Fake Blood

$3 - $5 (based on 2016 prices)

Makes eight ounces of blood

For years, my brother and I bought fake blood from party stores. Although the pre-mixed bottles were convenient, they were rather expensive, especially if the haunt involved chaotic bloodbaths. We stumbled on this recipe a while ago. Once you perfect the blending process, you can achieve realistic results. To do this, add the red food coloring slowly, gradually creeping up on the sanguine color. You can also substitute the blue food coloring for green or yellow to give the blood different tones.

• One cup corn syrup
• One tablespoon water
• Two tablespoons red food coloring
• Half a tablespoon blue food coloring
  

1. In a plastic container (because the food coloring will stain, use something disposable or that you won’t mind dying), combine the corn syrup and water, adding the red food coloring slowly to the mixture until it achieves the sanguine hue you desire. To give the blood further density, add blue food coloring and mix well.

2. You can thicken the mixture by adding small amounts of corn starch or red toothpaste. Likewise, you can thin the blood by adding more water. 

• Helpful hint: to reduce the stain’s impact, add dish soap into the mixture. Keep in mind, though, that this will not wholly prevent the dye from staining and it will make the fake blood inedible.