So, you’re looking to host the McDermott House Murders: A Haunted House Murder Mystery, and need some ideas for the party?
We’ve got you covered with a selection of food, drink, and décor recommendations that will have your guests dying to take part!
Need some recipes for some spooky drinks? Or perhaps your guests will prefer their libations to be shaken, not scared. Here are a few ideas for drinks both with and without alcohol.
No one makes cocoa like they used to anymore, but now you can, with our Old-Fashioned (definitely not poisoned) Hot Cocoa. Stove-top cocoa just like Nana used to make, this recipe makes a rich, indulgent drinking chocolate that’s made for cozy nights and spooky stories. It’s sweet, sinful, and even, perhaps, to die for.
DIRECTIONS (MAKES 4 DRINKS)
STEP 1 – In a 2-quart saucepan, place the chocolate, sugar, milk, and salt. Over medium-low heat, stir gently with whisk until the chocolate melts and the mixture is well blended.
STEP 2 –Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
STEP 3 –Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and top with a spoonful of marshmallow creme or whipped cream, if desired.
Chase away thoughts of those dark deeds done on dark nights with potentDark Deeds Shooters. Unique black-colored vodka swirling against the classic Bloody Mary ingredients may unsettle some, but not you. This recipe shows you how to make your own Bloody Mary mix from scratch, but it can be simplified by substituting your premade Bloody Mary mix of choice. Don’t worry, we won’t tell.
If you want to make your own Bloody Mary mix, here’s a great recipe. If you’d prefer to keep things simple, just grab a mix from the store and skip these steps!
DIRECTIONS FOR BLOODY MARY MIX:
Pulse celery in a food processor until finely chopped. Add 2 cups tomato juice and puree until smooth. Transfer to a pitcher and stir in remaining 4 cups tomato juice, lemon juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, celery salt, hot sauce, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.
Next, here’s all the ingredients you’ll need to make a couple of Dark Deeds Shooters!
DIRECTIONS (MAKES 2 SHOOTERS)
STEP 1 –Stir together equal parts salt and pepper on a small plate. Rub lemon wedge around the rims of two double shot (3-ounce) glasses. Dip rims into salt and pepper mixture. STEP 2 –Pour 2 ounces Bloody Mary mix into bottom of each glass (reserve remaining Bloody Mary mix for another use). Holding a spoon upside down over the top of the glass, slowly pour 1 ounce vodka over spoon into each glass (vodka should sit on top of Bloody Mary mix and create a layer of black). Garnish with celery.
What terrible things have these hands done? Well, we certainly couldn’t say. One thing we will admit, they’ve done something delicious here. This punch is sweet and tart and refreshing, which you’ll certainly be needing. Nothing like the unquiet dead to leave one thirsty, after all. Truthfully, we doubt it’s the bloody hands in the punch bowl that you’ll have to worry about.
DIRECTIONS (SERVES 20+)
STEP 1 – Pour the cranberry juice, pineapple juice, lemonade concentrate, and ginger ale, and vodka, if using, into a punchbowl and stir. Make sure you leave enough room for your spooky ice sculptures! STEP 2 – For the hands, fill the food safe glove ¾ full with water (or use juice so you don’t water down your punch). Tie them like a balloon, or twist the end and use a strong clamp to keep it closed and lay as flat as possible in the freezer (possibly on a tray).
STEP 3 –When frozen solid, take them out of the freezer and very gently cut the gloves off using small scissors or knife. Be careful not to break the fingers!
STEP 4 – Add them to the punch just before your guests arrive.
NOTE: Chill the juices and soda and add as close to party time as you can so the icy hands don’t melt too quickly!
An empty stomach solves no mysteries, so how about giving your guests a leg up with some spooky treats that will leave their hearts pounding and their bellies full!
Have a monstrous sweet tooth? How about these darkly delectablespiderweb brownies? This spooky treat is an easy creation as the recipe uses your choice of boxed brownie mix as the base. It’s the magic of making the marshmallow spiderwebs that revamp these brownies from basic to beastly!
DIRECTIONS (YIELDS 12)
STEP 1 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9”x13” baking pan with cooking spray.
STEP 2 – Prepare brownie mix according to box instructions. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or according to box instructions. Let cool to room temperature, then cut into squares.
STEP 3 –Microwave marshmallows until gooey and melted, about 30 seconds. (It’ll still look lumpy.) Using a fork, stir until smooth and let cool slightly.
STEP 4 – Using two forks, stretch about a tablespoon of the melted marshmallow into a thin strand to drape over the brownies. Repeat to create a web-like pattern. Serve immediately or store for 1-2 days.
Spooky, scary skeletons! Well, maybe not too scary. This spookyskeleton veggie trayis as adaptable as it is easy. We’ve provided suggested veggies and arrangement, but you can swap out as needed to suit tastes and availability. Be the host with the most by making sure guests are actually getting some veggies in their diet for once!
DIRECTIONS (SERVES 6)
STEP 1 – Place a bowl of Ranch dip or any favorite veggie dip at the top of your tray. This will be the head! Use broccoli florets (or a lettuce leaf) at the top of the bowl for “hair.” Use a couple small pieces of broccoli (or olives or grape tomatoes) for the eyes.
STEP 2 – Stack the cucumber slices in a vertical column in the center of the tray, going down from the bowl, then add the bell pepper ribs off each side of the spinal column. Next pile on the sliced mushrooms as the pelvis, beneath the spine and the ribs.
STEP 3 –Add carrot sticks (or celery sticks or more sliced peppers) for the arms and legs. Use broccoli florets (or cauliflower) as elbow and knee joints, and also for the feet and hands.
STEP 4 – Serve and enjoy!
In case you want to take your Murder Mystery experience to the next level, here are some cost-effective decoration ideas to help pull off that Haunted House vibe!
🕸️ SPIDER WEBS 🕸️
Stick them in a dark corner, stretch them out over doorways, weave them anywhere you’d like! This classic Halloween decoration is both affordable and easy to work with, making it a great addition to any spooky party!
🕯️🕯️🕯️ CANDLES 🕯️🕯️🕯️
Candles play an important role in the McDermott House Murders, so having a few (or several) around the playing area is a great way to immerse your guests in the experience! If you’re worried about open flames, you can always opt for the battery-operated versions.
🎵 MUSIC 🎵
It’s your party, so you can play whatever music you’d like! However, since this is a Haunted House themed Murder Mystery, we recommend keeping it spooky. YouTube has plenty of “Haunted House Background Music” selections to help set the tone for your big event! Happy Haunting!
