Pumpkin juice is a lightly spiced fruit juice made with apple cider, apricot nectar, pumpkin puree, and cozy fall spices. Serve it chilled over ice or warmed up in a mug!
Recipe summary
Flavor/texture: Like an extra-flavorful apple cider. Pumpkin juice tastes like apple cider with hints of apricot, pumpkin, and fall spices.
Origin: Pumpkin juice is from the Harry Potter book series. It's served at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and special occasion feasts.
Serve warm or chilled: Just like apple cider. Great for any weather!
Yield: About 80 ounces
More Harry Potter: Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Apple cider - Apple cider is a seasonal, non-alcoholic, uncarbonated beverage in the US that is commonly found in the fall months. It's essentially an unfiltered apple juice, and may be labeled as cloudy apple juice in other countries. If you can't find apple cider, apple juice can be used instead.
- Apricot nectar - This may be the toughest ingredient to find on the list. I found apricot nectar and apricot juice (either will work) at my local grocer in the juice aisle. It may be sold in cans or bottles. If you can't find apricot nectar, peach or pear nectar will also work in a pinch.
- Spices - Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice can be substituted with an equal amount of pumpkin pie spice if you have it on hand.
- Pumpkin puree - For this recipe, you'll need a 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree. Make sure you're using pumpkin puree, which has no additional ingredients (just pumpkin), not pumpkin pie filling. The difference is that pumpkin pie filling has added sugar and spices, which would make the juice too sweet and heavily spiced.
- Vanilla extract - Enhances the flavor of the pumpkin juice. Can be omitted if desired.
How to make Pumpkin Juice
- Whisk together apple cider, apricot nectar, pumpkin puree, and spices over high heat.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Tips and tricks
Use a whisk - Use a whisk to fully incorporate the pumpkin puree with the rest of the ingredients.
To serve cold - Allow your pumpkin juice to cool to room temperature after cooking, then serve over ice. Keep leftovers in a pitcher in the refrigerator. This is my preferred method - the pumpkin flavor really shines when served cold!
To serve hot - Serve immediately after cooking. After storing leftovers in the refrigerator, reheat on the stove top over medium heat until warm, then serve.
Stir leftovers - Give leftovers a stir before serving because some of the ingredients can settle over time.
Frequently asked questions
It tastes mostly like apple cider with added spices. It's a mix between apple cider and pumpkin pie - it's smooth, sweet, and lightly spiced.
This recipe was inspired by the beverage frequently mentioned in the Harry Potter fantasy book series. Served like orange juice in the muggle (non-magical) world, it is enjoyed at every meal and is usually served cold.
The only place you can buy pumpkin juice is at Universal Orlando in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter land.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Pumpkin Juice
Ingredients
- 64 ounces apple cider, or apple juice
- 16 ounces apricot nectar , or peach nectar
- 15 ounces canned pumpkin puree
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, add apple cider, apricot nectar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Whisk to combine.
- Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pumpkin juice can be served hot or chilled and served cold. Stir juice just before serving as ingredients may settle.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- What is cider? Apple cider in the US is an unfiltered apple juice that's non-alcoholic and made with just apples. It may be labeled as cloudy apple juice in other countries. If you can't find apple cider, it can be substituted with apple juice.
- Storage: Juice will keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
- Spices: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice can be substituted with 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.
Can this be frozen until ready to serve?
Sure! Pumpkin juice could be made ahead of time, frozen, and thawed the day before in the refrigerator.