How to Make a Fake Blood Stain

If you're in need of fake blood for a Halloween costume, Halloween decor or even a horror film, chances are high that you already have everything you need in your pantry. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up your own batch of nontoxic fake blood.

This fake blood tutorial is great for anything from fake scabs to fake guts and is especially ideal for creating blood stains on clothing. You can also tailor your mixture to your own needs whether you need it to look lighter, darker, thicker or thinner. So, grab a mixing bowl and let's get to it!

To start, combine 1/4 cup water, 3/4 cup corn syrup and a few drops of red food coloring in a mixing bowl. Once everything is well combined, add 1 tsp. of cocoa powder to thicken your mixture. You'll notice that the cocoa powder also darkens the fake blood, making it look more realistic. If you want your DIY fake blood to be thick and dark, you can add 1 Tbsp. of cocoa powder.

From here, you can customize your batch of fake blood for your own needs. If you're creating special effects on the body, you'll likely want a thicker mixture. You can add 1 Tbsp. of chocolate syrup, which will thicken and darken your fake blood concoction. You may want to add a few more drops of red food coloring as well. Another option is to add cornstarch, but do so sparingly and sift the cornstarch first to avoid clumping.

If you're making fake blood stains on clothing, you may want your mixture to be a bit thinner. You can achieve this by adding more water. Start by adding 1 Tbsp. Test the thickness and then add more water if necessary, adding 1 Tbsp. at a time.

If you're creating a scab or need the blood to look a bit old, you may want your mixture to appear darker. You can add a drop of blue or green food coloring to achieve this but do so sparingly. You don't want to end up with brown!

If you want the blood to be textured, you can experiment with adding coffee grounds. This will make your fake blood look coagulated and help you create clots.

Be sure to test your mixture before adding it to your costume or decor. Try spooning a small amount of your DIY fake blood onto a white paper towel or rag. Or, if you need to create more of a splattered effect, you can use an old paintbrush and splatter the fake blood onto a paper towel or rag.

And there you have it—your very own realistic fake blood, perfect for creating a blood-stained shirt or fake wound. No trips to the Halloween party store are necessary! You might even need to assure your guests that it is indeed ‌not‌ real blood.