Spiced Pear Juice

Sure, you could buy pear juice at the store. But is it going to make an impression? Probably not. Instead, make a big batch of my Spiced Pear Juice to use in cocktails all season long. When I did a side-by-side comparison of my homemade version and the store-bought version… there was no comparison. My version won hands down. Pears offer a unique alternative to apples during fall hosting. With the addition of seasonal citrus and spices, this pear juice is, dare I say it, even better than apple cider (*gasp*).

How to Make Spiced Pear Juice

1. In a large pot, combine the pears, orange quarters, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom pods, nutmeg, brown sugar, lemon juice, and water.
2. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer uncovered for approximately 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the pears are very soft and the liquid is fragrant.
3. Remove from heat and discard the orange quarters and whole spices. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the softened pears to a blender along with some of the cooking liquid. Blend until smooth, adding more liquid as needed. Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly int he pot if you have one.
4. Strain the blended pears through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl or pitcher, pressing gently to extract the juice. Stir in additional strained cooking liquid until you reach your desired consistency.
5. Stir in the vanilla extract and taste, adjusting sweetness if needed. Allow to cool completely before transferring to airtight bottles or jars.
6. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days, or freeze for longer storage.

Tips and Tricks

• Choose ripe pears! Bartlett pears are wonderful here because they’re naturally sweet and soften beautifully when cooked. Bosc and Anjou work, too.
• Don’t overdo the sugar. Depending on how ripe your pears are, you might not need much at all. Start small and adjust to taste, you can always at more at the end… sugar melts fast!
• Immersion blender is your friend. Instead of transferring to a blender, use an immersion blender (if you have one) directly in the pot before straining the pears.
• Crock Pot it. Instead of simmering on the stove, you can make this juice in a slow cooker for 4 to 5 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.
• Make it ahead. This is a great little weekend project before hosting. You can also freeze portions for future cocktails.

How to Use Spiced Pear Juice

• Drink it straight up like you would apple cider.
• Add it to pear cocktails to give them a fresh, seasonal pear flavor. Try it in my Pear Gin Fizz, Pear Whiskey Sour, Pear Gin Sour, and Sparkling Pear Margarita.
• Swap apple cider for Spiced Pear Juice in a Mulled Apple Cider recipe or any apple cider cocktail. Try swapping it in my Apple Cider Margarita, Spaghett, Spritz, Hot Toddy, Sangria, Mule, Sidecar, or Hot Negroni. Also swap it in my Caramel Apple Punch, Apple Bourbon Smash, and Smoked Apple Whiskey Tonic.
• If you like this recipe (and love pears) you gotta try my Spiced Pear Syrup, too!

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Spiced Pear Juice

This Spiced Pear Juice is proof that homemade is always better than store-bought. With warm seasonal spices and bright citrus, it's (dare I say) better than apple cider!

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 8-10 ripe pears, cored and roughly chopped
• 1 orange, quartered
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 1-2 whole star anise
• 4-5 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, or to taste
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 6-8 cups water, or enough to cover the fruit
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a large pot, combine the pears, orange quarters, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom pods, nutmeg, brown sugar, lemon juice, and water.
• Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer uncovered for approximately 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the pears are very soft and the liquid is fragrant.
• Remove from heat and discard the orange quarters and whole spices. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the softened pears to a blender along with some of the cooking liquid. Blend until smooth, adding more liquid as needed.
• Strain the blended pears through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl or pitcher, pressing gently to extract the juice. Stir in additional strained cooking liquid until you reach your desired consistency.
• Stir in the vanilla extract and taste, adjusting sweetness if needed. Allow to cool completely before transferring to airtight bottles or jars.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days, or freeze for longer storage.

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Xoxo, cheers!