After a sudden shift in PNW weather this past week, the heavy rain has officially flipped my “fall mode” switch, and I’m already daydreaming of the warming, spiced drinks swirling with the aromas of autumn. While steaming mugs of spiced apple cider and hot cocoa will certainly be calling my name in due time, I’m still savoring those lingering glimpses of sunshine and warmth as summer slowly gives way to fall. Rather than sitting around with an empty mug while waiting for the weather to make up its mind, I’ve decided to meet the seasons in the middle with a crisp, chilled, and subtly spiced pear mocktail.
I chose pear for this recipe because it feels like the perfect bridge between summer and fall. Contrary to how peaches belong to summer and apples are reminiscent of autumn (at least in my brain), pears seem to nestle somewhere in between with their sweet, delicate flavor that feels like a seasonal transition in fruit form. Depending on what you pair them with, pears can easily lean into either season. From bright, floral ingredients like hibiscus and butterfly pea flower in our new Serenity Tea Blend to warm, aromatic spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, pears may as well have been named after their versatility among flavor combinations.
For this mocktail, I’m leaning into the crisp yet cozy side of pear. Starting with a spiced pear compote infused with organic cinnamon, ginger, clove, rosemary, vanilla, and lemon, then topped with ginger beer and finished with a handful of ice. The result is a lightly spiced, slightly sweet, and boldly refreshing beverage, with pear still taking center stage. It’s the kind of drink I can happily savor while the weather continues to do its usual PNW thing of being cold and rainy one minute, then sunny and mid-70° the next. So, rather than rushing straight into cider season, I’m embracing this seasonal intermission with a little something to sip on until I’m good and ready to dive feet-first into fuzzy socks and wrap my hands around steaming mugs all fall long.
Spiced Pear Mocktail Recipe
Step One: Spiced Pear Compote
Ingredients
- 5–6 pears (ideally Bartlett, Anjou, or Bosc, but any ripe variety will do)
- 1 cup water + more, as needed
- 1/3 cup maple syrup, agave nectar, or sweetener of choice
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 Tbsp.)
- Zest of 1 lemon *See Pro Tips
- 1 Tbsp. organic rosemary leaf
- 1 tsp. organic sweet cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp. organic ginger root powder
- 1/4 tsp. organic clove powder
- 1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
Directions
- Peel, core, and chop pears into bite-sized pieces.
- Add prepared pear to a small saucepan, along with all other ingredients. Mix until combined.
- Place saucepan on stove over medium heat until mixture comes to a gentle simmer.
- Stirring occasionally, lower heat to low-medium and cook for about 20 minutes until the pears are soft and easily mashable.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10–15 minutes. Add slightly cooled compote to blender and blend until completely smooth. *See Pro Tips
- Transfer finished compote to jar or container of choice. Label, date, and place in the fridge until ready to use. The compote will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, or 3–6 months in the freezer.
Pro Tips
- My fingers and knuckles have had one too many incidents with zesters—or really any grating device, for that matter—so I opt to use a vegetable peeler to remove the very outer layer of lemon peel for recipes that don’t require the zest to be in small bits. I find this to be (slightly) safer and more efficient, but feel free to live life with your fingers on the edge and zest away if you so choose!
- I don’t own an immersion blender, so I went the blender route instead. If you do happen to own such a gadget, skip the cooling step in direction 5 and go straight in with your immersion blender in the saucepan until the mixture is fully smooth.
Step two: Mocktail Assembly
Ingredients
- 2–3 Tbsp. spiced pear compote (see above)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (about 1 Tbsp.) *See Pro Tips
- 8–10 oz. ginger beer or ginger ale *See Pro Tips
- Handful of ice
- Fresh rosemary sprig, optional garnish
Directions
- Add pear compote and lemon juice to 16 oz. glass. Swirl until combined.
- Pour in ginger beer or ale until glass is about 3/4 full. Top with handful of ice.
- Finish with optional rosemary sprig for garnish, give a quick stir, and enjoy. Cheers to the transition of seasons!
Pro Tips
- I’m a citrusy gal, so feel free to omit the lemon juice if you want the citrus flavor to be more in the background. Don’t skip the lemon juice and zest in the compote recipe, though!
Looking for More seasonal inspiration?
Check Out Our Spooky Season Mocktail Recipe!
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