You know your loved ones will be totally bewitched when they see this Love Potion Cocktail bubbling on the table!
It’s full of fruity flavors and not too boozy, easy to make with pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, a splash of peach schnapps, and a little club soda for that fizzy lift once the dry ice settles.
And if you’re skipping the alcohol I’ve got a mocktail version that’s just as magical for kids, teens, or anyone who wants to join in the fun without the spirits.
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Love Potion Vodka Cocktail - Recipe Notes
I’m all about a versatile recipe that fits the mood, and this one just does. It looks right at home bubbling away in a cauldron for Halloween, but it’s just as good poured into something pretty for date night or a Galentine’s party.
It isn't cloyingly sweet, the pomegranate and cranberry juices keep things just tart enough, even against the sweet peach schnapps. They also make for a gorgeous ruby red color, perfectly done for a love potion.
Ingredients Needed
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pomegranate juice.
- Cranberry juice cocktail - The sweetened stuff in the grocery store, y'all. If you have never had real cranberry juice, trust me, it isn't worth trying it out now.
- Vodka - Strawberry vodka is one of my faves to use here since it gives more berry flavor but you can use just about any fruit flavored.
- Peach schnapps.
- Club Soda.
- Dry Ice - This will give you the smoky, wispy cloud effect. Very spooky.
Ingredient Swaps
- Want to swap fruit juices? You can swap in something like strawberry nectar, though it'll make the drink cloudy.
- No vodka? You can give this a more herbal note with gin or swap in rum instead.
Let's Talk Dry Ice
Dry ice might look like regular ice, but it’s actually solid carbon dioxide and it’s really cold, like -109°F cold.
That means it can cause frostbite if you touch it or try to eat it. Always handle it with tongs, and never swallow a piece or try to eat it.
So how can we use something so cold in cocktails? Because it doesn’t melt, it turns straight from solid to gas (called sublimation). The gas bubbles up from the bottom of your glass, creating those swirls everyone loves, but it doesn't 'melt' into your drink and make it as cold as it is.
Just remember: once the bubbling stops, the dry ice is gone, and then your drink is officially safe to sip.
As for buying it, a home freezer won’t keep it solid so buy it a few hours before you need it max.
You can find dry ice at most big box grocery stores (call before heading there!). I have found it at Kroger stores (Harris Teeter for my Mid-Atlantic folks), some Walmarts, Costco, and Safeway stores.
TL;DR Chef's Tips on Handling Dry Ice
- Use small pieces. About ½ inch per glass is plenty for that smoky effect for up to 5 minutes.
- Tongs only! Never handle dry ice with bare hands. Ever.
- Skip the freezer. Keep dry ice wrapped in paper until you’re ready to serve. Never keep it in an airtight space, it can cause explosions.
How to Make a Love Potion for a Crowd
Instead of making just two love potions, why not make all of your guests fall under your spell?
Mix 2 cups cranberry juice, 3 cups pomegranate juice, 1 cup vodka, and ½ cup peach schnapps together in a pitcher (or food-safe cauldron!). Keep in the fridge until you're about to serve.
To serve it, add club soda until it's topped off of your pitcher or cauldron, then add multiple chunks of dry ice to the cocktail! Garnish with strawberry hearts, maraschino cherries, or fresh raspberries!
What about Making a Mocktail Version?
Without the vodka and schnapps, this would be a nice non-alcoholic and fun drink for date night or to celebrate with your little valentine.
The older kids (I'm talking 8-12 crowd, I wouldn't serve this to the littles with dry ice since toddlers are accident-prone) absolutely love the wispy 'smoke' and bubbling dry ice.
Party-Ready Drinks That Taste as Good as They Look
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Love Potion Cocktail
Ingredients
- ice cubes, for shaker
- 3 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces peach schnapps
- 4 ounces cranberry juice cocktail, or strawberry nectar
- 4 ounces pomegranate juice
- 2 ounces club soda
- dry ice chunks, for serving, optional
Instructions
- In your cocktail shaker, add in regular ice cubes (not the dry ice!), vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and pomegranate juice. Cover with the lid and shake vigorously until the shaker feels cold.ice cubes, 3 ounces vodka, 2 ounces peach schnapps, 4 ounces cranberry juice cocktail, 4 ounces pomegranate juice
- Pour the cocktail into your cocktail glasses, and fill the glasses with club soda.2 ounces club soda
- Using tongs, very carefully add in a pellet or two of dry ice. The dry ice will cause the drink to bubble and create a smoky effect.dry ice chunks
- Serve while bubbling, wait until the bubbles subside before drinking.
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