Description
This Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail is a cozy and refreshing non-alcoholic drink featuring a sweet and tangy blend of D’Anjou pears, fresh oranges, pure maple syrup, and warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Topped with ginger beer and garnished with rosemary, this mocktail offers a perfect balance of flavors and is ideal for any occasion. Completely vegan and can be easily adapted into an alcoholic version.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 medium D’Anjou pears, sliced (skin on)
- 1 orange, sliced (skin on)
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 2 cups filtered water
Additional Ingredients
- 1 orange, freshly-squeezed
- 2 Tbsps pure maple syrup
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- Ginger beer, for topping
- Rosemary sprigs, optional for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Wash and slice the D’Anjou pears and the whole orange (with skin on) into thin slices to extract maximum flavor during cooking.
- Sauté the fruit and spices: In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced pears, orange slices, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice. Sauté gently for 5 minutes until the fruit begins to soften.
- Add maple syrup and water: Pour in 1/4 cup pure maple syrup and 2 cups of filtered water into the saucepan. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer to infuse flavors: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, allowing the spices and fruit to infuse the liquid.
- Strain the mixture: Using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, strain the warm spiced pear and citrus liquid into a pitcher, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids afterwards.
- Mix fresh orange juice and syrup: Add the juice of 1 freshly-squeezed orange, 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, and a pinch of ground cinnamon to the strained mixture. Stir well to combine.
- Chill the mocktail base: Place the pitcher in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour or until cold.
- Serve the mocktail: Fill serving glasses halfway with the chilled spiced pear citrus mixture. Top with ginger beer to add a fizzy finish. Garnish each glass with a sprig of rosemary if desired for an aromatic touch.
- Optional alcoholic variation: For an alcoholic version, add a shot of whiskey or bourbon when preparing the cocktail for an added warming depth.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm D’Anjou pears for the best flavor and texture in the mocktail.
- If you prefer a less sweet drink, reduce the maple syrup amount slightly to taste.
- To make the drink ahead, prepare the spiced fruit mixture and keep it refrigerated; add ginger beer just before serving to maintain fizz.
- Rosemary sprigs add an aromatic garnish but can be omitted if unavailable.
- The mocktail is naturally vegan, gluten free, and can be served warm or chilled depending on preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 394 kcal
- Sugar: 66 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 85 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
