I made this Spiced Pear Cocktail for Good Housekeeping online last year for the holidays, but I wanted to be able to share it with you today too in celebration of the season.
Sometimes I feel like poor pears are forgotten somewhere between apples and pumpkin spice. But they are always a warm and cozy flavor you can count on during the fall and early winter seasons.
The Spiced Pear Cocktail in particular is perfect for the holidays because it’s filled with flavors that are comforting and will help to fill you will holiday cheer. I feel like it should be the official drink of sweater weather season.
Oh, and did I mention it’s delicious too?
There’s a little bit of prep work that goes into making the compote mix for this cocktail. However, the good thing is, once it’s made, you can save it for over a week and enjoy it multiple times throughout holiday season.
Picking the pears
For the Spiced Pear Cocktail, I use Bartlett Pears because they’re the easiest for me to find. Bartlett Pears have that perfect “pear” flavor that you probably imagine when you think of pears. When they’re ripe, Bartlett Pears are extremely juicy and have a beautiful, mild sweetness. They will be green in the grocery store but as they ripen, they turn yellow. The Spiced Pear Cocktail recipe speeds up that ripening process because the pears are baked prior to being added to the cocktail.
If you can find them, I also think Bosc Pears would be delicious in the Spiced Pear Cocktail. They are usually a bronze color and have a leaner neck area compared to other kinds of pears. They already come made with an extra little cinnamon and nutmeg flavor right from the start.
Making the Spiced Pear Cocktail for parties
The Spiced Pear Cocktail is a fantastic recipe for parties and holiday celebrations because you can make it by the pitcher. A lot of the cocktails on the website are made by the glass because I generally make them for lazy Friday afternoons when everyone needs a break. But, the Spiced Pear Cocktail is a celebration cocktail for sure. I made it with holiday parties in mind for Good Housekeeping because I wanted something that could be a joyful drink for a crowd.
However, mix it in the pitcher right before serving it. Since one of the main ingredients in this is Ginger Beer, you want to make sure it is still a bit fizzy when serving it for your guests.
Also, you can make this by the glass if you decide that’s what you would prefer. There are instructions for both below.
Alcohol in the Spiced Pear Cocktail
So, in my Spiced Pear Cocktail, the only alcohol is Ginger Beer. Yes, Ginger Beer has alcohol in it. It does not have a lot of alcohol in it. If you want to add more alcohol to this, I would suggest adding a little vodka or rum.
Because this drink is made by the pitcher, I’d say you can add up to ¼ cup depending on your tolerance level. My tolerance level is almost zero so I’d probably only add a tablespoon or two to the mix.
Tips for making the Spice Pear Cocktail
- Make the pear compote ahead of time. It’s easy to make during the day – especially if you’re still working from home – and then save it for the weekend or whenever you need it. I use Ball Canning Jars to save the compote. You can save it for up to 4 days in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
- When adding additional type of alcohol, add a little at a time so you get to a balance that you like. Again, if you want more alcohol I suggest adding vodka or rum.
- Mix the compote and Ginger Beer just before serving so the drink tastes the best.
- Because this recipe is a compote, it won’t be a smooth drink. You will taste bits of the pear throughout.
Looking for more holiday drinks and recipes?
- Pomegranate Pina Colada {HERE}
- Cider Maple Cornish Hens {HERE}
- Spiced Apple Cherry Cider {HERE}
- Classic Steak Au Poivre {HERE}
- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs {HERE}
- Holiday Ham {HERE}
- Butter Herb Turkey {HERE}
- Mulled Wine {HERE}
Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope you will come back and visit again. You can find the full, printable recipe for Spiced Pear Cocktail below. Happy celebrating!
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Spiced Pear Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 Bartlett or Bosc Pears, sliced in half with the seeds remove
- 4 Tbsp. honey, divided
- 3 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, divided Plus more for a garnish
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla
- 3 Tbsp. water
- 3 cans Ginger Beer, chilled
- Garnish: Rosemary springs and cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees to make the Pear compote.
- In a small bowl, combine maple syrup, 3 Tablespoons of honey, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Dredge the cut pears in the mixture, then place face down in a baking dish.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool in pan.
- In a blender, add pears with ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and water, and blend until liquid. Chill for at least two hours or up to 4 days. (This will yield 12 ounces of pear puree.)
- When ready to serve, combine 1/4 - 1/c cup of the pear compote mix and the Ginger Beer. If you want to serve by the glass, combine 1-2 tablespoons of the pear compote mix and top it off with the Ginger Beer.
- Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and extra cinnamon.
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