This Halloween Bloody Mary cocktail has all the classic flavors of a bloody Mary but with a spooky twist! It is served with simple-to-make, scary mozzarella, and olive "eyeballs". They are perfect for a creepy-themed brunch or Halloween party. Call it a Bloody Scary, or Scary Mary, either way, you'd be ghool-ish not to try it!
So, if "EYE" am being honest, my husband is usually the cocktail maker in the family. But when Halloween rolls around, I'm happy to take over the bar for this spooky Bloody Mary. It starts with a classic homemade Bloody Mary mix, then gets dressed up with mozzarella and olive eyeballs that are almost too creepy to eat. Almost.
The Bloody Mary itself is savory, spicy, and a little tangy from the dill pickle juice, while the eyeball garnish makes it party-ready without requiring a ton of extra work. Serve these at a Halloween brunch, cocktail party, or anytime you want your drink to look a little more sinister.
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What makes this Halloween Bloody Mary Spooky
- Easy to make for a Halloween party
- Classic Bloody Mary flavor with a creepy twist
- Fun for a spooky brunch or cocktail party
- The mozzarella eyeballs can be made ahead
- Easy to make without alcohol
- The eyeballs double as a fun appetizer
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to make these Halloween Bloody Marys (AKA: Bloody Scary or Scary Mary)
- Tomato juice- Like V8.
- Tabasco sauce- For a little spice.
- Horseradish- Look for prepared horseradish, not creamed or horseradish sauce. Try to use some of the juice so you don't have too much horseradish floating in the cocktail.
- Celery salt- Can substitute regular salt.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dill pickle juice
- Vodka
- Mozzarella pearls- These are small mozzarella balls, and can be found in the cheese section of your grocery store. Look for them packed in water.
- Olives- You can use Spanish pimento olives to have a creepier look, but pitted black olives will also work.
- Celery for serving
- Ice
See the recipe card for quantities.
Equipment
To make these "Scary Mary" mozzarella and olive eyeballs, you will need a melon baller or small teaspoon, and cocktail picks or skewers for serving.
Step by step
Below is a quick visual guide to making these spooky Halloween Bloody Mary eyeballs.
Step 1. Gather your ingredients. You will need mozzarella balls or "pearls" and Spanish green olives or black olives. Remove the mozzarella from the package and pat dry with a paper towel. Begin by slicing the olives thin.
Step 2. Next, using a melon baller or a small measuring teaspoon, scoop out a small hole in the mozzarella. The size will depend on your olives and the size of your cheese.
Step 3. Next, take the sliced olive and wedge it into the hole in the mozzarella to make the "eyeball". You may need to do some trimming if it doesn't fit.
Step 4. With a cocktail pick or skewer, gently pierce the "eyeballs" through the center, just below the olive slice. Use 2-3 balls per cocktail.
*These are abbreviated instructions. The full list of directions is located on the recipe card below.
👩🍳expert tip
To keep the olives in the mozzarella, look for smaller ones. I used a ¼ teaspoon to carve out the perfect hole.
Substitutions and variations
- Store-bought Bloody Mary mix- If you don't want to make your own Bloody Mary mix, feel free to use your favorite store-bought version.
- Vodka- In place of the vodka, try using tequila or mezcal.
- Virgin- Make it virgin and leave out the alcohol.
- Sriracha- Use Sriracha in place of Tabasco.
- Bacon-Swap out traditional celery and garnish the cocktail with some candied bacon.
- Babybel- Swap out the mozzarella for another small cheese such as Babybel.
Making Halloween Bloody Marys for a crowd
Good news! You can totally prepare the Bloody Mary mix ahead. Just mix the Bloody Mary base in a large pitcher and refrigerate until you're ready to serve. Keep the vodka separate so guests can adjust their drinks to taste, then set out a tray of mozzarella eyeballs, celery, and other garnishes for everyone to build their own Bloody Scary.
Storage
Homemade bloody Mary mix can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days. If you are using store-bought mix, check the packaging for storage and shelf life.
You can prepare the mozzarella balls in advance. Once prepared, they can be covered and stored in the fridge. Eat within 3 days for the best flavor.
FAQ
Bloody Marys can be made with bourbon, tequila, or mezcal.
Of course! Just omit the alcohol when preparing the drink.
More fun cocktails
Made this recipe? I'd love to hear about it. Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and comment below the recipe. Snapped a photo? Tag @brunchandbatter on Instagram so I can see your creation!
📖Recipe
Halloween Bloody Mary (Bloody Scary)
Equipment
- melon baller or small teaspoon
- cocktail picks or skewers
Ingredients
- 3 cups tomato juice, such as V8 or your favorite brand
- 3 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- ¼ cup dill pickle juice from a jar of pickles
- 3 teaspoon prepared horseradish
- ¾ teaspoon celery salt
- 1 cup vodka
- celery for garnish
- ice
Eyeball Garnish
- 12 fresh mozzarella pearls (balls) from an 8 ounce container
- 6 pimento-stuffed green olives, pitted
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the tomato juice, Worcestershire, Tabasco, pickle juice, horseradish, and celery salt. Whisk well to combine.3 cups tomato juice, such as V8 or your favorite brand, 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 4 tsp Tabasco sauce, ¼ cup dill pickle juice, 3 tsp prepared horseradish, ¾ tsp celery salt
- When ready to serve, fill a tall glass with ice. Add 6 ounces of Bloody Mary mix and 2 ounces of vodka. Stir gently to combine. This is a suggested serving; however, you can adjust it to your preference.1 cup vodka, ice
- Garnish each cocktail with a celery rib and 3 mozzarella eyeballs on a cocktail skewer.celery for garnish
Eyeball Garnish
- Slice the olives thin, making sure the pimento is still inside. Using a melon baller or small spoon, scoop a small hole out of each mozzarella ball.12 fresh mozzarella pearls (balls), 6 pimento-stuffed green olives, pitted
- Wedge the olive slices into the mozzarella holes. If they don't fit, use a small knife to trim around the edges. When ready to serve, take a long cocktail pick or skewer and place 3 olive eyeballs on it, being careful not to knock the olive out. You may sacrifice one or two before you get them right. No worries, just eat them as an appetizer; I won't tell!
Notes
- Homemade Bloody Mary mix can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days. If you are using a store-bought mix, check the packaging for storage and shelf life.
- You can prepare the mozzarella balls in advance. Once prepared, they can be covered and stored in the fridge. Eat within 3 days for the best flavor.
Nutrition*
*Nutrition information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Actual values may vary based on ingredients, measurements, and substitutions.
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