Spiced Pear Mocktail: Vanilla, Cinnamon & Star Anise
This Spiced Pear Mocktail is a delightful blend of warm spices and ripe pears, elevated by a hint of vanilla. Perfect for any occasion, it’s a sophisticated non-alcoholic drink that everyone can enjoy.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- Fresh Ripe Pears
- 1 cup of water
- 1/4 cup of maple syrup or agave nectar (adjust to taste)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole star anise
- 5 to 6 whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- Sparkling water or club soda
- Ice cubes
- Garnishes: fresh thin pear slices, a cinnamon stick, a whole star anise, a vanilla bean pod, or a sprig of fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Prepare the Spiced Pear Syrup: Peel, core, and dice the fresh pears into small, even pieces.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the diced pears, about one cup of water, your chosen sweetener, two cinnamon sticks, two whole star anise, and five to six whole cloves.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pears are incredibly soft.
- Infuse the Vanilla: Once the pears are soft, remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Let the mixture sit for another 5-10 minutes off the heat to allow the vanilla to meld with the pear and spice flavors.
- Strain and Cool the Syrup: Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, pressing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and let the syrup cool completely.
- Chill the syrup in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
- Assemble Your Mocktail: Fill a glass with ice cubes. Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of the chilled spiced pear vanilla syrup over the ice.
- Top the glass with sparkling water or club soda.
- Garnish and Serve Immediately: Stir gently to combine the syrup with the sparkling water. Add your chosen garnish and serve immediately.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: The spiced pear vanilla syrup can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Adjust sweetness and spice levels to your preference, and ensure all components are chilled for the best experience.