Pear-Ginger Sparklers

Ever since I attended a pear dinner at Rialto, I've been thinking about more ways to incorporate pears in my cooking and baking. And when I won a box of Starkrimson pears from USA Pears just before having friends over, I knew I'd want to find a fun, party-friendly way to use them. And that's how these pear-ginger sparklers came about. Sweet pears and spicy ginger are a perfect match, and bubbly prosecco seemed like just the thing to balance them.

Pear-Ginger Sparklers

Ingredients

2 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 pears, peeled, cored, and chopped
1- to 2-inch knob of ginger, cut in chunks
Prosecco, chilled
Belle de Brillet (optional)

Preparation

In a large pot, bring water and sugar to a boil, and stir to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, add the pears and ginger, cover the pot, and let steep 20 minutes.

Discard ginger.

Scoop out pears (reserving syrup) and place them in bowl of food processor. Process until smooth. If mixture is too thick, loosen with pear-ginger syrup.

Pear puree and pear-ginger syrup can be stored separately in refrigerator for a few hours, until ready to use.

To make drinks: Place about 1 tablespoon pear puree in bottom of glass or champagne flute, top with 1 tablespoon pear-ginger syrup, and fill glass the rest of the way with prosecco.

Stir and serve. (If drinks are too sweet for your taste, add more prosecco. For a little something extra, add a splash of Belle de Brillet pear cognac.)

These pear-ginger sparklers would be a great pre- or post-Thanksgiving dinner cocktail.

What fall cocktails are you enjoying?