How to Make Fake Blood

Learn how to make fake blood at home using simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen. This easy recipe creates fake blood that dries realistically, can be made edible, and works perfectly for costumes, Halloween makeup, and DIY projects.

Scary Halloween costumes rely on one thing to make it or break it; a good fake blood recipe. The deep red accents that a good fake blood gives set off the costume and more often than not, complete the final look. The best part is that you don’t really need to spend a ton of money at the grocery store or specialty store on it. In fact, you can make a realistic looking fake blood that is edible and non-toxic right with items from your very own pantry.

I am not going to lie. There is something incredibly satisfying about making this mixture. Partly because it’s so simple; just pour the ingredients into a bowl and mix them together. But also, because it’s kind of cool watching the color develop and come together. Speaking of color, this one is completely customizable and can be made as red or as browned as you would like.

What are the ingredients in fake blood?

There are a lot of ways to make fake blood, but the version I rely on uses chocolate syrup, light corn syrup, and red food coloring. The corn syrup gives it that thick, sticky consistency, the chocolate syrup adds depth and darkness, and the food coloring brings the vivid red color to life. The three ingredients come together to create an edible fake blood that really does mimic the more expensive store bought stage bloods.

I have seen other recipes use ingredients like a tablespoon of cocoa powder and cornstarch, and I am sure those work just as well. I have just never seen the need for the added ingredients. The core idea of each recipe is the same though; start with a sweet, syrupy base and layer in food-safe coloring until it looks just right.

How to make the most realistic fake blood?

Getting realistic results is all about adjusting color and consistency. Too much red food coloring can leave it looking cartoonish. Too little, and it can look too brown instead of deep red. Adding chocolate syrup helps darken the shade to mimic the way real blood dries over time. If it needs to be even darker, a drop of blue or green food coloring can add shadows to the mix, but are absolutely not necessary.

I usually start with 5 drops of food coloring and add in groups of three until I get the color I want. This gives me a bit more control over things and makes sure that I don’t end up with a color I don’t want.

The texture also matters. For fresh-looking drips, keep it thin enough to run slowly. You can thin it out more by adding a bit more chocolate syrup. For older-looking bloodstains, stir in extra syrup or even powdered sugar to thicken it so it sticks to fabric or dries better on skin. I personally prefer a wet look so I don’t add anything except the three ingredients in the recipe card.

Does fake blood look like real blood?

Yes, but how close it looks depends on the ratio of ingredients you use. A brighter mix with more red food coloring will look fresh and glossy, while a darker blend with extra chocolate syrup will look older and more dried out.

Another thing to consider is what surface it’s on. On pale skin, it tends to look more vibrant. On darker fabric or in low light, a slightly thicker and darker mix will be more convincing. So it really is not a one size fit all approach. It’s a mix what you need approach.

How to Use Fake Blood

Since this homemade fake blood is a wet blood, you’ll want to be very careful to avoid getting it in places that will stain. You will end up with a bright red mess if you’re not careful. With that said, I have found the easiest way to use it is to use a flicking motion.

Outside works best. Trust me on that.

You can also use an old washcloth with a dabbing motion to cover fake wounds if you would like. For a fruit punch mouth look, dip a washcloth into the mixture and bite down on it making sure to get the lip area and above the lips. Then, wipe the area around the lips off leaving just a red residue resembling fruit punch. Using it this way is great for DIY zombie costumes to mimic flesh wounds or for a haunted house and since this fake blood oozes, it’s great for scaring unsuspecting people.