Celebrate the season with these Sparkly Wine Pear Cocktails and Mocktails! The easiest festive cocktails, they’re made with sparkling wine, champagne, or grapefruit juice, and blended with a honey roasted pear puree, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg, and a touch of vanilla! Simple, light, delicious.
Note: This recipe was originally published as Roasted Pear Sparkling Cocktails and Mocktails and has since been updated to make it even easier for you!
Why You’ll Love These Pear Cocktails
These pear cocktails are unlike anything else we’ve ever tried! A sparkly wine cocktail, they’re made with a variety of ingredients like warm spices, fresh pears, and tangy bourbon. YUM.
- Restaurant-worthy: Beautiful in appearance and served with a sugared rim, these beverages have the appearance of cocktails you’d expect to find at a five-star restaurant.
- Made with fresh pears: We use fresh pears to create a sweet, bold pear flavor and thicker texture while adding a few nutrients. Fresh fruit means this recipe is healthy, right?
- Festive: Sparkly and topped with fresh herbs, this recipe is perfect for the holidays.
- Great for a crowd: One batch makes enough for six people and can easily be doubled or tripled for a party!
What’s In a Sparkly Wine Cocktail with Pears?
Just a handful of ingredients come together to make these sparkly wine cocktails!
Pear Syrup
- Sliced Pear – Ripe Anjou pears are best. If you can’t find Anjou pears, Bartlett will also work. Your spiced pear cocktail just won’t be quite as sweet.
- Water – Use this to blend the pears into a purée.
- Mulling Spices – If you can’t find mulling spices at your local grocery store, use five tablespoons whole cloves, 3 star anise, and ½ teaspoon orange peel instead.
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Ground Ginger – If preferred, you could use finely minced fresh ginger instead.
- Vanilla Extract
- Honey – Substitute maple syrup, if preferred.
Cocktails/Mocktails
- Chilled Prosecco – Substitute sparkling apple juice or ginger ale for pear mocktails.
- Bourbon – Whiskey may be substituted if you don’t want a bourbon cocktail. Or, you can leave the extra alcohol out completely.
Garnishes
- Egg Whites or another liquid such as Citrus Juice– Make sure no egg yolks are mixed in. You can use either of these to wet the rim of the wine glass before coating in sugar!
- Sugar – Use brown sugar or coconut palm sugar to coat the rims. This is optional but makes your cocktails super pretty, and the sugar tastes great!
- Fresh Herbs – Thyme, sage, or rosemary.
How to Make Pear Cocktails and Mocktails
This recipe comes together quickly with minimal prep work and a total time of about 30 minutes!
*Flavor tip – if you want to go the extra mile for flavor, then slice and bake or roast the pears before blending.
Simple Syrup
- Blend. Place the peeled pears and water in a high-speed blender. Blend until a smooth consistency is formed.
Ingredient Swap: For less prep time, feel free to substitute the whole pears with pear nectar juice instead.
- Simmer. Add the pear purée to a small pot along with the spices and vanilla. Allow the mixture to simmer over medium-low heat to infuse the flavors.
- Mix. Remove the mixture from the heat, and mix in the maple syrup, and allow it to cool. Then, strain the liquid (a strainer basket works best), transfer it to a sealable jar, and place it in the fridge to chill.
Mocktails/Cocktails
- Rim. Place the sugar on a plate, and coat the rim of your wine glasses, martini glasses, or cocktail glasses with egg white. Dip the glasses in the sugar.
- Combine. Divide the pear syrup between the glasses followed by the wine (or juice for mocktails). Then, stir in the bourbon, if using.
- Garnish. Add ice to each glass, and garnish with fresh herbs before serving. Cheers!
If you have a cocktail shaker, add all the ingredients, and give it a good shake to mix them up before dividing the liquid amongst your glasses.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
We don’t recommend making the entire cocktails in advance as they will become watery. However, we do recommend preparing the simple syrup ahead of time!
For the best results, transfer the spiced pear syrup to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
TIP: If you live in a cold climate, preheat your oven to its lowest temperature for a couple of minutes, then turn it off. Then, let the dough rise inside the warm oven.
Common Questions About This Pear Cocktail Recipe
We haven’t tested it and can’t guarantee your results, but we think peaches would work well!
Sure! Feel free to experiment to find the flavor combination you like best. For instance, you could use pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, pear brandy, pear gin, tequila, or orange bitters.
Yes, feel free to swap the juice with whatever non-alcoholic mixer you like best. We think pear juice, ginger beer, and apple cider would all taste great.
More of Our Favorite
Festive Cocktails and Mocktails
Sparkly Wine Pear Cocktails (Mocktail Option)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Make these sparkly wine pear cocktails for a beautiful, festive cocktail or mocktail infused with sweet flavor and warm spices!
Ingredients
For the Pear Syrup
- 3 ripe anjou pears, peeled and sliced *see notes
- ⅓ cup water or apple juice
- 1 Tablespoon mulling spices or below
– 5 whole cloves
– 3 star anise
– ½ teaspoon orange peel - 2 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ to ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
For the Cocktails/Mocktails
- 24–28 ounces chilled prosecco (sparkling apple juice or ginger ale for mocktails) (divided)
- Optional 2 to 3 ounces of Bourbon or whiskey (divided)
Garnishes
- Egg Whites or Citrus Juice- You can use either of these to wet the rim of the wine glass before coating in sugar! and Brown sugar or coconut palm sugar to coat rims of glasses (optional)
- Coconut Sugar or Brown Sugar
- Fresh thyme, sage, or rosemary
Instructions
- Place the peeled sliced pears and water (or apple juice) in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. (*pear nectar juice may be substituted)
- Add the pear puree in a small pot along with the mulling spices, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. Mix together and let the pot simmer for 15 minutes on medium low. Remove from heat, mix in the maple syrup or honey and cool. Once cool, strain (using a fine mesh strainer basket works best) and store the remaining syrup in a sealed jar. Place in the fridge until ready to use. *Note, the consistency of the syrup is more viscous once chilled.
- To make the cocktails, place sugar on a large plate. Coat the rim of a wine or cocktail class with egg white then dip in the plate of sugar.
- Add ¼ cup pear syrup followed by 5 to 6 ounces of sparkling wine or gingerale. Optional ½ ounce of bourbon. Stir then add ice, if desired, and garnish with herbs. Repeat to get 4-6 cocktails.
Notes
Prep Tips: It’s best to make Pear Syrup ahead of time for a thicker syrup texture.
Flavor Tips: If you want to go the extra mile for flavor, slice and bake or roast the pears before blending to make the syrup.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: drink/cocktail
- Method: mix
- Cuisine: drink/cocktail
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 183
- Sugar: 15.3 g
- Sodium: 2.5 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23.7 g
- Fiber: 2.9 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Do you have questions, feedback, or tips about this recipe? Leave a comment below with any questions or feedback you’d like to share!
Hi Lindsey! My syrup has a grainy/applesauce texture. Did I do something wrong??
Hi Laura! Did you peel the pears? Did you use a high power blender? Then strain the juice after blending. Let me know what types of pears you used as well. Thank you 🙏
Hi! I did peel the pears, I used anjou pears. I used my regular blender (maybe not enough oomph?) and strained it through some cheese cloth. I’m going to try to recipe with no-sugar-added pear nectar; the flavor is SO good, but I can’t get past the texture! 🙈
A shoot. Yes, sometimes regular blenders don’t do enough unless you continue to blend for a long time. But hey, now you have some tasty pear apple sauce LOL. Keep me posted on the nectar!
Also, I used this strainer basket. It’s cheap on amazon! https://amzn.to/4aBqlwX
Hi Lindsey! I’m wondering if I need to peel the pears after baking/before pureeing? Also can I make this a day ahead and keep in the fridge? Can’t wait to try this for Thanksgiving!!
Either really! I used small seckel pears, which had thin skin, so they blended nicely. If you use larger bartlett pears with thicker skin, you might want to peel the skin. Does that make sense?
Im sorry, ive done so much research on the pear type you used, could you link me to pages where this pear exist?
Here you go! http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Seckel_Pears_6582.php but you can also use regular green pear, no prob. Just about a pound or so
OMG…these look incredible!
I will make you dinner if you whip me up a pitcher of these. Deal? Deal. Great.
done deal my friend!
I think I’m in love with this cocktail, it looks PERFECT!
thanks friend! hope you give it a whirl!
This looks absolutely amazing!
These look so tasty, and the photos are lovely!!
This is one seriously gorgeous cocktail that I am thinking needs to be on my Thanksgiving table! That sugared rim is so stunning!
Thanks friend! I’ll save you a glass!
Such a stunning cocktails and pretty pictures.
xx
Thanks friend!
Thanks so much Asha!
These sound so tasty! I love pears-
These are absolutely beautiful Lindsay! I love the flavors! Cheers to a Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers friend!
OMGah! Lindsay… this has my name written all over it… and yes, I’ve had a pear cocktail before, but only where the simple was infused. I love that you’ve included a pear puree’ ! And I agree… hello whiskey! I just picked up a new bottle for the holidays and I’m completely smitten! I’ve never been to Steamboat CO, but would love to visit someday. Sending you and your’s my best for a restful (really, Linds…. restful) and beautiful holiday my dear! xo
Oh thank you friend! I wish we could have Thanksgiving together. We need a weekend of catch up and slow down. Haha!
1. Champagne is my jam, so I LOVE these 2. Freaking love the balsamic vinegar <– so unique! 3. Literally drooling over these photos.
come for a glass .. or 2!
im not too crazy about cocktails but this one sounds so freaking good, esp with pear puree.
Prettiest drinks ever!
What a perfect drink to recreate!!
You know I’m always up for a drink or TWO! Hehe love how this recipe came about from a real life experience. That’s what they all should be about.
these are stunning Lindsay!
So fancy and delicious looking! YUM!
INSANELY PERFECT. I’m spiking the crap out of these with champagne!! 🙂
I’m a fan of anything that involves sparkling. Or whiskey. This looks so delicious! I used to make a special cocktail every year for our Christmas Eve party. Now we’re all spread out and don’t do those anymore, but I think I still deserve a special cocktail. Pinned this to try!!!
Okay so thought of you!! The place I went added whiskey to This!! Let me know if you try it
I know! I was like “step aside vodka… this is a job to whiskey!”
Totally! It’s just vodka is more easy to find gluten free and “clean.” We love Tito’s . But dang, whiskey is perfect. I should mention it anyway and suggest a GF brand
Lindsay!
I’m new to your blog and I love it! Thank you.
I appreciate the mocktail – I don’t drink anymore and there are so few ways to socially drink without alcohol that aren’t boring! I’ll give this pear cocktail a try. Keep up the great work.
Kimball
I’m so glad I could help Kimball! Please keep me posted and don’t hesitate to reach out.
So so so very in love with this cocktail (and these stunning photos!). I think pears are such an underused ingredients, especially in drinks, and so glad you’re giving them some attention! Cheers!