Can I make the Applebee’s Shark Bowl without alcohol?

Yes. Simply skip the rum and use lemonade or coconut water instead. Use blue curaçao syrup instead of liqueur.

What can I use instead of blue curaçao?

You can replace it with blue raspberry syrup, sports drinks, or pineapple juice with a bit of blue food coloring.

Can I prepare the drink ahead of time?

Yes. Blend the mixture without soda, freeze it, and re-blend with soda before serving.

Does this taste like the Applebee’s version?

This homemade version closely matches the restaurant flavor, especially with the right citrus and blue curaçao balance.

What gummy sharks should I use?

Any brand works, including Haribo, Bulk Barn, or store-brand gummy sharks.

Applebee's Shark Bowl: 5-Minute Powerful Recipe You Need

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Picture this: a giant glowing blue slushy loaded with Captain Morgan spiced rum, coconut rum, blue curaçao, and pineapple vibes, finished with a fierce gummy shark “attacking” the rim. It’s sweet, tangy, dangerously drinkable, and perfect for Shark Week parties, pool days, summer barbecues, or whenever you want to feel like you’re on island time.

Table of Contents

This homemade Applebee’s shark bowl is ready in just 5 minutes, costs a fraction of the restaurant price, and you control the strength. Make it for two or scale it up for a crowd – everyone will be fighting over the last sip. Dangerous? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely.

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes | Servings: 4–6 (one giant 52–60 oz bowl)

Equipment for the Perfect applebee’s shark bowl

Equipment	Purpose	Quick Tip
High-powered blender	Creates the thick frozen slush	Vitamix, Ninja, or Blendtec
Large fishbowl glass	Iconic 52–100 oz Shark Bowl look	Amazon or party stores
Jigger or measuring cup	Perfect pours every time	1–2 oz jigger is best
Long crazy straws	Fun sharing experience	Bendy or shark-themed
Ice scoop or large spoon	Easy serving without mess	Keeps your hands clean

Ingredients

For the Shark Bowl Cocktail

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum	6 oz	The star – don’t substitute!
Malibu Coconut Rum	3 oz	Adds that tropical coconut kiss
Vodka (optional but recommended)	2 oz	Smooths everything out – many locations use it
Blue Curaçao	5 oz	Gives the electric blue color
Pineapple juice	16 oz (2 cups)	Dole or 100% juice
Sweet & sour mix	10 oz	Store-bought or homemade (see homemade below)
Ice	6–8 cups	Crushed or cubed
Lemon-lime soda (Sprite/7UP)	8–10 oz	Added after blending for fizz
Grenadine (optional)	1–2 oz	For “shark blood” drizzle

Garnishes

Garnish	Amount	Notes
Gummy sharks	6–10	Must-have! Haribo or Trolli
Pineapple slices	4–6	Fresh or canned
Maraschino cherries	8–10
Orange or lemon wheels	As desired
Shark fin stirrers (optional)		Amazon sells them cheap

Homemade Sweet & Sour Mix

½ cup fresh lemon juice
½ cup fresh lime juice
¾ cup simple syrup (or ½ cup sugar dissolved in ½ cup hot water)

Step-by-Step Instructions – Foolproof Even If You’ve Never Made a Cocktail

Fill your blender about ¾ full with ice (6–8 cups).
Pour in Captain Morgan spiced rum, Malibu, vodka (if using), blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and sweet & sour mix.
Blend on high until it reaches thick slushy consistency – about 30–45 seconds. If too thick, add a splash more pineapple juice. Too thin? More ice.
Pour the electric blue slush into your fishbowl or large punch bowl.
Slowly pour lemon-lime soda over the top – watch it fizz and create that cool layered ocean effect.
(Optional drama) Drizzle grenadine around the edge so it sinks like “shark blood.”
Load the rim with gummy sharks biting the glass, pineapple slices, cherries, and orange wheels.
Add crazy straws and serve immediately!

Your homemade applebee’s shark bowl is ready to attack!

Pro Tips for the Best applebee’s shark bowl Ever

Use crushed ice if your blender struggles with cubes – it blends faster.
For stronger bowls, add an extra shot of rum on top (we won’t tell).
Make it prettier: freeze pineapple juice in ice cube trays the night before – prevents watering down.
Want that glowing effect? Add a tiny blacklight/LED ice cubes (safe ones sold for parties).
Batch it: this recipe scales perfectly – just double or triple for a punch bowl that serves 12+.

Serving Ideas That Will Blow Minds

Shark Week watch party with Jaws playing in the background
Pool parties – float the whole bowl in an inflatable shark
Birthday parties – write the birthday kid’s name in grenadine “blood”
Bachelorette or divorce parties – rename it “Ex-husband Bowl”
Halloween – add dry ice for fog (food-grade only!)
TikTok videos – this drink was literally made for going viral

Storage Tips

Best enjoyed fresh – alcohol doesn’t freeze solid, but the slush will melt. If you have leftovers (rare), store in freezer up to 24 hours. Re-blend with a little pineapple juice before serving again.

Variations & Substitutes

Virgin Shark Bowl → Replace rum & vodka with coconut water or coconut milk + extra pineapple juice. Still looks exactly the same!
Tipsy Shark (stronger) → Add 2 oz 151 rum floater
Blue Hawaiian Shark Bowl → Add 2 oz cream of coconut for creamy version
Captain’s Shark Bowl → Skip vodka and coconut rum, go heavy on Captain Morgan only (closer to some locations)
Low-Sugar Version → Use diet pineapple juice, sugar-free sweet & sour, zero-sugar sprite, monk fruit sweetener

Healthier/Lighter Options

Use light rum instead of spiced rum alternative (like Captain Morgan sliced)
Replace sweet & sour with fresh citrus + monk fruit sweetener
Use sparkling water instead of lemon-lime soda
Cut alcohol in half and add more pineapple juice – still tastes great

Expert Notes from a Former Applebee’s Bartender

“I worked at Applebee’s for three years – the real Shark Bowl uses Finest Call sweet & sour and a proprietary ‘blue tropical’ mix, but the closest home version is heavy pineapple, blue curaçao, and Captain Morgan. The vodka isn’t on the official recipe but almost every location adds it because it makes the drink smoother and gets you there faster. The gummy shark is non-negotiable – without it, it’s just a blue drink!”

Nutritional Information (per serving – ⅙ of bowl, ~10 oz)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	~420
Carbohydrates	52g
Sugars	48g
Alcohol	~2.5 standard drinks

Conclusion: Make This Applebee’s Shark Bowl

The ultimate homemade Applebee’s Shark Bowl recipe that delivers every ounce of restaurant magic (and more!) in just 5 minutes. This electric-blue, tropical-slush masterpiece is guaranteed to steal the show at every gathering, whether it’s Shark Week, a pool party, or just a random Tuesday that deserves some fun.With Captain Morgan, coconut rum, that perfect blue glow, and those adorable gummy sharks on the attack, this Applebee’s Shark Bowl recipe is ridiculously easy, insanely shareable, and completely customizable — virgin or extra-boozy, you decide. One sip and your friends will swear you secretly work at behind the bar!

Save this Applebee’s Shark Bowl recipe, stock up on blue curaçao and gummy sharks, and get ready to hear “Can you make that Shark Bowl thing again?” every single weekend. The most dangerous drink on the internet is now officially yours. Cheers to epic nights and even better memories — now go make your own legendary Applebee’s Shark Bowl!

Read Also:

Yard House Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe – Homemade & Delicious

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How strong is the homemade Applebee’s Shark Bowl?

A: With the recipe above, it’s about 11–13 standard drinks total in the whole bowl. Split between 4 people = ~3 drinks each. Split between 6–8 = very reasonable. You control the strength!

Q: Can I make the Applebee’s Shark Bowl non-alcoholic?

A: Yes! Skip the alcohol, add 2 oz coconut milk or cream of coconut + extra pineapple juice. Kids and pregnant friends go wild for the virgin version – tastes almost identical.

Q: Where do I buy gummy sharks?

A: Amazon, Walmart, Party City, or even the movie theater candy aisle. Haribo and Trolli make the best-looking ones. Get extras – people steal them.

Q: My drink isn’t bright enough blue – help!

A: Some blue curaçao brands are weak. Use DeKuyper or Bols for the most vibrant color. Add 2–3 drops blue food coloring if needed (it’s already in curaçao, but extra makes it glow).

Q: Can I make the Applebee’s Shark Bowl ahead of time?

A: You can mix the liquid base (no ice) up to 6 hours ahead and keep chilled. Add ice and blend right before serving for best texture. Or freeze the slush in zip bags and re-blend when guests arrive.