Make Pumpkin Juice

Besides butterbeer, pumpkin juice is one of the most popular drinks in the Harry Potter universe. Unlike butterbeer, however, pumpkin juice is very good for you! It is packed with nutrients, fiber, and vitamins. It is also very easy to make and even tastier to drink. You can make it to serve at your next Harry Potter party or you can simply make it just for fun!

Ingredients

Simple Pumpkin Juice

• 4 cups (950 milliliters) apple cider or apple juice
• 6 tablespoons (85 grams) pumpkin puree
• 1¼ cup (300 milliliters) apricot or peach nectar
• ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Makes 5 servings

Pumpkin Juice from Scratch

• ½ sugar pumpkin
• 2 cups (475 milliliters) water
• 3 cups (700 milliliters) apple juice
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) apricot nectar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• ½ cup (115 grams) sugar

Makes 4 servings

Steps

Making Simple Pumpkin Juice

1. Pour 4 cups (950 milliliters) of apple cider into a blender. If you don't have apple cider, you can use plain apple juice instead. You will have to add some spices later on to give your juice more flavor, however.
2. Add 6 tablespoons (85 grams) of pumpkin puree. Make sure that you are using plain, canned pumpkin puree and not the "pumpkin pie" kind. The pumpkin pie puree has lots of additional ingredients and your juice won't turn out right.
3. Pour in 1¼ cups (300 milliliters) of apricot nectar. If you can't find any, you can use peach nectar instead. This will help thin out your juice without sacrificing flavor. Avoid just adding more apple cider or apple juice; the apple flavor will be too overwhelming.
4. Add ¼ teaspoon each of pumpkin pie spice and ground cinnamon for extra flavor. If you used plain apple juice, this is a must. If you are using apple cider, however, then you don't have to add it, because it is already spiced.
5. Close the blender and pulse the ingredients until they are all mixed together. From time to time, you may have to pause the blender, and scrape the mixture down the sides with a spatula. This will ensure that everything blends evenly.
6. Taste your pumpkin juice, and make any necessary adjustments. This pumpkin juice will be a little thick, like orange juice or apricot/peach nectar. It won't be thin and clear like apple juice. Make your adjustments based on the list below, and give your pumpkin juice a final blend.
   • If the juice is not sweet enough, add some agave nectar, honey, white sugar, or brown sugar.
   • If the pumpkin juice is too bland, add a little bit more pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.
7. Pour the pumpkin juice into a pitcher, and leave it in the fridge to chill. This will help improve the flavor of the juice. It will also allow the flavors to infuse better.
8. Serve the pumpkin juice cold over ice. For an added touch, you could design some "Pumpkin Juice" labels on your computer, print them onto adhesive paper, and stick them onto some glass bottles. Pour the pumpkin juice into these bottles, and enjoy it that way!

Making Pumpkin Juice from Scratch

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). This recipe requires a little bit more effort, but the results are worth it. It is a great option if you'd like a little more hands-on experience, or if you can't get canned pumpkin puree.
2. Use a serrated knife to cut the top off of a sugar pumpkin then cut it in half top-to-bottom. Make sure that you are using a sugar pumpkin; they are usually sold in the produce section of a grocery store. Don't use a large "jack-o-lantern" type pumpkin. It will give your juice a weird taste and texture.
3. Remove the seeds and pulp. You can do this using a large metal spoon, an ice cream scoop, or even a pulp scooper from a jack-o-lantern carving kit. Discard the pulp; you can save the seeds for roasting or for another recipe.
4. Roast the pumpkin for 45 minutes. Place the pumpkin pieces face down on a baking sheet filled with ¼ inch (0.64 centimeters) of water. Put the baking sheet into the preheated oven, and let the pumpkin roast. You can test whether or not it is done by poking it with a fork. If it's soft, it's done.
   • The water will prevent the pumpkin from burning or becoming too dry. This will give your drink a smoother texture and better taste.
5. Remove the pumpkin from the oven, let it cool, then remove the skin. The skin should peel away easily. If you need to, score some vertical lines in the skin first with a knife, then peel it away. If you need to, use the edge of a spoon to help catch the edge of the skin first. Discard the skin when you are done.
6. Combine the pumpkin and 2 cups (475 milliliters) of water in a blender. Cut the pumpkin into wedges or cubes first, then place it into a blender or food processor. Pour the water over it and blend. Keep blending until the pumpkin and water are evenly mixed. You will get a thick, soupy liquid. This is your pumpkin juice base.
7. Pour 1½ cup (350 milliliters) of your pumpkin juice base into a large saucepan and add the rest of your ingredients. This includes the apple juice, the apricot nectar, vanilla essence, pumpkin pie spice, and sugar. If you have any leftover pumpkin juice base, pour it into an airtight container, and save it for another recipe.
   • For a healthier option, try it with honey instead.
   • For a twist, try it with brown sugar instead of white.
   • If you can't find apricot nectar, you can use peach nectar or pear nectar instead.
8. Stir together the ingredients, then bring them to a boil over medium heat. Keep stirring until the ingredients are evenly mixed together, then wait for them to come to a boil.
9. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. This allows all the flavors to infuse into one another. It also reduces the amount of water in the drink, giving you a more flavorful juice.
10. Chill the pumpkin juice. The easiest way to do this is to fill a large bowl with ice and add just enough water to cover the ice. Then, pour the pumpkin juice into a smaller bowl, and place it into the ice; don't let any water get inside! Stir the juice to let the steam escape, then place it into the fridge once it reaches room temperature.
    • You can drink the juice while it is warm, but many people find that it tastes better while it is cold.
11. Serve the pumpkin juice cold over ice. For an added touch, you could make some "Pumpkin Juice" labels on your computer, print them off onto adhesive paper, and stick them onto glass bottles. Pour the pumpkin juice into these bottles, and enjoy it—just like in the films!

Tips

• You can also boil or microwave your pumpkin in order to soften the flesh.
• If you can't find any apricot or peach nectar, try pear nectar instead. Some recipes also use pineapple juice instead.
• If you have a juicer, skip the cooking steps and juice the pumpkin fresh that way.
• Cosplaying as a character from Harry Potter? Bring some pumpkin juice with you! It will make your experience all the more magical.
• Serve pumpkin juice along with other Harry Potter recipes at your next Harry Potter party!

Things You'll Need

Making Simple Pumpkin Juice

• Blender or food processor
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Large pitcher
• Tall glasses or bottles for serving

Pumpkin Juice from Scratch

• Serrated knife
• Metal spoon
• Baking dish or baking sheet
• Blender or food processor
• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Large pitcher
• Tall glasses or bottles for serving

Related Articles

• Make Holiday Pumpkin Punch
• Make Pumpkin Truffles
• Make Halloween Pumpkin Punch
• Make Pumpkin Craisin Bread

Sources and Citations

See also

• Make a Zinger Juice
• Make Guava Juice
• Make Juice Recipes
• Make Noni Juice
• Perform a Juice Fast
• Juice Wheatgrass
• Make Fruit Juice Gelatin Bites
• Make Passion Fruit Juice
• Make Lemon Juice
• Make Cabbage Juice

Read more ...

What links here

• Hold a Harry Potter Party
• Host a Harry Potter Marathon