The season of pumpkin-spice lattes and apple cider has finally arrived, and everyone is getting excited for Halloween. While some people are getting ready to go trick or treating, college campuses are getting ready for the costume parties on Halloween weekend.

Even though going out on Halloween is fun, other alternatives are available to drinking alcohol. If you don’t want to drink or just want a night in, many amazing recipes are available to make creative Halloween-inspired cocktails. Here are some delicious virgin cocktail recipes:

“Hocus Pocus”-inspired drink

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon imitation coconut extract
• 3 drops red food coloring
• 2 drops yellow food coloring
• 1 bottle sparkling white grape juice
• Cranberries if desired

Ingredients for colored sugar

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 5 drops red food coloring
• 5 drops yellow food coloring

Directions

1. Mix pineapple juice, almond extract, coconut extract and food coloring in a pitcher.

2. If desired, coat the rim of a glass with food-colored sugar*.

3. After mixing, pour 2 ounces of the pineapple juice mixture into a glass.

4. Top it off with the sparkling white grape juice and cranberries.

*Add sugar and five drops of red food coloring and five drops of red food coloring in zip-close bag. Knead until color is evenly spread. Place the sugar on a plate and wet the rim of the glass slightly. Turn the rim of the glass in the colored sugar until it sticks.

Candy corn jello shots

Ingredients

• 1 small box lemon jello
• 1 small box orange jello
• 2 packets unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups boiling water
• Cool Whip
• Sprinkles for garnish, optional 

Directions

1. Stir the lemon jello and 1 packet of unflavored gelatin in a small bowl.

2. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved.

3. Add the jello to shot glasses, filling them about halfway.

4. Place jello in fridge for about 20 minutes.

5. Repeat steps one and two with orange jello and unflavored gelatin.

6. Top off the shot glasses with orange jello to create the candy corn appearance.

7. Cool Whip and sprinkles can be added when serving if desired.

Butterbeer

Ingredients

• 2 cups cream soda; if unavailable, apple cider and ginger beer are also an option
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream, softened
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• Dash of cinnamon and nutmeg

Directions

1. Place the cream soda or apple cider in a saucepan until it is heated.

2. While it’s heating, mix vanilla ice cream, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

3. When the soda or cider is hot, pour it in a blender and add the ice cream mixture.

4. Pulse this on high for about five seconds.

5. For serving, pour the butterbeer into individual mugs, and sprinkle a dash of nutmeg on top. 

Should the opportunity arise to stay in and just have a fun night with friends or maybe a Harry Potter marathon, these three recipes will create the perfect Halloween ambiance. They are fun to prepare, taste great and don’t require much time.