When hosting a gathering for friends and family I love to serve a signature cocktail or two. This way guests can help themselves to a festive drink and you don’t have to worry about playing bartender all evening. One of my favorites to serve during the holiday season is a champagne cocktail. So this year I decided to create a new cocktail inspired by a spiced poached pear.
This drink has notes of pear, cinnamon and cloves which pair well with the cognac and champagne. The pear syrup recipe uses dried pears which then become a sugared pear garnish. It’s a festive cocktail that can be prepped ahead of time so all you have to do when your guests arrive is pour the pear and cognac syrup mixture in a large pitcher and stir in the champagne.
Sparkling Pear Cocktail (by the glass)
- 2 tablespoons cognac
- 2 teaspoons pear syrup (see recipe below)
- 1/2 cup champagne or Prosecco
- candied pear slice garnish
Mix the cognac and pear syrup in a cocktail shaker or a small jar with a lid and pour it in the glass and top it with champagne. Garnish the drink with a candied pear slice. Makes 1 glass.
Sparkling Pear Cocktail for a Party (by the bottle)
- 1¼ cups cognac
- ¼ cup pear syrup
- 1 bottle champagne or Prosecco
Mix the cognac and pear syrup in a ball jar or in a cocktail shaker and pour it in the glass and top it with champagne. Garnish each drink with a candied pear slice. Makes 8 servings.
Pear Simple Syrup and Candied Pears
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 5 cloves
- 1 (6oz) package of dried pears
- ¼ cup sugar
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
In a small sauce pan add 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Place over medium high heat stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Turn the heat down to medium low and add the cinnamon stick cloves and dried pears. Simmer the pears for 5 minutes.
Next, turn off the heat and remove the pears from the syrup with a slotted spoon. Place the pears on a sheet pan with a wire rack. Let the cinnamon and cloves stay in the syrup to steep while making the candied pears. Once the syrup cools remove the cinnamon stick and cloves and pour it in a small jar and store it in the fridge.
Bake the pears for 5 minutes. Then while they are warm coat them in the sugar. Place 1/4 cup of sugar in a shallow bowl or plate and roll the pears in the sugar shaking off any excess.
Store the pears in an airtight Tupperware container if not using them immediately.
If you would like to serve it on the side of the glass then make a vertical slice 3/4 of the way up the center of the pear so it will rest on the rim of the champagne coupe or glass.
This elegant drink will enchant your guests and have them talking and feeling a home in no time. The sparkly sugared pears give it a festive look and the spiced pear syrup adds just the right notes for a holiday drink. So here’s to more time with family and friends and a wonderful holiday season!
