Let Me Tell You About This Sparkling Pear Mocktail
Alright so, I was in a bit of a pinch last New Year’s Eve—totally forgot to grab wine and, to be honest, didn’t love the idea of getting buzzed while wrangling fireworks and distant cousins. That’s how this little beauty was born: the Sparkling Pear Mocktail. (Yes, I know—fancy name for a party drink that started in my kitchen with a bottle of old club soda and some slightly-too-ripe pears.) But you know what? The whole family got hooked. Now it’s my go-to whenever someone says “bring something fun but non-alcoholic!” And hey, it’s way more impressive than a two-liter of cherry soda, innit?
Why You’ll Love This
I make this when the weather does that misleading sunny-then-cloudy thing because it’s bright but not too sweet. My family goes crazy for this because somehow kids and adults both claim it’s ‘their’ drink (so good luck keeping that pitcher full at BBQs). Honestly, I used to get nervous about making mocktails that taste special—most end up kinda flat. Not this pal. Oh, and this is perfect for all those times someone says ‘I’m off sugar’—I sometimes sneak in a dash of honey, but you could totally leave it out (don’t tell my uncle, though, he still doesn’t know). Pro tip: I messed up the ratios once and ended up with pear sludge… nobody said anything but, you know, I saw the faces.
Here’s What Goes In (and a Few Optional Swaps)
- 2 ripe pears
(I’ve used those crunchy Asian pears in a pinch. Actually, tinned pears work too, just rinse off the syrup or it’s too sweet—my aunt swears by this whenever she’s rushed.) - Juice of 1 lemon
(If you don’t have fresh lemons, a generous splash from a bottle is fine. Seriously, nobody will notice unless they’re a lemon snob like my old neighbor.) - 1-2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup, or skip both for less sweet—I’ve tried agave once, came out pretty well)
- 500 ml sparkling water or club soda
(If you like it reeaally fizzy, go with club soda. Or, once I even used ginger beer—only do that if you like things with a kick!) - A handful of ice
- Fresh rosemary or mint (totally optional, but my cousin says it’s what ‘makes it taste posh’)
How I Throw This Together
- Slice your pears, toss them into a blender (or food processor… heck, I even mashed them with a fork when the blender was busted. Little rustic, but it works), and blitz until smooth as you can get.
- This is where I usually sneak a taste. Too gritty? Add a splash of water. Too bland? Maybe a smidge more honey or extra lemon juice—trust your tastebuds!
- Strain the pear puree using a fine sieve or, if you can’t find yours (story of my life), a clean tea towel over a bowl is grand. Don’t worry if some pulp gets through, adds character.
- Pour the strained pear juice into a jug, add the lemon juice & honey. Stir until it looks, well, kind of like cloudy lemonade.
- Toss in the ice (or not, if you’re already freezing. Up to you). Then pour the sparkling water over everything, give it a gentle stir so you don’t lose all the bubbles.
- Top each glass with a sprig of whatever fresh herbs you’ve got (mint is my favourite, but rosemary smells like Christmas to me).
Notes (AKA Stuff I Learned the Hard Way)
- Ditch the overripe pears, honestly, it goes from “yum” to “why does my drink taste like baby food?” in a flash.
- Too sweet? Extra lemon. Too tangy? More honey. Yes, you can fix almost any disaster with one or the other. Probably.
- If your blender misses bits, it’s fine—just call it “rustic puree.” People will nod like they’re on a cooking show.
Variations I’ve Tried (and One Epic Fail)
I’ve done this with apples, but it just doesn’t zing the same (honestly, came out pretty bland). Using ginger beer is lovely for spice lovers—just cut back on the honey a lot. Splashing in a little elderflower cordial instead of honey? Actually, I think it’s my secret favorite, but shhh. Oh, and once I tried adding cucumber slices. Weirdly watery, not my jam—but maybe you’ll like it?
Equipment (and My Lazy Shortcuts)
- Blender or food processor (if you don’t have one, mash like crazy with a fork. Takes longer, kind of a wrist workout—good luck!)
- Fine mesh sieve is best, but a clean tea towel works when you can’t find your sieve (ask me how I know…)
- Pretty glasses are fun, but mugs work fine in a pinch (maybe just call it “cozy chic?”)
How to Store It (If You Have Any Left)
Keep any leftovers in the fridge, covered, for about a day. The bubbles fade, but the flavor sort of melds and gets better, I reckon. Though honestly, in my house it never lasts more than a day! If you must prep ahead, just mix the pear & lemon bits and add the sparkling stuff right before you serve.
How I Like to Serve This Up
Honestly, big old pitcher on the garden table, lots of ice and scattered mint. My family dunks slices of pear in for snacking (probably not recommended, but try stopping them). Sometimes I even freeze a little puree into cubes—makes it extra cold and fun for the kids.
Lessons Learned (AKA Pro Tips from Past Blunders)
- I once tried rushing the blending and got weird stringy bits—take your time, or just embrace the chunks. (But maybe warn your guests first.)
- If you add the sparkling water all at once and stir too much, you’ll lose the fizz. Go gentle—that’s a lesson from many flat mocktails, sadly.
FAQ—You Asked (I Answered as Best I Can!)
- Can I use canned pears? Yep, totally. Rinse them if you don’t want it to be too sweet. Makes things extra easy for weeknights.
- What if I don’t have a blender? I’ve done this by mashing pears with a fork. Takes longer, but you get there eventually—it’s a bit more, um, rustic.
- Can you make this ahead of time? Sort of. Keep the base mix in the fridge, but don’t add the fizzy bit til serving or you’ll get something that tastes like sad pear juice.
- Is this allergy friendly? Well, there’s fruit and honey, but no dairy, nuts, or gluten. Sub maple syrup if you’re vegan (or just leave out sweetener, honestly still nice).
- What goes well with this? Oh, this is amazing with a cheese board. Or for something fancier, check out Half Baked Harvest’s pear cocktail variations—her styling is lovely. And if you want another easy mocktail, Feasting at Home has loads of ideas.
Quick tangent: did you know pears are one of those ancient fruits, like, apparently they’ve been enjoyed since Roman times? Makes me feel a bit sophisticated when I serve this—even if it’s just Tuesday.
Ingredients
- 2 cups pear juice (chilled)
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
- 1 small ripe pear, thinly sliced
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish
- Lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
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1In a large pitcher, combine pear juice, sparkling water, and lime juice.
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2Stir in honey or agave syrup until completely dissolved.
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3Add the pear slices and a handful of ice cubes to the pitcher.
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4Pour the mocktail into glasses. Garnish each with fresh mint leaves and a lime wedge.
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5Serve immediately for a refreshing, effervescent mocktail.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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