Pear Apple Cider

Brew up a pot of fall flavors with this pear apple cider! The mix of pear and apple for this drink enhances the fall flavor palette and will have your kitchen smelling delicious. The recipe is quick to prep and serve, and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

You can enjoy the cider as is, make it a little extra luxurious with some whipped cream and caramel, or turn it into an adult beverage with a shot of bourbon!

Here’s how to make this comforting pear apple cider. It would be perfect for Thanksgiving and any fall gatherings. 

Combine the sliced pears and apples in a large heavy-bottomed pot. 

Add in the pear and apple juice, brown sugar, maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves to the pot and stir.

Bring to a slow boil and then reduce heat to simmer uncovered for at least 30 minutes. 

Use a strainer to remove what remains of the pears, cinnamon sticks, and cloves so that you have a smooth warm juice. 

Serve warm and enjoy this pear apple cider!

Depending on your mood, you can serve this pear cider with some bourbon or rum. 

Or serve with a dollop of whipped cream and caramel drizzle. 

Or you can simply serve as is with some of the poached pears and apples. 

Be sure to tag #aclassictwist if you make this recipe and share it on social media. I love seeing what you make. 

FAQs

What ingredients will I need to complete this recipe?

You will need the following ingredients:

• Ripe pears: ripe pears will add more flavor, but since the pears aren’t going to be eaten, and are simmered for a while, it won’t make a huge difference if the pears aren’t super ripe. We used Bartlett pears for their juicy flavor!
• Honeycrisp Apples: we used Honeycrisp apples because they yield a sweeter cider. You can use your favorite! Some recommendations would be a Gala apple for another sweet flavor or try the MacIntosh for a bit of a sharper flavor.
• Pear juice: We used Looza brand juice
• Apple Juice: 
• Brown sugar
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds a rich, fall flavor to the cider, but you can use honey or agave as a substitute.
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves

What ingredients can I substitute?

• You can use either red or green pears for this recipe
  • *Please note, this recipe was tested and shot with green pears
• For the sweeteners:
  • Brown sugar adds a hint of a caramel flavor but can be substituted at 1:1 with white sugar. Another option would be to omit the brown sugar and increase the amount of maple syrup.
  • Use either honey or agave in place of the maple syrup
  • Switch the vanilla extract with almond extract for a bit of a flavor change
• If you don’t have lemons on hand but have limes, you can substitute lemon juice with lime juice
• You can also make this as an apple-only or pear-only cider. For an apple cider: use 6 apples and 1 gallon of apple juice; for a pear cider: use 6 pears and 1 gallon of pear juice
• Feel free to spice it up with additional cloves, cinnamon sticks, or try adding some star anise to your pot at the start of the simmer.

How do I store this Cider?

You can store this cider in the refrigerator for up to two weeks but note that it will lose flavor over time.

How can I spice up my Cider?

Try a few of these additions/variations:

• Add an extra flavor with some sliced oranges or lemons
• Serve topped with whipped cream and/or caramel drizzled on top
• Add a shot of your favorite alcoholic beverages, like bourbon, rum, or wine

More Pear Recipes to try!

• Pear and Raspberry Bread
• Pear Apple Pie
• Pear Crisp with Oat Crumb Topping
• Pear Almond Galette
• Baked Pears