Nothing takes the edge off the insanity of the holidays like a perfectly crafted shot. Try these 5 holiday recipes; they've got all the warmth, spice, and sweetness you need to feign excitement that your grandma send you a $10 check for Christmas.

Santa Shot

  • 1 part grenadine syrup
  • 1 part crème de menthe
  • 1 part peppermint schnapps

Even the most lifeless party doesn’t stand a chance against this decadent Christmas treat. Take your party from “Jingle Bells” to Tran Siberian Orchestra in a matter of minutes with this delicious cream and mint shot. Start by pouring a third of an ounce of grenadine into the shot glass. Carefully layer the crème de menthe and then the peppermint schnapps. After that, we dance.

Candy Cane Shot

  • 1/2 ounce peppermint schnapps
  • 1/2 ounce Rumple Minze peppermint liqueur
  • 1/2 ounce cream
  • Crushed peppermints
  • Splash grenadine

Christmas just wouldn’t be right without the presence of candy canes. So we decided to crush them up, mix them in with our drinks and create what could possibly be the most addictive shot recipe known to man. Our advice: go easy on the Rumple Minze, it’s ruined many innocent individuals.

Apple Pie Shot

  • 1/2 ounce apple cider/juice
  • 1/2 ounce vodka
  • 1 dash cinnamon
  • 1 dash vanilla

While your mom makes apple pie in the kitchen, mix up a batch of apple pie shots for the entire family. Sure the end result might be kicking, punching and crying, but it won’t overshadow the holiday spirit that lives in every shot of this great American pastime.

Cookie Crust Shot

  • 1/2 ounce almond liqueur
  • 1/2 ounce Irish cream
  • 1/2 Hot Damn cinnamon schnapps

A play on the oatmeal cookie shot, we simply replaced the butterscotch liqueur with Irish cream to complement the almond and cinnamon flavors. Turn up the heat on the party by sprinkling cinnamon on your tongue before taking the shot. It’ll make things interesting.

Gingerbread Man Shot

  • 1/2 ounce Bailey’s Irish cream
  • 1/2 ounce butterscotch schnapps
  • 1/2 ounce Goldschlager cinnamon schnapps
  • Sprinkle with ginger or pumpkin spices
  • Whipped cream topping

It’s been awhile since you made your last gingerbread house. Don’t get down on yourself. Instead, turn toward the booze … gingerbread-style booze, that is. Take three of these and you won’t even care about grandma’s tangential racist rant at the dinner.