This Honey Cardamom Pear Sangria is a unique and festive way to celebrate the holidays without the hassle of having to work the bar. This delicious batch cocktail will easily serve your holiday crowd.

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

The holidays can be a bit daunting with its long laundry list of items to check off, so the last thing you should have to worry about is what cocktail to serve at your holiday gatherings and how you’re going to serve it. The key to cocktail success during the holidays is choosing one signature drink that your guests can easily serve themselves.

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

I’m taking the work out of cocktail shaking this holiday season with this Honey Cardamom Pear Sangria. This gorgeous batch cocktail is easy to make, easy to serve, and (the best part!) can be made in advance. The longer the sangria rests in the fridge, the better it tastes.

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

Because we’re celebrating the holidays, I decided to take a classic combination like pear and honey and put a creative spin on it by adding a hint of cardamom. A little cardamom goes a long way. If you’re not familiar with cardamom, it’s a spice made from the seed pods of various plants in the ginger family. The aromatic pod has hints of citrus, mint, and subtle notes of smoke. The complex spice is popular in Indian cuisine, but it also works beautifully to add flavor to baked goods, chai tea, and, in this case, cocktails!

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

I chose the aromatic spice because it pairs flawlessly with the sweet, floral notes of the honey simple syrup I made to sweeten the sangria. Honey adds a complexity of flavor that complements the crisp mineral notes of the Pinot Grigio and sweet, aromatic pear.

When I’m making sangria, I like to make it a few days in advance to allow the flavors to mingle and get to know one another. It also allows the natural sugars in the honey to pull out the flavors of the pear, further flavoring the sangria. And, as we all know, flavor is king! Preparing the sangria in advance will free up your schedule to focus on the rest of your holiday to-do list.

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

I like to have this Honey Cardamom Pear Sangria ready for when my guests arrive. I place the pitcher of sangria on the bar with a bucket of ice and festive glasses so everyone can serve themselves while I’m putting the finishing touches on the rest of the meal. I also like to serve it with a cheese platter or simple appetizer. This Brie en Croute with Honey Almonds, Cherries and Thyme is the perfect recipe for such an occasion.

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

This Honey Cardamom Pear Sangria is the start of an epic honey-inspired holiday menu. You’ll find the full menu (from cocktails to dessert) with recipe links below and a printable grocery to make the holidays a whole lot easier. Get ready to win at the holidays, friends!

Honey Pear Cardamom Sangria

Honey Cardamom Pear Sangria

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Ingredients

  • 1 700ml bottle Pinot Grigio
  • ½ cup elderflower liqueur
  • ½ cup pear liqueur
  • 2 cups pear juice
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom bitters
  • 2 pears, sliced
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • Ginger ale for serving

Instructions

  • Add water and honey to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to come to room temperature.
  • In a large pitcher add all of the ingredients, except the ginger ale. Refrigerate for 4 hours or up to 3 days. Serve with a splash of ginger ale.
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Honey-Inspired Holiday Menu + Printable Grocery List:

Cocktail: Honey Cardamom Pear Sangria (recipe above ^^)
Appetizer: Brie en Croute with Honey Almonds, Cherries and Thyme
Main Course: Bacon-Wrapped Honey Pork Loin with Pomegranate Honey Glaze
Side Dish: Honey Chipotle Roast Acorn Squash
Dessert: Honey Apple Gingerbread Cake

Honey-Inspired Holiday Menu + Printable Grocery List

Click here for the printable version of the holiday menu!

For more honey-inspired holiday recipes, visit honey.com.