December has arrived, bringing parties, presents and, hopefully, festive cocktails along with it. Serve up this merry candy cane martini to add some holiday cheer to any party, or to unwind after a long day of shopping.

Candy Cane Martini Recipe:
1 ½ ounces vanilla vodka
1 ½ ounces white Crème de Cacao
½ ounces Peppermint
Schnapps
1 peppermint candy, for garnish

For martini rim:
½ cup crushed candy cane (or peppermint candies)
¼ cup simple syrup on separate plates

Place the candy cane or peppermint candies on a plate, cover with a napkin, and crush with a heavy object, or crush the candy in a blender; the pieces should only be a tad larger than coarse sand. Dip the rim of a martini glass in simple syrup and then into the peppermint mixture.

Combine the vodka, white Crème de Cacao, and Peppermint Schnapps in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into the rimmed martini glass. Drop a peppermint candy in the glass and voilà! A Merry Candy Cane Martini!

Reprinted with permission from 101 Martinis by Kim Haasarud. Photographs by Alexandra Grablewski. Copyright © 2006. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., www.wiley.com.

Want more festive cocktail recipes?
Chocolate Martini: shaken or stirred, we’ll take it!
Smashing Pumpkintini