Vanilla Pear Sparklers

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

As a kid I was OBSESSED with canned pears.  I could seriously eat my weight and then some in pears. And when the pears were all gone, I’d savor every last bit of the leftover pear syrup.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

It’s no surprise that Cooper loves canned pears too. He loves pears in general, and we almost always have at least three lying around. For him, the mushier the pear, the better.  Don’t ever give him a hard pear…You’ve been warned.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

This little drink is a perfect way to fancy up sparkling water and if you’re cool with Vodka, well then!  Hello, my friend! We have a fantastic vanilla pear infused sparkling cocktail!  It’s like an adult version of pear syrup and it’s dang elegant with all of those vanilla bean seeds perfuming the drink! This is a good trick to have when you’re entertaining. A very very good trick to have.

And we’re off!

Ingredient gathering!

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Peel the pears, chop them up. It’s cool if you leave some skin on, we’re gonna strain it later.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Pears, sugar, lime juice & vanilla beans go into a pot.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Cook until pears get soft.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Take out the vanilla bean and mash the pears. Push them through a fine mesh strainer.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Now you’re left with the most amazing vanilla pear syrup.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Let’s make a cocktail with it! You could always drizzle some on vanilla ice cream… just sayin’

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Syrup in a cup of ice. If you want….VODKA. Do vodka!

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

Add in the sparkling water.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

A few lime slices for the sides. Add a few straws.

Pear Vanilla Sparklers // shutterbean

CHEERS!

Vanilla Pear Sparklers

makes 2 drinks

recipe adapted from Homemade Soda Cookbook

  • 3 pears, stemmed, peeled , cored, & cut into chunks
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 vanilla bean, split length-wise, seeds scraped & removed
  • 2 cups seltzer
  • 3 oz. vodka (totally optional)
  • ice
  • lime slices for garnish

Toss the pear chunks and sugar into a small saucepan. Add the lime juice and scraped vanilla bean. Cover and cook over medium heat until pears are very soft, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean. Mash the mixture with a vegetable masher or fork, until smooth. Strain & cool.

Divide ice between two glass. Pour half vanilla pear syrup into each glass. Add 1 1/2 oz. vodka to each glass, finish with a cup of seltzer in each glass. Add a straw to each cup and garnish with a lime slice on each rim.

 

  • Averie @ Averie Cooks

    A ripe pear is just such a treat! And so are vanilla beans. I need this! I love all those vanilla bean flecks and specks!

  • LIA

    Oooooo yes! This looks perfect for spring time garden sipping!

  • Claire @Lemon Jelly Cake

    Oh, I love this idea. 🙂 Must try!

  • Tieghan

    Those black vanilla bean flecks are my favorite! So good!!! What a creative drink and so pretty!

  • Michelle @ FullyBellyWornSoles

    Great drink! Perfect way to kick off a summer barbecue!

  • Katy @ Katy's Kitchen

    I was waiting for this cocktail ever since you posted it. Vodka is great because it mixes so well, especially with vanilla! I bought a vanilla bean for the first time yesterday and I absolutely can’t wait to use it. Vanilla and pear are such interesting combinations…have you by any chance been reading the Flavour Bible? If not I think you’d love it. I’m renting it from the library right now! (humble brag)

  • Victoria

    Looks really good! I have always been crazy about pears too.

  • Nudaperla

    It’s a dream come true! I’m craving it right now!

  • Emily

    This looks amazing! I love your photography. It’d be a sin not to try this now.

    http://RightIris.blogspot.com

  • tara

    These sound delicious! I love canned pears and the syrup too. Mmmm.

  • Eileen

    Vanilla and pear sounds like the best possible combination! I want a huge pitcher of this for our next hot weekend. 🙂

  • Sarah @ The Cyclist's Wife

    I think you and I both are not fans of this word but you are becoming quite the fancy mixologist and I love it!

  • tracy {pale yellow}

    Cooper and I should share some pears one day, I love them extra mushy too! The idea of making my own soda syrup sounds so fancy and fun, I think using the soda stream is a blast, this may be too much to handle! Love the idea of sweet pears, vanilla beans, and vodka, how can you go wrong!

  • Katie

    I was a canned peach gal myself. I love anything sparkly, especially involving fruit and vodka. Thanks.

  • Heidi - Apples Under My Bed

    I just want to marry that pear vanilla syrup!!
    Heidi xo

  • Elise

    This is amazing- quite the drink! Definitely saving for later.

  • Ruthy @ omeletta

    I don’t know what I love more, the vanilla beans in the cocktail (delish) or your adorable polka-dot peeler 🙂 where is it from?

  • Jayne

    I love mushy pears too. Just so much juicier. When I was a kid, I love to cram soft slices of pear into my mouth until I couldn’t take another slice and then chew. Yes, it was horribly messy but so so good! Vanilla and pear are both floral and fragrant. Such a perfect match!

  • Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

    Love the use of mushy pears here. I’d cheers to that any day 🙂

  • Renee @ Awesome on $20

    I remember my mom making me eat canned pears when I was a kid. I always thought they were sort of mealy, but not the worst thing she made me eat. I loved the syrup, though. My dad worked for Welch’s and I remember when he started bringing home white grape pear juice. I thought it was the nectar of the gods. Whenever I go to a restaurant that has pear cider, I ALWAYS order it. Next time I’m feeling fancy, I’m definitely making this.

  • Jade Sheldon

    Oooo boy, these look heavenly…

  • Myra

    It’s a bit early for my pears (I have 3 trees), but I do have about 6 quarts in the pantry from last years harvest. This will be great! Thanks for the idea, and recipe.

  • Iris

    As a child I always loved kerns pear nectar, this so reminds me of that. Only the adult version, love it!

  • dixya@food, pleasure, and health

    I am not much of a mushy pears but i would take the adult beverage with it.

  • brandi

    gorgeous! i’m actually not a big fan of pears unless they’re in something like this.

  • Kate

    That looks so refreshing. I’m leaning in on the vodka side.

  • prince

    Hi Tracy

    I don’t have any idea about mixing Lime, vanilla, pears and sugar make a vanilla pear syrup but I’ve tried this without vanilla bean,because I don’t know where can I get that.So I taste it even there’s no vanilla bean.And I think the Vanilla bean has a big part of the
    Vanilla Pear Sparklers.

    I want to perfect those Vanilla Pear Sparklers be able to share it to my Friends.

    What if I did not find vanilla bean, do you know yet I can substitute for those I get taste of vanilla bean?

    Tracy Thanks for sharing, I hope you can help me for me to do the Vanilla Pear Sparklers.

    Prince

    • Tracy

      If you don’t have access to a vanilla bean (you can usually find it in specialty grocery stores & online!) you might want to add a about 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to your pear syrup. Hopefully you have access to vanilla extract—but vanilla bean is really what makes the syrup tasty! Good luck!

      • Prince

        Hi Tracy,

        Thank you so much! Like what you said I can find the vanilla bean in specialty grocery stores, so I found it! And I’m glad to say that I did it! So finally I can this to my friends for them to able to taste the Vanilla Pear Sparklers.

        -Prince

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  • Phoebe

    I’m late to the party but where are the straws from?!

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    […] love everything about this Vanilla Pear Sparkler, and especially those birch-patterened straws. And that polka-dotted […]

  • Lynda

    This looks amazing! But I am confused – sorry – do you only put in the bean after it’s been scraped of the seeds? What do you do with the seeds – save it for something else? Or do you put in the scraped seeds and the bean together? Thanks! 😀

    • Tracy

      Sorry for the confusion! You scrape the seeds out and also toss the vanilla bean pod in the mixture to cook. Then you remove it at the end when you strain.

      • Lynda

        thank you! you have THE BEST recipes! love your juice and cocktail recipes too, please keep them coming! 😀

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