Spooky Sips

Tis the season to mix up some frighteningly good cocktails and mocktails and say cheers to Halloween.

Dracula’s Brew

This blood-red potion is the perfect tribute to every wonderful Dracula ever, from Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. to George Hamilton and Gary Oldman. (Go to Parade

.com/dracula for our quiz about the Transylvanian devil.) Fill a saucer with black sanding sugar (such as Wilton). Run 1 lime wedge around rim of a chilled martini glass. Roll rim in sugar; set aside. Combine 2 oz applejack, 1 oz fresh lime juice and ½ oz grenadine in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well; strain into prepared glass. Garnish with 1 Creepy Cocktail Eyeball. Serves 1.

The Gremlin

Matcha—finely ground green Japanese tea—is a trendy ingredient in cocktails and lends the perfect ghoulish hue to this toast to that horrifying classic Gremlins.

You’ll find matcha powder at natural food stores, international markets and online. Sprinkle a layer of matcha powder and sugar evenly in a saucer. Run 1 lime wedge around rim of a rocks glass. Gently press rim into matcha-sugar mixture, rolling to coat evenly. Combine ½ oz vodka, ½ oz heavy cream, ½ oz simple syrup, enough matcha powder to tint cocktail as desired and ice in a cocktail shaker; shake. Strain into prepared glass over ice. Dust with additional matcha. Serves 1.

The Pumpkinhead

This mocktail is an homage to the 1988 horror movie— you guessed it—Pumpkinhead. Blend 2 oz warm milk with a hand blender or batteryoperated whisk 3 minutes or until foamy. Combine 7 oz ginger beer, 1 oz canned pumpkin puree, 1 oz lemon juice and ice in a highball glass. Stir. Top with milk foam. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and add a cinnamon stick. Serves 1.