Fake Blood Recipe: How to Make Fake Stage Blood and Use It Safely

How the fake blood calculator works

Each batch of the base recipe makes about six tablespoons. The calculator multiplies the number of people by an estimated amount per person for the effect you choose, a few drips, splatter or a big effect, then rounds up to whole batches with a little extra for testing and spills. These are estimates, not measurements, because nobody uses fake blood the same way twice; open “Change the estimate” to set your own amount.

The fake blood recipe

Stir the flour and water together first until there are no lumps, then stir in the corn syrup until smooth. Add red food coloring a few drops at a time, then the tiniest touch of blue, which Science Buddies found makes it look more realistic. For darker, older-looking blood, stir in a little chocolate syrup, which also makes it less see-through. Test the color and flow on a paper plate or an old cloth before it goes near skin or clothes.

How to make fake stage blood thicker or thinner

For thicker, slower drips, add a little more corn syrup or a little more of the flour paste. For a thinner blood that runs and splatters, add water a teaspoon at a time. Fresh blood from a small cut looks brighter and thinner; blood meant to look older or dried looks darker and thicker, so add more chocolate syrup and let it set. Make a small test batch first and adjust, rather than mixing a big bowl you can’t change.

Fake blood safety

Fake blood is for effects on intact skin and costumes only. Keep it out of the eyes and away from the mouth and any broken skin. It isn’t meant to be eaten, so don’t swallow it, and keep it away from young children who might. Patch test a small amount on the arm a day or two before, as the FDA suggests for Halloween makeup, and wash it off at once if the skin itches, stings or turns red. Check for allergies too: the recipe contains flour, which has wheat, and chocolate syrup if you add it.

Fake blood stains: protect clothes and furniture

Food coloring stains. It can leave marks on skin for a day, and it may never come out of clothes, fabric, carpets, upholstery and grout. Wear clothes you don’t mind losing, put down old towels where you’re working, and test the blood on a hidden part of any costume first. Keep it away from car seats and light-colored furniture at a party.

Taking fake blood off

Wipe off what you can with a damp cloth, then wash the skin with warm water and a gentle cleanser. A faint pink tint can last a little while on skin, especially around nails. Rinse stained clothes in cold water as soon as you can and wash them as the care label says; some stains may not come out. Wash bowls and spoons with hot, soapy water.

Using fake blood with face paint

Fake blood goes on last, after any face paint has dried. For a zombie or a Halloween look, paint the base first, then add a few drips from a spoon or a brush, letting gravity do the work. Keep blood effects on the cheeks, chin, neck and hands, never near the eyes. Our face paint ideas picker has original zombie and skeleton designs with steps, and the face paint patch test guide covers testing and removal.

Fake blood for Halloween, school plays and short films

How you use fake blood depends on where it will be seen. For a Halloween party, a few drips along the jaw or down the neck read clearly across a room, so the small effect is usually plenty. On stage, the audience is far away and the lights are bright, so a slightly darker mix with more chocolate syrup shows up better than a bright red one. For a short film or photos, the camera sees every detail, so make a small test batch, take a photo under the same light and adjust the color before the shoot. Plan when the blood goes on, too. It is easiest to add it at the last moment, so it stays wet and shiny and doesn’t get on everything else first.

Making fake blood with kids

Making fake blood can be a fun kitchen project for older children, as long as an adult is in charge. Let them measure and stir, but keep the bottles of food coloring with the adult, because a spilled bottle stains fast. Cover the table, roll up sleeves and keep a damp cloth close. Remind children that it isn’t for drinking, even though it is made from kitchen ingredients, and keep it away from toddlers and pets. Younger children may be happier with face paint scratches or a painted bandage than with wet blood that drips.

Make it fresh and throw away leftovers

This recipe has no preservatives, so make it on the day you need it, or the evening before and keep it covered in the fridge. Stir it again before use, because the flour can settle. If it smells sour, changes color or grows anything, throw it away and make a new batch. Don’t pour a large amount down the sink; scrape leftovers into the trash and wash the bowl.