Cocktails that will bring good cheer to your guests

Some drinks are holiday classics -- eggnog, hot toddys and mulled wine come to mind. But if you really want to impress your guests this holiday season, whip up some of these festive drinks.

Ginger, honey and apple martinis

Ingredients 1 1/3 cups Ginger Simple Syrup

1 1/2 cups 100 percent apple juice, chilled 1 cup dark rum, chilled 1/2 cup club soda or sparkling water, chilled Ice 1 green or red apple, unpeeled, cored and thinly sliced

Directions In a pitcher, combine the simple syrup, apple juice, rum, and sparkling water. To serve, fill a martini shaker with ice and add about 1 cup of the rum mixture. Shake well and pour into martini glasses. Garnish with apple slices and serve.

Ginger Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 (2-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

Directions In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water and ginger over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes. Strain before using. Source: Giada De Laurentiis

Vanilla Peppermint Martini

Ingredients Candy canes 2 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka 1 ounce peppermint schnapps Lime Fresh mint Ice

Directions Crush your choice of candy canes to rim the martini glasses. If you don't want to rim with crushed candy canes then just dangle a miniature candy cane on the rim of each glass. Chill the martini glasses by filling with crushed ice and cold water. Remove the water and ice from martini glasses. Wet glass rim with lime wedge and coat with crushed candy canes. Pour vodka and schnapps in a shaker over crushed ice and shake well. Strain peppermint martini into glass and add mint sprig. Source: Muy Bueno Cookbook

Pear and sparkling cider sipper

Ingredients 2 cups pear nectar, chilled 2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled 2 cups seltzer, chilled 4 ounces (1/2 cup) bourbon whiskey, such as Knob Creek 1 Bosc pear, unpeeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges

Directions Stir together pear nectar, cider, seltzer, and whiskey in a pitcher. Divide pear wedges among glasses, and pour in cocktail. Serve immediately.

Eggnog martini

Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice, plus more for garnish 8 cups whole milk 6 large egg yolks 3 cups brandy

Directions Set a large fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl. Place bottom of bowl in an ice bath; set aside. Off heat, in a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, and pumpkin-pie spice. Gradually whisk in 4 cups milk, taking care to incorporate the cornstarch. Whisk in egg yolks. Whisking constantly, cook over medium heat until the first large bubble sputters, 10 to 12 minutes. Reduce heat to low; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute more. Remove from heat; immediately pour through sieve into bowl. Stir in remaining 4 cups milk. Let cool completely in bowl still set in ice bath. Just before serving, stir in brandy, and ladle into glasses; garnish with pumpkin-pie spice.

Mexicocoa

Ingredients 1 tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp. cinnamon Pinch of chili powder Pinch of cayenne pepper 3/4 cup almond milk (can substitute Irish Creme, coffee-flavored liqueur or milk) Splash of agave nectar (can substitute honey or maple syrup) 1 oz. silver tequila Paprika Cinnamon stick

Directions In a saucepan over low heat add the cocoa powder, cinnamon, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Toast until spices begin to release their aromas, about a couple of minutes. Using a small whisk or wooden spoon, slowly incorporate the almond milk. Raise the temperature to medium-high and bring to a slow simmer. Stir in the agave nectar and remove from the heat. Rim a mug by dipping into a saucer of water, blotting and dipping into saucer of paprika. Pour in tequila. Add hot cocoa mixture. Stir with a cinnamon stick and serve. Source: foodnetwork.com