Fake Blood for Halloween: 3 Easy Ways to Make It

While it's easy to buy fake blood, it's more fun to whip it up in your kitchen laboratory with ingredients you have in your pantry. Plus, it'll save you a last-minute run to the costume store the night before Halloween!

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Fake blood for Halloween
Photo: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock

Fake blood for skin

Fake blood that comes in contact with your skin or mouth needs to edible. Also, this type of blood needs to be slightly runny. After all, fresh blood is the best for dripping and splattering!

  • 3/4 cup corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon red food colouring
  • 5 drops blue food colouring
  • 2 drops green food colouring
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch

Combine the water and corn syrup. The corn syrup will make the blood a bit viscous—you want it runny, but not too runny. Add the food colouring. (Using green and blue makes the colour more realistic.) Finally, mix in the cornstarch. This will thicken the mixture a bit more. Let is sit at room temperature for ten minutes before use. Note: this will stain skin and clothing.

Find out how to make Halloween decorations using laundry baskets.

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Fake blood for Halloween
Photo: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock

Fake blood for clothes

For clothes, you will need to make the blood a bit thicker and darker. This recipe is non-toxic and also made with edible ingredients. Ideally, you’d want to make a bigger batch of this fake blood so you can thoroughly soak your costume. This recipe uses “parts” versus exact measurements for the corn syrup and water. That way, you can make as little or as much as you like. You’ll need:

  • Corn syrup
  • Water
  • Red food colouring
  • Cocoa powder

Mix three parts corn syrup thoroughly with one part water in a large bowl. Add a couple of drops of red food colouring into the mixture while stirring continuously. Keep adding more drops of food colouring until the blood is the desired colour. Stir for at least five minutes to distribute the food colouring evenly. Add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the mixture and stir. This thickens the blood. Keep adding the cocoa powder, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the consistency you desire. The blood will be thick but not lumpy, so it can sit on your clothing and absorb without running.

Get in the spooky spirit by trying one of these Halloween costumes for work.

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Fake blood for Halloween
Photo: SeventyFour/Shutterstock

Fake blood for guts

A batch of fake blood and guts is perfect for a haunted house, Halloween decorations, or as part of your creepy costume.

For the guts:

  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 4 teaspoons water
  • 2-5 drops red food colouring
  • 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder

Mix together the cornstarch, food colouring, and water in a bowl. Mix until you have a smooth consistency. Then, mix in the cocoa powder—small clumps are okay, it will look like blood clots. Use your fingers to press the mixture against the side of the bowl to form organ shapes. You may wish to mix in a little more cornstarch or cocoa mix to firm up or darken your organs.

For the blood:

  • 2/3 cup chocolate syrup
  • 1/3 cup laundry detergent
  • 4 to 6 teaspoons red food colouring

This blood is not edible and should not come into direct contact with your skin.

Combine the chocolate syrup, laundry detergent, and food colouring. Mix until it’s a smooth consistency. Arrange the guts into whatever shape you desire. Cover the flesh and organs with the fake blood. If you want the blood to be a bit runnier, thin it out with water and a few drops of red food colouring.

Next, read up on the Halloween etiquette rules everyone should follow.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published on Reader's Digest