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Homemade Pear Cider

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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

 

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

 

Print

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.
Course beverage
Cuisine International
Keyword homemade pear cider, how to make pear cider, non alcoholic pear cider
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
COOLING TIME 30 minutes
Total Time 7 hours 35 minutes
Servings 6
Author mayurisjikoni

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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