You know how sometimes you just want something festive and deeply flavorful, but you aren’t touching the alcohol? I spent ages hunting for that perfect grown-up, non-alcoholic hit. Seriously, I got tired of just sparkling water! That’s why this recipe completely changed my hosting game. I finally nailed the ultimate crowd-pleaser: the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail. It’s lush, it’s warm, and it feels way fancier than it actually is. I first made this for a holiday brunch when my brother decided to go completely sober—he needed something that tasted complex, not like juice watered down. The way the sweet pear plays against the brightness of the citrus and those cozy little background spices? It’s just magic. Trust me, this pear mocktail is the sophisticated drink you’ve been waiting for.
Why This Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail is a Must-Try
Honestly, this drink hits every single mark. It’s exactly what you need when you want flavor complexity without the buzz. If you’re looking for great beverages for your next gathering, keep reading!
- It tastes incredibly layered—sweet pear, sharp citrus, and deep maple notes.
- The warm spices make it perfect for fall or winter hosting, but it’s refreshing anytime!
- It looks gorgeous, especially with that fresh garnish we talk about later.
- It’s totally non-alcoholic, so everyone gets to enjoy the fun.
Gathering Ingredients for Your Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
Alright, time to get everything lined up! If you look at the list, you’ll see we’re keeping things mostly natural and fresh. You definitely need one perfectly ripe pear—peeled, cored, and chopped up, because we’re blending the heck out of it! Don’t skimp on the citrus either; you want ½ cup of fresh orange juice and ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice. That zest cuts right through the sweetness, you know?
We need a solid cup of sparkling water for the finish, but keep it chilled until the last second! Ice cubes are a must, obviously, and save a few nice slices of orange and pear for presentation later on.
Spice and Sweeteners for the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
This is where the personality comes in! You need two tablespoons of pure maple syrup—and please, use the real stuff, not the pancake goo! For the spices, we are going easy but with impact: ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of ginger, and just a tiny pinch of cloves. If your spices aren’t fresh, honey, the ginger and clove won’t sing. They really bring out the earthy warmth of the pear.
Essential Equipment for the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
You don’t need a whole bar setup for this! The most important tool here is your blender, obviously, since we’re pureeing that gorgeous pear until it’s silky smooth. You’ll also absolutely need a fine-mesh sieve—don’t try to skip straining, or you’ll end up with chunky pulp!
Grab two nice, tall glasses for serving. That’s really it! Quick, right?
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
Okay, putting this beautiful Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail together is crazy simple, but we have to respect the process. We want silky smooth, not smoothie thick, so pay attention to Step 2! Make sure you have all your spices measured out before you start adding things to that blender. If you’re looking for other bubbly delights, check out this Pineapple Ginger Fizz Mocktail while you’re here!
- Toss that chopped pear right into the blender along with your orange juice, lemon juice, that good maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and the tiny pinch of cloves.
- Blend everything up! You need to run that machine until the mixture is totally smooth—zero chunks allowed.
- This is the step I used to skip when I rushed, and my mocktails tasted dusty! You MUST pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate bowl. Seriously push down on all those solids leftover in the sieve to get every last drop of delicious liquid out.
- Grab your two favorite glasses and fill them right up to the top with ice cubes.
- Divide that awesome pear base evenly between those two icy glasses.
- Now, gently pour the chilled sparkling water or club soda over the top of the pear mixture in each glass.
- Give it one very gentle stir—we don’t want to flatten all those gorgeous bubbles! Think swirl, not mixing.
- Finish it off by placing a pretty orange slice on the rim and maybe one thin slice of pear floating right on top.
Blending and Straining the Pear Base for the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
When you blend, go past what looks ‘mixed.’ I mean completely pulverized; we want the pear flavor locked in the liquid. The straining part is where the magic happens for a professional feel. If you leave the pulp in, it settles and gums up the drink. Pushing down on those solids in the sieve extracts the potent, smooth essence we’re after. It mimics the texture you get from pouring a pre-made syrup, but using fresh fruit!
Assembling Your Perfect Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
Once your base is strained and ready, assembly moves fast. Ice is key; it keeps that carbonation lively. Pour in the base, then top slowly with the sparkling water—use cold water for maximum fizz! A quick, gentle stir right at the top marries the layers without losing the sparkle. Don’t forget the garnish; those fresh fruit rounds make the drink look irresistible!
Tips for the Best Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail Experience
Even though this is a simple mix, little tweaks can take your Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail from good to unbelievably great. Grandma always said the difference between a cook and a baker is knowing when to stop tinkering, but for drinks, we can tweak a little! If you taste your pear base and it feels a bit flat, try muddling just a tiny sliver of fresh ginger before you blend—it really amps up that underlying heat.
Also, sweetness is totally subjective since pears vary so much. Don’t be afraid to adjust the maple syrup amount based on how ripe your fruit was. If you want more inspiration for other pear drinks, you absolutely *have* to check out this recipe for an Amazing 5-Minute Pear Vanilla Sparkler Mocktail!
One major win for you busy folks: you can totally make the base ahead of time! It keeps beautifully in an airtight container in the fridge for a full 24 hours. Just blend, strain, store, and when company arrives, just grab the base, ice, and sparkling water!
Variations on the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
Okay, so you’ve mastered the classic version of this spiced drink, you’re feeling confident, and now you want to play! That’s the spirit! I love changing things up depending on what I have on hand. If you’ve run out of pears, honestly, the same technique works wonders with a really crisp apple—you should look at how the spices play in this amazing spiced apple soda mocktail!
If you want to make it feel even richer without losing that non-alcoholic status, try adding just a tiny splash of vanilla extract right into the blending stage. It deepens the maple flavor beautifully. Or, if you’re feeling like adding a little kick to your fizz, ditch the plain club soda and use a good quality ginger ale instead of the sparkling water. It just adds an extra layer of zing to the spice profile—wow!
Serving Suggestions for the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
Because this is such a wonderfully balanced, spiced drink, you don’t want to weigh it down with anything too heavy. It sings on its own! I love serving this alongside light, salty appetizers—think little cheese bites or salty nuts. For something sweet, skip the heavy chocolate and go for something that echoes the citrus or spice, like a simple shortbread cookie or maybe a lemon pound cake slice. It keeps the whole experience bright and refreshing!
Storage Instructions for Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail Base
So, the best part about the flavor-packed portion of this recipe—the pear and spice base—is that you don’t have to do it all at once! If you want to save yourself time later, mix everything up, strain it well, and pour that gorgeous liquid into a completely airtight container.
You can keep that base chilled in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve your Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail, just pull the base out, grab fresh ice, and top with your sparkling water. That way, you’re only stirring and garnishing when it’s time to drink!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
It’s so common to have questions when trying a new flavor combination, especially when you’re trying to keep it non-alcoholic like this favorite pear mocktail! We want everyone to feel comfortable mixing this up. If you’re looking for even more exciting zero-proof options, you might love this easy Raspberry Lemonade Mocktail recipe too!
Can I make the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail without blending?
You really, really want to blend for this one if you can. The blending process breaks down the actual pear flesh so that when you strain it, you get that luscious, slightly thick texture—it’s what makes it feel complex. If your blender is struggling, you could try muddling the pear aggressively first, but honestly, you’ll have to strain twice, and it won’t be quite as smooth. The texture is key to this drink!
What kind of pear works best for this spiced drink?
I’ve tested a few pears, and my favorite ones for this spiced drink are ones that are ripe but still have a little firmness, like a Bosc or an Anjou. If you use a pear that is already mushy, it can sometimes blend into sludge or taste a little too sweet and grainy after straining. You want that perfect balance of sweet and tartness that a slightly firm, ripe pear gives you!
Is this Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail suitable for kids?
Absolutely, it’s a wonderful non-alcoholic beverage for all ages! Since kids usually don’t need as much sweetness as we adults do, my main tip is to cut back on the maple syrup by half, or even by two-thirds, depending on how sweet your pear is. Keep the spices, though; kids often love that little hint of cinnamon!
Estimated Nutritional Data for Your Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
Now, I’m not a nutritionist, so please take these numbers with a grain of salt—or in our case, a grain of cinnamon! These estimates are just based on the standard version of the Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail using average ingredient measurements. Don’t stress too much over the exact count; just know this is a much lighter treat than most cocktails!
- Calories: Approximately 180
- Sugar: About 35 grams
- Carbohydrates: Around 45 grams
- Protein: A small 1 gram
- Fat: Less than 1 gram
Remember, if you use less maple syrup or a less sweet pear, those numbers will change slightly, but this gives you a good baseline for our delicious, spiced drink!
Share Your Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail Creation
I truly hope you’ve mixed up a batch of this amazing mocktail! Seeing your creations brightens my whole week. Once you’ve tasted the perfect balance of maple, citrus, and spice in this pear drink, I really want to hear what you thought!
Did you manage to get that perfectly smooth texture after straining? How did you finish your garnish? Let me know in the comments below—I read every single one!
If you snapped a photo of your beautiful Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail, tag me on social media or send one our way through the contact page. Don’t forget to rate this recipe using the stars right above this section. Happy sipping!
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Spiced Maple Citrus Pear Mocktail
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A refreshing non-alcoholic drink featuring pear, citrus, and warm spices.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 1 cup sparkling water or club soda, chilled
- Ice cubes
- Orange slices and pear slices for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the chopped pear, orange juice, lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a blender.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl to remove pulp. Press down on the solids to extract all liquid.
- Fill two glasses with ice cubes.
- Divide the pear mixture evenly between the two glasses.
- Top each glass with chilled sparkling water or club soda.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish each mocktail with an orange slice and a pear slice.
Notes
- For a stronger spice flavor, muddle a small piece of fresh ginger before blending.
- Adjust maple syrup amount based on the sweetness of your pear.
- You can make the pear base ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0.5
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: pear mocktail, spiced drink, maple citrus, non-alcoholic, sparkling beverage