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Infused with seasonal spices, this merry mocktail is the perfect non-alcoholic drink for celebrating the holidays.
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There’s always plenty to celebrate during the holiday season, but when you’re pregnant, it just feels extra special. Maybe you just found out and are still riding the wave of all those wonderful excited feelings. Maybe you’re planning to surprise your family with the big news.
Maybe it’s your third trimester and you’re wondering if Christmas this year will be spent in the delivery room.
I was almost five months pregnant in December. This was far enough along that I wasn’t too nauseous to enjoy all of the holiday party snacks and homemade Christmas cookies, and I had enough of a bump that maneuvering through a room full of people holding drinks was going to cause some cocktail casualties.
It was so fun getting our first round of gifts for the baby, showing relatives our latest sonogram, and enjoying our last Christmas as a family of two. Since my family lives out of state, my husband and I always travel to Virginia to spend the holidays with them. I was so happy that I got to participate in most of our annual traditions- making pinwheel cookies, watching the Muppet Christmas Carol, and helping my mom find at least one present that she hid too well to remember where it was. The only thing I wouldn’t be able to partake in were the Christmas morning mimosas my sister makes every year. Not a big deal, but she offered to let me take over her duties and create a non-alcoholic drink that could also be adapted for those that wanted to imbibe.
This spiced pear mocktail was the answer. Simple syrup is infused with the warming flavors of cinnamon and cloves before being blended with pear juice and topped with bubbly ginger ale or champagne. For extra flair, I used frozen cranberries as ice cubes, added a sprig of rosemary, and lined the rim with cinnamon-sugar. Everyone loved it so much that we agreed it should be added to the traditional Christmas morning menu.
What ingredients do I need to make a spiced pear holiday mocktail?
For the drink itself:
Spiced simple syrup
Pear juice- I like the Knudsen brand
Ginger ale
For the optional garnish:
Cranberries- fresh or frozen (frozen berries make great ice cubes)
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Cinnamon
Sugar
Helpful products for making this recipe:
Can I make this drink alcoholic?
For friends and family who want to add alcohol, you can swap out the ginger ale with champagne.
What are some other ways I can garnish my glasses?
You can substitute the fresh rosemary sprig for a cinnamon stick or put a thin slice of pear on the edge of the glass.
Can I make this spiced pear holiday mocktail ahead of time?
You can make the spiced simple syrup up to a few weeks ahead of time and store it in the fridge. It takes about 45 minutes to prepare, so making it beforehand will definitely save you some time. Because this drink has carbonated ingredients, I don’t recommend mixing everything until it’s time to serve so that the bubbles don’t go flat.
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Ingredients:
For the mocktail:
1.5 oz spiced simple syrup
3 oz pear juice
3 oz ginger ale
For the optional garnish:
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
4-5 cranberries
1 sprig fresh rosemary
Directions:
Make the spiced simple syrup if you haven’t already, and let it cool (about 30 minutes)
If desired, wet the rim of your glass and dip it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture
Mix simple syrup and pear juice in your glass until blended
Add ice and top with ginger ale
Add any desired garnishes and enjoy!