"The Great Pumpkin Coffee" Cocktail (Inspired by "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown") (BOTB 2022 Day 8) Recipe

 

Bring Out the Boos 2022

Day 8: "The Great Pumpkin Coffee" Cocktail (Inspired by "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown")

By: The Film Bartender

    Charlie Brown and his gang are among some of the most famous cartoon characters of all time. They have been around for over fifty years, and multiple generations have grown up watching both the classic and newer Peanuts cartoons. Throughout the years, they have made many seasonal and holiday-inspired films, such as the classic "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", which is the inspiration for our fun coffee cocktail today! 

    The Peanuts cartoons were created by Charles M. Schultz, with the first cartoon strip that ran on October 2, 1950. They included classic characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, Lucy, Sally, Linus, etc. They followed Charlie and his group of friends as they navigate life and school, which kids of all ages read and watched the cartoons growing up. In addition, they also follow the adventures of his dog, Snoopy, and his bird friend, Woodstock, turning them into possibly the most popular characters from the entire cartoon canon. The gang of characters is especially popular during the latter half of the year, with them having huge ties in Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Charlie Brown gang is still very relevant today, with the characters serving as the mascots of Knott's Berry Farm in California, as well as the Peanuts cartoons being adapted into modern animated films.

    Like mentioned above, the Peanuts gang are no strangers to holiday specials or seasonal themed films. The one that serves as inspiration today is the 1966 short film, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". The short film is directed by Bill Melendez, and adapted from the classic Schultz cartoon strip set around the Halloween holiday. The film focuses on the entire gang celebrating Halloween, going trick or treating and having fun doing the holiday's festivities. However, Linus, who is the little boy that carries around a security blanket with him wherever he goes, wants to look for the Great Pumpkin, who he believes will rise on Halloween night and bring presents to all of the good little boys and girls. This short film is perhaps one of the most famous Peanuts cartoon short films, as well as their classic Christmas movie, "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

    Our drink today is directly inspired by the title of the short film, putting an alcoholic spin on the classic pumpkin spice Frappuccino. Not only does this serve as a great Fall seasonal drink, but it can add a spooky twist on a classic coffee beverage. Drinking it may not summon the Great Pumpkin, but it will provide you a good time nonetheless. 

Ingredients:

- 1/2 oz Milk

- Ice

- Black Coffee Grounds

- 1 cup Water

4 oz Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

- 2 oz Whiskey

- Caramel Drizzle

Directions:

1. In a coffee pot or Frappuccino maker, add the Coffee Grounds and Water to brew a pot of black coffee. 

2. In a mixing glass, add the Milk and Ice, and strain the coffee into the pot. 

3. After the coffee is strained into the mixing glass, add the Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer and Whiskey. In a mixer, mix all of the ingredients together until the ice is fully broken up and dissolved. 

4. In a mason jar, add Caramel Drizzle to the edges of the inside of the glass. Take the mixing glass and pour the Frappuccino into the mason jar glass. 

5. Serve.

Film Fact: Lucy's signature move of pulling the football away from Charlie Brown as he's about to kick it, which causes him to fly through the air and land on his back, was animated for the first time in this short film. As a result of this and the fact that Charlie Brown only received a rock in his trick or treat bag, children all over the United States sent candy to the animated boy out of sympathy after the Halloween special aired. 

    Now you have made your own boozy Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino! Whether you're making this for your next Halloween party or your next viewing of "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", or even if you're making this to get a little kick in the mornings, this drink is sure to be a massive hit among coffee lovers! This wonderfully concocted drink is both a lot of fun to make and to drink, and will give everyone that same childlike feeling of watching this Halloween special for the first time! 

    This is Day 8 of my Bring Out the Boos 2022 Halloween Event, where I make a new drink every day in the month of October inspired by a classic Halloween or Horror movie to celebrate the Halloween season. I have made drinks inspired by films like "The Shining" and "The Evil Dead", and there is still so much more to go! Check back tomorrow to see my next drink for this special Halloween event! Until then, happy drinking!