Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)
Quick Ingredients
- 2 ripe pears (about 400 g), cored and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) chilled water, divided
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1–2 teaspoons honey or simple syrup (to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or vanilla essence)
- 1 cup (about 120 g) ice cubes, plus more for serving
- Optional: chilled sparkling water, pear slices, and fresh mint for garnish
Do This
- 1. Chill 2 glasses and measure all ingredients; wash and dry the pears.
- 2. Core and roughly chop pears; add to a blender with 1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled water.
- 3. Blend until completely smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to get clear pear juice.
- 4. Stir pear juice with remaining 1 cup (240 ml) chilled water, lemon juice, vanilla, and honey or syrup.
- 5. Taste and adjust sweetness or vanilla if needed; add a splash more water if too strong.
- 6. Fill chilled glasses with ice; pour pear-vanilla mixture over the ice.
- 7. Top with a little sparkling water if desired; garnish with pear slices and mint, then serve immediately.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Lightly sweet and naturally fruity, with just a hint of vanilla aroma instead of heavy sugariness.
- Uses simple, fresh ingredients you can find anywhere—no specialty syrups required.
- Ready in about 10 minutes, with no cooking, baking, or complicated equipment.
- Easy to customize: make it sparkling, less sweet, or batch it for a small gathering.
Grocery List
- Produce: Ripe pears, lemon, fresh mint (optional for garnish)
- Dairy: None
- Pantry: Pure vanilla extract (or vanilla essence), honey or simple syrup, still water, sparkling water (optional), ice cubes
Full Ingredients
Pear-Vanilla Refresher Base
- 2 ripe pears (about 400 g total), preferably Bartlett or Anjou, well washed
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) chilled water, divided
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 1/2 small lemon)
- 1–2 teaspoons honey or simple syrup, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or vanilla essence)
- 1 cup (about 120 g) ice cubes, plus more for serving
Optional Garnish & Serving
- 4–6 thin pear slices (from an extra pear or reserved from above)
- 2 small sprigs fresh mint
- Up to 1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled sparkling water, to top up the glasses
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Chill your glasses and prep the ingredients
Place 2 serving glasses in the refrigerator or freezer to chill while you prepare the drink. This helps keep the refresher icy-cold without diluting it too quickly.
Rinse the pears thoroughly under cool water and dry them with a clean towel. If you plan to garnish with pear slices, set one pear aside for that purpose or plan to cut a few neat slices from one of the pears before chopping.
Measure out the chilled water, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and honey or simple syrup so everything is ready to go.
Step 2: Core and chop the pears
On a cutting board, cut each pear into quarters, then slice away the cores, stems, and any bruised spots. There is no need to peel the pears unless the skin is particularly tough; the skin adds flavor and color, and you will be straining the juice later.
Roughly chop the cored pears into bite-sized chunks so they blend easily. If using pear slices for garnish, cut 4–6 very thin slices from one of the pears now and set them aside in the refrigerator.
Step 3: Blend the pear juice
Add the chopped pears to a blender along with 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the chilled water. Blend on high speed for 30–60 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and there are no large pieces of pear remaining.
If you have a high-powered blender, the mixture will quickly become a smooth pear purée. If your blender is weaker, pause once or twice to scrape down the sides with a spatula and blend again.
Step 4: Strain for a smooth, refreshing texture
Set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl or large measuring jug. Pour the pear purée into the sieve. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to gently press and stir the purée, allowing the clear pear juice to drip through into the bowl.
Continue pressing until only a fairly dry pulp remains in the sieve. Discard the pulp or save it for another use (it can be stirred into oatmeal or yogurt). You should be left with a pale, slightly cloudy pear juice in the bowl or jug.
Step 5: Add vanilla, lemon, and sweetness
To the pear juice, add the remaining 1 cup (240 ml) chilled water, the freshly squeezed lemon juice, and the vanilla extract. Stir well to combine.
Add 1 teaspoon of honey or simple syrup and stir until completely dissolved. Taste the mixture. Depending on how sweet your pears are, you may want to add up to 1 more teaspoon of sweetener. The goal is a lightly sweet drink that still tastes refreshing, not sugary.
If the flavor feels too strong or thick, add a small splash of extra water and stir again until it reaches your preferred intensity.
Step 6: Assemble the iced refresher
Remove the chilled glasses from the refrigerator or freezer. Add a generous handful of ice cubes to each glass (about 1/2 cup or more per glass, depending on size).
Give the pear-vanilla mixture a final stir, then pour it evenly over the ice in both glasses. If you like a bit of fizz, leave some room at the top (about 2–3 cm) and top each glass with a splash of chilled sparkling water.
Step 7: Garnish and serve immediately
Garnish each glass with 2–3 thin pear slices, tucking them along the side of the glass or resting them on the rim. Add a sprig of fresh mint if using, gently bruising the leaves between your fingers first to release their aroma.
Serve the pear-vanilla iced refresher right away while it is very cold and the ice is still crisp. Give each glass a quick stir just before drinking to ensure the vanilla and pear flavors are evenly distributed.
Pro Tips
- Choose ripe pears: The drink’s flavor depends heavily on the pears. Look for fruit that yields slightly to gentle pressure near the stem and smells fragrant.
- Adjust the vanilla with care: Vanilla can become overpowering quickly. Start with 1/2 teaspoon, taste, and only add a drop or two more if you want a stronger aroma.
- Make it extra cold: Use very cold water and chilled glasses, and consider chilling the pear juice in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes before serving if you have the time.
- Blender vs. juicer: If you own a juicer, you can run the pears through it instead of blending and straining. Then simply mix the pear juice with water, lemon, vanilla, and sweetener.
- Batch for guests: Easily double or triple the recipe and serve it in a pitcher over ice, adding sparkling water just before serving so it stays bubbly.
Variations
- Sparkling Pear-Vanilla Spritzer: Replace half of the still water with chilled sparkling water and pour the sparkling water just before serving for a lively, fizzy version.
- Herbal Twist: Add a few fresh mint or basil leaves to the blender with the pears, then strain as directed for a subtle herbal note that pairs beautifully with pear and vanilla.
- Ginger-Pear Refresher: Add 1–2 thin slices of fresh ginger to the blender, or stir in 1–2 teaspoons of ginger syrup along with the vanilla, for a gentle warming kick.
Storage & Make-Ahead
The pear-vanilla base (without ice or sparkling water) can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator in a glass jar or pitcher and stir well before serving, as some natural separation may occur. For best flavor and color, avoid keeping it longer than 1 day; pears can oxidize and slightly darken over time. Do not store the drink with ice, as it will dilute the flavor. If you want to prepare ahead for guests, chill the base thoroughly, then pour it over fresh ice and add any sparkling water and garnishes just before serving.
Nutrition (per serving)
Approximate values per serving (based on 2 servings, using 2 teaspoons honey total and without optional sparkling water or garnishes): about 130 calories; 0 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 1 g protein; 34 g carbohydrates; 4 g dietary fiber; 27 g sugars (mostly natural from pears); 5 mg sodium. Actual values will vary based on the exact size and sweetness of the pears and the amount of sweetener used.
Leave a Reply