and it's a great way to bob for apples without sticking your head in a barrel of water and ruining your Halloween makeup. Here's how to make this delicious drink, which can also me made alcohol-free — just skip the vodka and schnapps.
- Ingredients: 2 ounces of IZZE Sparkling Juice Apple, 1 and 1/4 ounces of apple vodka, 1/4 ounces of butterscotch schnapps, 2-3 crushed graham crackers, caramel sauce, 3-4 candied apple slices.
- Instructions: Rim a martini glass with crushed graham crackers and drizzle caramel sauce inside. Add butterscotch schnapps and apple vodka to a shaker. Shake and strain into martini glass. Top with IZZE Sparkling Juice Apple. Garnish with candied-apple slices.
You can also pair this drink with old-timey apple candies because it's fun to say old-timey, and everyone always loves a good throwback.
7. Sour Bears & IPA
I'd never heard of this one until Growler USA suggested it, but pairing a sour candy like Sour Patch Kids of sour gummy worms with an IPA, like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Torpedo IPA or Dogfish Head Craft Brewery 90 minute IPA, makes total sense.
In this case two strongs really do make a right. The strong flavors of the IPA balance out the strong flavors of the sour candy so you won't be overwhelmed by the flavor of either on Halloween 2017.
8. Peanut Butter Cups & Peanut Butter Beer
Who knew there was a such thing as a peanut butter porter or peanut butter stout? Growler USA recommends pairing these beers with your favorite peanut butter cups. For the perfect butter beer you can try a peanut butter porter like Duclaw Brewing Co.’s Sweet Baby Jesus, or Renegade Brewing Company’s Depravity — an Imperial peanut butter stout.
These innovative drink and candy pairings should give you a lot to chew on as you plan for Halloween 2017, because everyone knows that you really want to creep it real, and you're just in it for the boos.
