Hey everyone! It’s the weekend, and I’ve got the prettiest pear cocktail ready for you guys today using Black Box Spirits Vodka!
Pears are in season right now, so this recipe calls for fresh Anjou pears, cooked in a syrup with vanilla bean seeds, and blended to a smooth puree. Real talk, I don’t like pears normally. I know, I know, we’re all shocked.
But when you combine lightly cooked pears, a bit of lemon juice, and vanilla, the combo is refreshing and sweet and I LOVE it. The lemon juice brings a touch of bright, freshness to the cocktail, but it doesn’t make things taste lemony at all.
I’m delighted to be working with Black Box Spirits for this recipe, if you guys haven’t tried their products, today is the day. They come in boxes, with a tap right on there, and honestly it’s so perfect. It’s easy to store, the tap works beautifully, and you don’t have to deal with pulling down a heavy glass bottle from a high shelf.
Not to mention, uhm, the alcohol! I don’t normally drink liquor straight, but I wanted to try this vodka to see what I could expect when mixing it into a cocktail, and to decide how strong to make it. It’s really easy to drink, and the vodka blends well into this drink! Dangerous if you ask me. 🙂
So anyways, back to the cocktail mix. I used a whole vanilla bean in this recipe, plus a dash of vanilla extract because I REALLY love vanilla. If you’d like it to be a little lighter, just go for the vanilla bean. I love the little black flecks in this drink, it’s so pretty!
My vanilla bean was a little dried out, but it’s an easy fix. You can simply cut the vanilla bean width wise (not down the length like you would to scrape out the seeds) and put it in with the pears to cook away. This softens the bean right up, and then you pull it out, slice it down the middle, and scrape out the seeds like you normally would! Good as new.
So anyways, enjoy this one guys, it’s one of my new favs!
This post was sponsored in partnership with Black Box Spirits.
Vanilla Pear Fizz Cocktail
Ingredients
For the Pear Puree:
- 1 large Anjou pear, peeled and cored
- 3 tbs. sugar
- 2 tbs. lemon juice
- 1 vanilla bean pod
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
For the cocktails:
- 5 oz. pear puree
- 5 oz. Black Box Spirits Vodka
- 1/3 cup club soda
Instructions
For the Pear Puree:
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Chop your peeled and cored pear into small cubes. It does not have to be perfect. Slice your vanilla bean pod in half width-wise.
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In a small saucepan, stir together the chopped pear, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla bean pod. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes, or until the pears have softened.
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Remove from the heat, and pull out your vanilla pod halves. Slice them in half length-wise and scrape out the seeds with the back of your knife. Stir into the pear mixture, along with the vanilla extract.
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Transfer the mixture to a food processor or blender, and blend until completely smooth, about a minute. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.
For the cocktail:
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Add the pear puree and vodka to a shaker with ice. Gently shake 2-3 times. Divide evenly between two cocktail glasses with ice. Top with the club soda, using more or less as needed. Add a slice of a pear or lemon peel for garnish, and enjoy!
Hello and welcome! My name is Nicole, and Dough-eyed is a food blog for people who want to bake for their family and friends in high-altitude areas. Think of me as a friendly voice there with you in the kitchen, here to give you confidence when you’re baking, and to help you with the struggles of baking at high-altitude. Come back every week for new recipes, tips, and advice on high-altitude baking!
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