DIY pumpkin keg and harvest sangria recipe

Put the punch bowl away and serve this year's Halloween cocktails in a pumpkin keg. This fun and seasonal centerpiece, full of delicious harvest sangria, is for adults only. Don't let the kids smash this pumpkin!

DIY pumpkin keg

What you’ll need:

• 1 large pumpkin
• Sharp carving knife
• Spoon
• Power drill with 3/4-inch drill bit
• Beer faucet and shank kit

Directions:

1. Select a pumpkin with a flat spot on one side for easiest tapping.
2. Cut a circle into the top of the pumpkin and remove to create a lid. Clean out the pumpkin well, removing seeds and pulp with your hand. Using a spoon, scrape the inside of the pumpkin so it is very clean, leaving no soft or loose pulp. Let pumpkin sit at room temperature with lid off for one or two days to dry out.
3. To insert the beer faucet, remove the nut from the shank. (Do not use the black plastic washer that comes with the kit on the front of the pumpkin. You will get a better seal without it.)
4. Using a power drill fitted with a 3/4-inch drill bit, drill a hole into the side of the pumpkin as far down toward the bottom as possible. Screw the beer shank completely into the pumpkin, then screw the nut onto the shank tightly inside the pumpkin.
5. Fill pumpkin keg with harvest sangria (recipe below) and replace the lid on pumpkin. (Do not fill keg with cocktail until the last minute as the pumpkin can start to soften and absorb the liquid if left sitting too long.)

Check out this step-by-step tutorial on how to insert the beer shank >>

Harvest sangria

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1 (750 mL) bottle dry white wine
• 1 (750 mL) bottle sparkling apple cider or juice
• 8 ounces spiced rum
• 2 ounces triple sec

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher. Chill.
2. Pour into a pumpkin keg, if desired.
3. Serve over ice.

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Easy, no-bake Halloween candy
Zombie cupcakes