Mulled Cider with Winter Spices (Credit)
Serves 12.

12 cups apple cider
1/4 cup orange juice
Peel (orange part only) from 1 orange, cut into strips
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole cloves
2 whole allspice berries
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups applejack brandy (optional)

Mix first 10 ingredients in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer mixture 30 minutes to blend flavors. Strain mulled cider into mugs. Serve cider, passing applejack brandy separately, if desired.

Witches' Brew (Credit)
Makes about 13 cups.

For spice syrup
2 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup sugar

A chilled 25.4-ounce bottle sparkling cider (about 3 1/4 cups)
A chilled 1-quart bottle cranberry juice cocktail
A chilled 1-liter bottle club soda or seltzer water
1 cup dark rum if desired

For serving: Ice blocks in any shape

Make spice syrup: In a small saucepan bring syrup ingredients to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved, and simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Cool syrup. Syrup may be made 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.

In a punch bowl combine remaining ingredients and strain syrup through a fine sieve into punch. Stir punch and add ice blocks.

Blood-Red Cocktail
Serves 1.

1 1/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz Chambord
Splash of cranberry juice

Mix all in a shaker with ice. Strain into a glass

Halloween Schnapps

1 bottle apple schnapps
1 bottle cinnamon schnapps
Red hot sauce

Mix equal amounts of schnapps in shot glasses and add a drop of hot sauce to each one.