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33 Spooky-Sweet Shots Perfect For Halloween

When candy alone won't cut it.

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apple pie bourbon shots with apple slices and cinnamon sticks in little mason jars
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

One guaranteed to way to get a party started? Shots, of course! Especially during Halloween. From creepy wiggly Jell-O shots to shots featuring all your fave fall flavors (hello, PSL), these bloody, glow-in-the-dark, pumpkin-flavored, and candy-infused shots are as festive as it gets. The best part? They’re all totally customizable, so check out these 33 Halloween shots for ideas, then have some spooky fun creating your own.

When it comes to Halloween party shots, we think Jell-O is the way to go. It’s already a little weird and creepy, so it does most of the work for you. It’s als0 strangely versatile—turn it into a massive party shot to share, like in our brain big batch Jell-O shot or our bloody big batch Fireball Jell-O shot; give it wild colors or fun shapes, like in our candy corn Jell-O shots (even mellow creme haters will love these) or our Hocus Pocus Jell-O shots; or serve it in seasonal fruit, like in our Fireball apple Jell-O shots or our caramel apple Jell-O shots. Feel free to mix and match here too—Jell-O comes in a variety of fun flavors you can sub in to these recipes as you like.

Not feeling the Jell-O? You could go just a little less solid with one of our many pudding shots, like our pumpkin pie pudding shots, our caramel apple pudding shots, or our Reese’s pudding shots. Or go for more of a two-sip situation with our Fun Dip shots, our Washington apple shots, our Jolly Rancher shots, or our apple pie bourbon shots. Looking for something totally wild? Grab a blacklight and some tonic water, then take inspo from our cotton candy shots to turn it into a shot that GLOWS.

Want even more Halloween inspiration? Check out our Halloween cocktails that go beyond shots, our fave Halloween snacks, and our best Halloween appetizers too.

1

Apple Pie Bourbon Shots

apple pie bourbon shots stacked in a pyramid
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you're truly looking to get your party started this holiday (or if you're a bourbon fan), then these apple pie bourbon shots should be a must-have at your next gathering. All you need are a few ingredients—apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg—to infuse your own bourbon that tastes just like your fave fall dessert.

Get the Apple Pie Bourbon Shots recipe.

2

Margarita Slushy Shots

blackberry, raspberry, pineapple, and strawberry slushy margaritas in margarita style shot glasses
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sure, you can make classic frozen margaritas, but if why not get the party started with these adorable slushy shots instead? All you need is tequila, lime juice, honey, and ice to blend up your margarita shots, then you can creative with your fruity flavors and additions.

Get the Margarita Slushy Shots recipe.

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3

Candy Corn Jell-O Shots

candy corn jello shots
Michelle Cordero

Don't judge these Jell-O shots by how you feel about the candy. You'll be glad to know, thanks to whipped cream vodka and citrus-flavored Jell-O, these taste more like Creamsicles than mellow creme.

Get the Candy Corn Jell-O Shots recipe.

4

Sour Patch Jell-O Shots

sour patch jell o shots
Emily Hlavac Green

Turn everyone's favorite sour candy into Jell-O shots. Be warned: These really take the catchphrase, "first they're sour, then they're sweet" to heart.

Get the Sour Patch Jell-O Shots recipe.

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5

Bloody Mary Syringes

bloody mary syringes
Kat Wirsing

Shots out of a syringe? Only on Halloween.

Get the Bloody Mary Syringes recipe.

6

Fireball Apple Jell-O Shots

fireball apple jell o shots
Emily Hlavac Green

Skip bobbing for apples at your Halloween party, and make these Fireball Jell-O shots instead! Our best tip for success—don't skip the lemon juice! It prevents the apples from browning while the Jell-O sets up in the fridge.

Get the Fireball Apple Jell-O Shots recipe.

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7

Hocus Pocus Jell-O Shots

hocus pocus shots
Chelsea Lupkin

These Jell-O shots are a MUST for your Hocus Pocus watch party this year. Complete your spread with our Binx cookies and our Hocus Pocus s'mores pops too.

Get the Hocus Pocus Jell-O Shots recipe.

8

Jolly Ranchers Shots

jolly ranchers shots
Jonathan Boulton

This is two recipes in one—one for making Jolly Rancher vodka (😱) and then one for turning it into these rainbow shots.

Get the Jolly Ranchers Shots recipe.

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9

Halloween Jell-O Shots

halloween jell o shots
NAOMI ROBINSON

These wiggly layered shots taste as creepy good as they look, thanks to grape-, melon-, and peach-flavored Jell-O.

Get the Halloween Jell-O Shots recipe.

10

Washington Apple Shot

washington apple shot
PHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; FRANCESCA ZANI

Don’t be quick to sling your head back on this one. If you’re a bar hopper shot taker, this isn’t quite what you’re looking for. Instead, this tiny cocktail made up of apple schnapps, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice is crisp and refreshing, perfect for sipping on slowly.

Get the Washington Apple Shot recipe.

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11

Cotton Candy Shots

blue, colorfulness, liquid, ice, majorelle blue, electric blue, aqua, cobalt blue, drinking straw, plastic,
Ethan Calabrese

Fun fact: Tonic water glows under blacklight, meaning it's the perfect ingredient for these spooky shots. Try flavored vodka for an added burst of flavor if you like things extra sweet.

Get the Cotton Candy Shots recipe.

12

Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots

pumpkin pie pudding shots
Emily Hlavac Green

Pumpkin pie and pudding? Trust us, the two belong together. Fireball adds some more cinnamon flavor to the shots, but you can sub with all vodka if you prefer.

Get the Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots recipe.

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13

Caramel Apple Jell-O Shots

caramel jell o apple shots

These are like caramel-infused, spiked cider—with a crisp (and okay, jiggly) finish.

Get the Caramel Apple Jell-O Shots recipe.

14

Oreo Jell-O Shots

oreo jell o shots
Parker feierbach

The ultimate trick: These fake-out Oreo shots look JUST like everyone's favorite sandwich cookie (so make sure the kids don't see 'em!).

Get the Oreo Jell-O Shots recipe.

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15

Brain Big Batch Jell-O Shot

brain big batch jell o shot
Jonathan Boulton

This big-batch Jell-O shot sits right on the edge of tasteful and trashy. The combination of Cool Whip and strawberry Jell-O gives it a strawberries and creme flavor and a campy hot pink color—think Barbie's brain, not Abby Normal's (where our Young Frankenstein stans at?).

Get the Brain Big Batch Jell-O Shot recipe.

16

Glowing Jell-O Shots

glowing jell o shots
Ethan Calabrese

To really make these shots glow, use only tonic water—not half tonic, half tap water—but fair warning: It'll make the shots a little bitter, so feel free to add a little sweetness or go for a flavored vodka if you like.

Get the Glowing Jell-O Shots recipe.

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17

Sour Apple Jell-O Shots

caramel apple jell o shots
Charlie Gillette

We soaked Jolly Ranchers in vodka to infuse these shots with real candy flavor and have zero regrets. If you've ever had a Tootsie Caramel Apple Pop, this shot tastes exactly like it—only it's easier to eat and better for a party.

Get the Sour Apple Jell-O Shots recipe.

18

PB&J Jell-O Shots

pbj jell o shots
Parker feierbach

For many of us, Halloween is a chance to act like a kid again...while also drinking like an adult. These shots are just what you never knew you needed—they're nostalgia at its finest!

Get the PB&J Jell-O Shots recipe.

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19

Butterbeer Jell-O Shots

butterbeer jell o shots horizontal
Jon Boulton

Harry Potter fans, get ready—these Jell-O shots are the perfect accompaniment to a Wizarding World watch party. Complete the theme with our Sorting Hat cupcakes too.

Get the Butterbeer Jell-O Shots recipe.

20

Suicide Squad-Inspired Shots: The Harley Quinn

harley quinn shots
Vineet Sawant/Chelsea Lupkin

This shot's sweet-yet-tart, just like the star of the movie (BTW, DC Comics/Warner. Bros have nothing to do with this recipe—we're just huge nerds fans and wanted to pay tribute!).

Get the Suicide Squad-Inspired Shots: The Harley Quinn recipe.

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