Spiced Cranberry-Pear Cider

This winter warmer offers a tart alternative to hot apple cider. Crushing fresh ginger slices helps release the root’s spicy-sweet flavor. Floating cubes of diced pear add a festive touch.

Directions

1. Bring cranberries, ginger, cinnamon stick, and 31/2 cups water to a simmer in medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove ginger and cinnamon stick, and set aside. Strain cranberry mixture into another saucepan, pressing down on solids to extract all liquid. (You should have about 3 cups liquid.)

2. Return ginger and cinnamon stick to cranberry juice, and add pear juice, sugar, and vanilla bean. Bring to a simmer, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 10 minutes, then remove ginger, cinnamon stick, and vanilla bean. Add diced pear (if using), and remove from heat. Serve warm. 

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ingredient list

Serves 8

• 1 lb. fresh or frozen cranberries
• 4 1/4-inch-thick slices ginger, crushed
• 1 3-inch-long cinnamon stick
• 2 cups pear juice or cider
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. sugar
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split
• 1 large pear, peeled, cored, and cut into small dice (1 1/4 cups), optional