Nothing says “Happy New Year!” like a midnight kiss and a toast. But who wants to fight the crowds at major New Year’s Eve parties, only to receive a small flute of champagne?

Instead, consider spending the night safely at home by hosting a party for your friends and loved ones, and celebrate the possibilities of the future with holiday-appropriate drinks to enjoy at your new home. If you’re going to ring in the New Year, you’ll need a few cheer-worthy cocktails to start 2010 off right. And just like your party-hosting personality, all of the drinks listed below sparkle.

Champagne Punch (from Cliff.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Cointreau (orange liqueur)
• 1 cup brandy
• 6 bottles sparkling wine
• Crushed ice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 small orange, sliced thin
• 1 lemon, sliced thin
• Whole strawberries

Directions:

In a large champagne punch bowl, mix orange liqueur, brandy and champagne. Add ice, sugar and slices of orange and lemon. Stir until blended. Garnish with strawberries and serve in punch cups.

Poinsettia Cocktail (from FoodNetwork.com)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup Champagne or sparkling wine
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• Crushed ice
• 2 strips orange zest, each about 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches long

Directions:

Combine the vodka, Champagne and juice in a large-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice and stir until the mixture is well chilled. Twist the orange strips over the glass, drop them in, and serve.

Giggle Juice (from Epicurious.com)

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, chilled
• 5 cups lemon-lime soda, chilled
• 2 cups white grape juice, chilled
• 6 limes, thinly sliced crosswise

Directions:

Make an ice block by filling a medium metal bowl with water, and freeze overnight. To make the punch, in a large punch bowl, stir together wine, soda, and grape juice. Add lime slices. Just before serving, remove ice block from freezer and defrost just long enough to be slipped out of bowl, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to punch bowl and serve immediately.

Marasca Fizz (from FoodandWine.com)

Ingredients:

• 3 maraschino cherries, plus 3/4 ounce syrup from the jar
• Superfine sugar
• 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
• 2 brown sugar cubes
• 1/2 ounce Cherry Heering or cherry liqueur
• 4 ounces chilled Champagne

Directions:

Moisten the outer rim of a flute with 1/2 ounce maraschino cherry syrup and coat with superfine sugar. Sprinkle the bitters over the sugar cubes. Add the Cherry Heering, maraschino cherries and the remaining 1/4 ounce of maraschino cherry syrup to the flute. Top with the Champagne and add the sugar cubes.

Champagne Mojitos (from FoodandWine.com)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups packed mint leaves, plus 12 mint sprigs, for garnish
• 6 limes, cut into wedges
• 2 cups light rum
• Cracked ice
• 3 cups Champagne or sparkling wine

Directions:

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and cook over high heat just until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool to room temperature. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the mint leaves and lime wedges and muddle well with a wooden spoon. Add the rum and stir well. Strain the drink into another pitcher. Fill tall glasses with cracked ice and pour in the drink, filling them about two-thirds full. Top with Champagne, garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.