Homemade Pear Cider
Recipe: Homemade Pear Cider
Homemade Pear Cider is a warming, cozy, aromatic and delicious with flavours from the spices and lemon. I decided to leave the cider unfiltered so that tiny bits of cooked pears become a part of the drink. Though a fall drink, it can easily be served as a hot beverage during the colder months or Christmas |New Year Parties. My first time ever to make a cider at home and loved making this drink with pears, lemon slices and mulled with spices. Then mashed it to release the flavours.
Spike Homemade Pear Cider
Though we enjoyed the cider alcohol free, you can add some brandy, bourbon, rum, tequila, cinnamon liqueur or some sparkling white wine.
What Is Cider?
Generally, cider is an alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice. Ciders can be classified from dry to sweet. Addition of other fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, etc makes each cider different. I remember when we visited an apple orchard in 2021, we had a fun time tasting all the different ciders. At the end of the tasting, I just couldn’t decide which bottle we wanted to buy. Homemade ciders are quite different from the fermented ones. Many homes prepare mulled cider during the Christmas holidays. Sweet cider is mulled with warming spices and served hot.
How To Make It?
Can make the cider on your stove top or in the slow cooker. If you make it on your stove top, add the pears, whole spices and water. Allow it to simmer for 2 hours. Mash the pears lightly. Add the sugar, lemon|orange slices and vanilla. Allow the mixture to simmer on low for 2 hours.
I have used the slow cooker option on my Instant Pot. While I would love the aroma of the spices and pears simmering away on the stove top, I had a few errands I had to take care of. So the slow cooker was a better option as I didn’t need to ‘baby sit’ it.
Memories
Till last year Christmas, I had only tasted chilled cider. Last Christmas we visited the Christmas Market in Montreal and dinner was grilled cheese sandwich and hot cider. Loved the mulled cider. So when Wendy suggested the theme “Spreading Christmas Cheer” I decided to try out homemade apple cider.
And then I got this whole load of pears on sale and deviated a bit off the original course.
Sharing Homemade Pear Cider With Sunday Funday
Initially for this theme I wanted to use up my ready made apple cider bottle, mull it with spices and get the Seasonal Cocktail or Mocktail ready. A theme aptly suggested by Wendy. Must admit, I love my cocktails but don’t keep all the different brands of alcohol at home to make them. I’m the only drinker in my family of two. Whenever my son comes down to visit us, we have some wine. Cocktails are left to enjoy when we go out or when I am visiting my family in UK. Having a drink is much more fun with some company than on my own.
Check Out Seasonal Cocktail | Mocktail Recipes By Members Of Sunday Funday
- Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Gingerbread Mule
- Mayuri’s Jikoni: Homemade Pear Cider
- Sneha’s Recip: Homemade Rice Wine
- Food Lust People Love: Spiced Hot Toddies
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories: The Sugar Plum Cocktail
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Winter White Cosmopolitan
Ingredients Required For Homemade Pear Cider
Pears
Any kind of pears can be used. We had these huge batch of organic pears that didn’t look too good. However, when I cut them, surprisingly they were sweet. So I guess never judge a book by its cover, or rather never judge a fruit by its peel????? Cut the pears into halves or quarters. No need to peel or core them.
Citrus Fruit
Can use either oranges or lemon. I went for lemon. Cut the citrus fruit into slices.
Whole Spices
Need cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom, cloves.
Nutmeg
Ass some nutmeg powder at the end of the cooking process.
Vanilla Pod
I didn’t have a vanilla pod so I added some vanilla powder.
Water
Regular tap water. We need about 8-9 cups of it.
Sweetener
Can use maple syrup or brown sugar. I opted for brown sugar.
To Serve:
Pear slices, orange or lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise are a few suggestions.
Watch How To Make Pear Cider In An Instant Pot At Slow Cook Setting
HOMEMADE PEAR CIDER
Ingredients
- 6 ripe pears
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 2 star anise
- 4 cardamom pods
- 4 cloves
- 1 vanilla pod or ½ tsp vanilla powder
- ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
- 1 large lemon or orange sliced
- ¼ cup brown sugar or maple syrup
- 8 cups water
Instructions
- I used the slow cooking setting on my instant pot.
- Cut the pears into halves or quarters. No need to peel or core them. If the pears are small use 8 of them.
- Add them to the instant pot.
- Add 8 cups of water.
- Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom and cloves.
- Close the instant pot with the lid. Make sure the pressure release valve is turned to the right for the sealing setting.
- Press the button for slow cooking.
- Adjust the time to 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, open the lid. It does so quite easily as there is no pressure built in the instant pot.
- Add the lemon or orange slices. Also add the sugar and vanilla powder.
- Close the lid again. Slow cook for another 2 hours.
- Open the lid.
- Mash the mixture. The pears will not mash completely.
- Close the lid and slow cook for another 2 hours.
- Again mash the mixture. Add the nutmeg powder.
- Cover and allow it mixture to cool down a bit.
- Strain the mixture using a fine mesh sieve.
- A bit of the cooked pears passes through the sieve but I don't mind the cloudy cider.
- If you want a clear cider then use a cheesecloth to strain the mixture.
- Pour the pear cider into a bottle.
- Serve it hot with some lemon or orange slices, pear slices, cinnamon sticks or star anise.
- Can add a shot of brandy, bourbon, rum, tequila, cinnamon liqueur or some sparkling white wine.
- Can store the pear cider in the fridge for a week.
Notes
- Can make it on the stove top. Cook the pears, whole spices for 2 hours. Then add the lemon or orange slices, sugar and cook for another 2 hours.
- Add either lemon or orange slices. Make sure they are fresh.
- For a more clear cider, strain the mixture with a layer of cheesecloth.
- I allowed some bits to pass through the sieve to make it into a cloudy pear cider.
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If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
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- or comment on Pinterest @mayuri62
24 Comments
Wendy Klik
December 15, 2024 at 6:10 am
Often times I find the fruit and veggies that don’t look perfect taste the best. I love that you substituted pears for apples in this mulled cider. Perfect for the holidays.
mayurisjikoni
December 16, 2024 at 8:37 pm
Thank you so much Wendy. The pears didn’t look so inviting and were sitting on the table for days.
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
December 15, 2024 at 2:25 pm
I love unfiltered cider! Years ago I used to go to the apple farm and buy fresh cider to ferment. This sounds so delicious with the pear flavorings. Perfect for this time of year.
mayurisjikoni
December 16, 2024 at 8:35 pm
Thank you so much Karen.I wanted to try making the cider at home and enjoyed the whole process. So different from the fermented version.
Stacy
December 17, 2024 at 8:24 am
Your cider looks like the perfect use for fruit that is very ripe! With or without added alcohol, I’d love a warm mug!
mayurisjikoni
December 17, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Thank you so much Stacy. I love it too with or without alcohol.
Sneha Datar
December 18, 2024 at 7:21 am
I have everything needed, must try this soon! Cheers.
mayurisjikoni
December 20, 2024 at 9:22 pm
Please do Sneha, am sure everyone will love them.
Amy’s Cooking Adventures
December 24, 2024 at 12:38 am
Those spices! THis sounds amazing!
mayurisjikoni
December 26, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Thank you so much Amy, it got over within 2 days! Next time will have to make a bigger batch.
Priya Srinivasan
March 29, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Such a warm cider mayuri ji! Love such warm drinks and my the spices here are just a warm hug. I can almost feel the aroma as i read through the recipe. I have once made apple cider but on stove top. This slow cooking in instant pot sounds brilliant idea and it makes the flavors infuse brilliantly! I m bookmarking this recipe to try!
mayurisjikoni
April 2, 2025 at 11:35 am
Thank you so much Priya. The advantage with the slow cooking is that you don’t need to baby sit the process of making the cider, though it takes longer than the stove top.
Jayashree T Rao
April 1, 2025 at 9:04 am
I liked that you have used pear instead of the usual apples. I have all the ingredients, can make this apple cider at home now.
mayurisjikoni
April 2, 2025 at 11:32 am
Thanks Jayashree. Go ahead and make it, am sure your family will love it.
Archana
April 2, 2025 at 12:23 am
😀 I love this homemade pear cider; it sounds delicious and easy to make. I think I’m going to get some apples to make it. It is sweltering here, so we must enjoy it, imagining the AC room is winter!
mayurisjikoni
April 2, 2025 at 11:31 am
Thanks Archana. Apples is the most common fruit for cider so go ahead and try out the recipe.
Preethi
April 3, 2025 at 5:06 am
I am in love with this homemade Pear Cider . So innovative . I have never tasted warm Cider. Now I have a fool proof recipe make it at home . Perfect for the wet weather here.
mayurisjikoni
April 5, 2025 at 5:17 am
Preethi do taste it, you will love it. And it is a perfect drink when it is cold.
Kalyani
April 4, 2025 at 1:04 am
Homemade Cider looks and sounds delish. .Usually heard of Apple Cider, bet the pear gave it a fruity twist !
mayurisjikoni
April 5, 2025 at 5:16 am
Thanks Kalyani, yes apple cider is more popular but so is a pear one or the combination of both.
Seema
April 5, 2025 at 3:44 am
As we are starting to cool down in weather, a warm cider will be so welcoming. Thankyou for this amazing recipe.
mayurisjikoni
April 5, 2025 at 5:15 am
You’re welcome, enjoy the comforting drink with warm spices.
Priya Vj
April 7, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Hubby loves such fruity and citrusy flavors. I am sure he will love this pear cider too
..definitely making it when I am buying pears next .
mayurisjikoni
April 16, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Thank you so much. Enjoy pear cider.