Shake up a spiced pear martini to celebrate Autumn! Cinnamon and cardamom combine with pear vodka and amaretto in this delicious fall cocktail.
I love a good fall cocktail. Since the evenings get dark faster there’s less time for gardening and long walks and more opportunities to to sit a spell and enjoy a drink.
That little bit of time is so important as the holidays loom. While 2020 might be very different in terms of celebrating, we are already making plans for how to gather outdoors or virtually and the stress of it all can be overwhelming.
So, I try to remember at the end of each workday (or weekend chore day) to stop for a bit and just relax. Lately, during happy hour I’ve been sipping this delicious spiced pear vodka cocktail.
Pear Vodka
I acquired this martini recipe a while back from a local restaurant and over the years I have adapted it to suit my taste. It’s subtly spiced, easy to make and tastes of tart fresh pear even though it doesn’t contain fresh pear at all!
The secret is pear vodka. I’ve tried quite a few brands and highly recommend both Absolut Pear and Grey Goose La Poire. These vodkas are infused with pear flavor so you don’t have to add pear juice or pear puree to the cocktail. These are ingredients I don’t have on hand regulary and I doubt you do either.
But there is fresh juice in the martini, lemon juice, which gives the pear flavor a tart bite. It’s a nice contrast to the honey and amaretto that both sweeten and add a pear pie flavor to the drink.
Cardamom bitters
To really amp of the spiced flavors I use cardamom bitters and a cinnamon sugar rim. The Bitter Housewife cardamom bitters is my go-to brand. They are subtle, so you might need an extra dash or two, but they are so smooth and all natural.
Cardamom + cinnamon + honey + amaretto = a deep, full bodied pear martini that’s so rich and splendid it’s worthy of your Thanksgiving menu!
How to make candied pear slices
Speaking of which, if you’re serving this spiced pear martini at a special event or dinner, making candied pear slices will make your home bar feel like an upscale lounge. Here’s how you make them:
- You’ll need at least one pear for every cocktail you wish to serve, but I suggest having extras.
- With a sharp knife slice down each side of the stem, making the thinnest slice you can. Alternatively you can use a mandolin. The remaining pear can be used in other recipes.
- Combine 2 cups of granulated sugar and two cups of water in a wide, shallow pan then bring to a simmer .
- Meanwhile, place a cooling rack over a cookie sheet.
- When the sugar has dissolved, drop in one or two pear slices using tongs or a slotted spoon.
- Cook 2-3 minutes a side, or until the pears start to look translucent.
- Remove pear slices from sugar syrup and drain on the cooling rack. Repeat this method until all the pears are cooked.
- Next the pears must be dried. This can be done in a dehydrator (airfryers and toast ovens tend to have this feature) or in the oven on warm. It can take anywhere from two hours to overnight, so I prefer to use a dehydrator. They should be chewy and firm when they are done.
- Because they are quite sticky, I also recommend placing them on parchment if your dehydrator racks aren’t nonstick. This also assures that they keep a flat shapeand don’t stick to any grates as they dry.
- Store slices separated by parchment in an airtight container.
The pear slices make this spiced martini look opulent. Add a stick of cinnamon and wowzah! You’re certainly going to love this drink! It’s sweet, crisp, nutty and subtly spiced with the taste of fall.
Spiced Pear Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ ounce honey
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 1¾ ounce pear vodka
- 1 ounce amaretto
- 3 dashes cardamom bitters
- cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Cover the bottom of plate with cinnamon sugar, then using a piece of lemon rind, wet the top of a martini glass, Dip the glass into spice mix to coat.
- In the bottom of coctktail shaker, combine honey and lemon juice and stir with a cocktail spoon.
- Add the pear vodka, amaretto and cardamom bitters and stir again, making sure the honey has dissolved.
- Add ice, cover and shake vigorously. Pour into prepared glass and serve.
Notes
- I’ve made this with Absolut and Grey Goose pear vodkas. Both are great!
- Disaronno is my go to for amaretto. Other brands tend to have a lower ABV and more sugar content.
Nutrition
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Winnie says
Love the sound of this! Looks so tasty! Also great styling!! Definitely going to try this!
Vintage Kitty says
Thanks Winnie! Enjoy!