Oh my goodness, when the weather starts to turn crisp, I crave those deep, cozy flavors that just hug you, you know? Most people grab cider, but I wanted something lighter, something refreshing but still totally sophisticated. That’s how I stumbled onto this trick of roasting the fruit first! Seriously, taking humble apples and pears, roasting them until they’re almost jammy, and then mixing that intense flavor into a sparkling drink changes everything.

This **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail** is my new go-to. It takes that warm, spiced experience you get from hot drinks and turns it into this bright, bubbly sensation. It’s elegant enough for company, but honestly, I make it just for my afternoon quiet time. It’s just pure, concentrated fall flavor in a glass, without needing a single drop of alcohol.

Why This Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail Recipe Stands Out

I think people hesitate when making mocktails because sometimes they end up tasting too much like juice. Not this one! This recipe really separates itself from the crowd. If you want that beautiful depth of flavor, you have to try roasting the fruit first. It really takes this Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail to the next level.

The roasting step caramelizes the natural sugars, giving you a concentration of flavor you just can’t get from boiling them.
It feels complex, like a bartender put in hours of work, but it’s super manageable for a weeknight.
Pairing this flavor base with sparkling water makes it wonderfully refreshing, much like a good non-alcoholic summer sangria.

Deep Flavor from Roasting

If you just simmer your apples and pears, you get a nice fruit water, sure. But roasting? Oh, roasting transforms them! When you put them in the oven with that little bit of syrup, the sugars start to brown slightly. This isn’t just sweetness; it’s complexity! It adds this subtle, toasted note that you instantly recognize as something special and not straight out of a can.

Perfectly Spiced for Warmth

This is where the magic really happens for me. We use a cinnamon stick and a single star anise, which infuses the whole syrup as the fruit roasted. Honestly, the smell in my kitchen during this stage is incredible—it smells like a cozy hug! Those warm spices are what turn this from a simple fruit drink into a truly comforting, adult-tasting beverage.

Essential Ingredients for Your Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

Okay, let’s talk about what you need to grab from the pantry. Don’t panic, it’s all pretty simple stuff! The beauty of this recipe is using fresh, whole ingredients that let the roasting do most of the heavy lifting. We’re building flavor layers, so stick close to these measurements, especially when it comes to the spices.

Here is exactly what you’re going to gather:

Two medium apples, cored and chopped roughly—leave the skin on; trust me!
Two ripe pears, also cored and chopped roughly.
Two cups of water, just plain old tap water is fine.
About a quarter cup of sugar. You can check out the link below if you’re curious about how much sugar is naturally in your fruit.
One whole cinnamon stick—don’t use pre-ground; it gets murky fast.
One star anise. This little guy packs a huge aromatic punch.
One cup of sparkling water, kept nice and chilled.
Ice cubes, naturally.
A few thin apple slices for that final, pretty garnish.

Expert Tips for Preparing the Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail Base

Preparing the base is where you move from just making an apple drink to crafting something truly remarkable. Don’t rush those first few steps! They set the entire tone for your final **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail**. I’ve learned through a couple of slightly burnt batches that paying attention here is half the battle.

Roasting Technique for Optimal Sweetness

First things first: keep the skins on the apples and pears! Seriously, don’t bother peeling them. The skin adds lovely color to your final base—it gives it a beautiful blush, and it holds onto just enough structure so the fruit doesn’t completely dissolve into mush before it caramelizes correctly. Make sure when you spread them in that baking dish that they aren’t piled too high. If they are layered too thickly, they’ll steam instead of roast, and we want that slight caramelization. Keep an eye on them, especially near the edges of the dish!

Achieving a Smooth Fruit Base Consistency

When it comes to the blending and straining, this is vital for that professional texture in your **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail**. Once it’s blended smooth—and I mean *smooth*—you absolutely must use a fine-mesh sieve. Don’t try to use a colander; it just won’t cut it. Pour the puree into the sieve set over a bowl or pitcher. Now, here is the crucial part: use the back of a spoon or a sturdy spatula to press down on those cooked-out solids. You want to extract every last drop of that precious liquid. Don’t be afraid to really push on it!

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

Alright, let’s get cooking! Since we’ve already roasted our fruit base, this section is all about transforming those lovely caramelized chunks into an incredible drink. The process is quick once the fruit is cool enough to handle. Don’t worry, we’re only using the liquid part, so we need to be methodical here.

It breaks down into a few easy stages. Just follow along, and you’ll have a spectacular **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail** ready in no time!

First things first, make sure your oven is hot and ready! You need to preheat it to 400°F (that’s about 200°C).
Take those apples and pears you chopped—skin on, remember!—and toss them right into a small baking dish. Don’t worry too much about neatness here; it’s rustic!
While that’s happening, let’s get that warming syrup ready. In a little saucepan, mix your two cups of water, sugar, the cinnamon stick, and that pretty star anise. You just want to heat this gently—enough for the sugar to vanish completely. Absolutely no boiling, okay?
Take half of that finished syrup and pour it right over the fruit in the baking dish. Make sure you keep the rest of that gorgeous spiced liquid aside!
Now, these beauties go into the hot oven. They need about 20 to 25 minutes. You’re looking for them to be totally soft and maybe just starting to get dark brown spots on the edges—that’s the caramelization we want.
Once they look perfect, pull them out and let them cool down just a tiny bit. They don’t need to be fridge-cold, just not burning hot.
Time to blend! Scoop the roasted fruit and that remaining half of the reserved syrup into your blender. Blitz it until it’s totally luscious and smooth.
Now, for the professional finish: strain that blend through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. Remember what I said before? Press down hard on the solids with a spoon to squeeze out every bit of flavor. Toss the dry leftovers.
You now have your fruit base! When you’re ready to serve your **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail**, grab your glasses, fill them up with ice, and then pour one part fruit base alongside one part chilled sparkling water. Give it a gentle stir.
Garnish time! Pop a nice thin apple slice on the rim, and you are ready to enjoy this amazing drink. If you want more tips on hydration, check out my tips for making natural electrolyte drinks!

Assembling and Serving Your Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

The hard part—making that unbelievably flavorful base—is totally done! Now comes the fun bit: turning that base into the shimmering, bubbly **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail** everyone is going to rave about. This is where you decide how fizzy and strong you want your drink to be. It seriously only takes 30 seconds to bring this all together once the ice is in the glass.

I usually aim for a one-to-one ratio, especially if I’ve made a really rich base. So, grab your nicest tall glasses—really show off your work! Fill them right up to the top with good, chunky ice cubes. Seriously, don’t skimp on the ice; it keeps things crisp.

Next, you go half fruit base and half chilled sparkling water. If you prefer something less intense, go for two parts sparkling water to one part base. Pour them in gently so you don’t lose too much of that lovely fizz we worked so hard to keep. Just stir it once or twice with a long spoon to combine.

Presentation is everything, right? This is what elevates it from juice to a spectacular non-alcoholic cocktail. Take a few thin slices of crisp apple—I like to score mine slightly with a knife so they almost look like little wheels—and slide one right onto the rim of the glass. It looks so polished! It’s a drink that proves you don’t need alcohol to feel like you’re celebrating. This flavor profile is so complete, it stands on its own wonderfully, but if you’re looking for other simple ways to stay refreshed, check out my guide on simple hydration tricks.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

One of the best parts about cooking with fresh fruit is that no two batches will ever taste exactly the same, which is why flexibility is key! When you see that 1/4 cup of sugar listed, I really need you to use your best judgment there. If your pears are incredibly ripe—like, almost too soft to handle, bursting with sweetness—you can absolutely cut back on that added sugar. Taste your syrup before you pour it over the fruit, and see if it feels right for *your* fruit that day.

Also, let’s talk about those spices. Cinnamon is non-negotiable for that classic warmth, but sometimes people just don’t have star anise lying around, or maybe you just don’t love that licorice-y note. If you’re missing the star anise, don’t fret! You can swap it out. I find that adding about a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract *after* the fruit has cooled down but *before* blending adds a lovely rounded sweetness that fills the void beautifully.

Remember, the goal here is a rich, natural **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail**, so even if you use a substitution, keep the addition subtle. We want the apple and pear to be the rockstars, not the supporting cast!

Make-Ahead and Storage for the Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail Base

This is my favorite part about this recipe, honestly. Because roasting the fruit takes time, and sometimes life gets busy, you can totally make the fruit base ahead of time! This means on a busy weeknight, you are literally just mixing sparkling water and pouring ice. It’s the ultimate cheat code for effortless entertaining. You’ll be able to whip up a spectacular **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail** in about sixty seconds flat.

If you decide to do this, make sure you follow the instruction to strain the base completely and let it cool before storing it. You want to put it into a really good, airtight container. I prefer glass jars—like mason jars—because they seal up tight and don’t hold onto any weird smells or flavors. Keep it tucked away in the coldest part of your fridge. You can keep that wonderful spiced fruit base fresh for up to three full days, which is perfect for weekend hosting!

If you make a big batch of just the syrup component, you can store that on its own too! If you wanted to learn how to make a super versatile simple syrup that isn’t fruit-infused, that’s another great thing to have on hand for quick mocktails and cocktails. But for this specific base, three days in the fridge is the sweet spot. It keeps that roasted flavor bright but still lets the spices soak in nicely!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

I totally get it; when you’re trying a new drink recipe, you always have a few little questions floating around in your head. People ask me all the time about substitutions or how to change the temperature—and yes, you can totally customize this **fruit beverage**!

Can I use peeled apples and pears in the Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail?

You certainly *can*, but I really wouldn’t recommend it! Keeping the peels on is one of the little secrets that adds depth. The skins hold onto just enough color and concentrated nutrients that really make the fruit base visually appealing. Plus, since we strain everything really well afterward, you don’t have to worry about any weird texture from the skin remaining in your final **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail**.

What kind of sparkling water works best for this fruit beverage?

For me, the best sparkling water is the plain, unflavored kind. Why? Because we’ve worked so hard roasting those apples and pears, and we’ve infused that subtle spice blend into the syrup—we don’t want a strong lemon or lime flavor fighting with our beautiful spiced apple pear profile! Use a crystal-clear, unflavored sparkling water so that the natural roast flavor shines through effortlessly. If you’re interested in other ways to mix fruit bases with plain water, I have a whole section on blending fruit into water for light drinks!

Can I make this a warm drink instead of a cold Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail?

Oh, I love that idea for a super chilly evening! Yes, absolutely! If you want a cozy spiced apple pear drink, simply make the fruit base just as written up until the straining step. Then, instead of chilling it, keep that strained liquid warm on the stove over very low heat. Skip the ice and the sparkling water entirely, or if you want just a tiny bit of life in it, top it with just a splash of warmed club soda right before serving. It turns into a lovely little winter warmer!

Estimated Nutritional Information for the Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

Now, I have to be super honest with you all here. This information is just an estimation cooked up based on the average size of the fruit and the sugar we added. Since your pears might be sweeter than mine, or maybe you used a tiny bit less sugar because your apples were super ripe, the numbers may shift a bit! But it gives you a fantastic baseline, especially if you’re counting macros for workouts or watching sugar intake.

It’s great news for anyone looking for a beautiful, lower-fat beverage option that still feels indulgent. I mean, 150 calories for something this flavorful? I’ll take it every single time!

Here is what the data generally looks like for one serving of this **Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail**:

Calories: Around 150
Total Fat: 0 grams (Amazing!)
Protein: Just 1 gram
Carbohydrates: About 38 grams
Sugar: Roughly 25 grams (Keep in mind this is natural fruit sugar plus our added syrup!)
Sodium: Super low, only about 5mg

Remember, this is based on making four servings and using the ratio provided in the recipe. If you stretch it to five servings because you used smaller fruit, those calorie numbers will drop nicely! That fat content being zero is fantastic, which just proves how much goodness we get from pure fruit and bubbles.

Roasted Apple Pear Mocktail

Author: ferecipe.com
Total Time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

A simple, refreshing mocktail made with roasted apples and pears.

Ingredients

Scale

2 medium apples
2 ripe pears
2 cups water
1/4 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
1 cup sparkling water, chilled
Ice cubes
Apple slices for garnish

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Core and chop the apples and pears into rough chunks. Do not peel.
Place the fruit in a small baking dish.
In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cinnamon stick, and star anise. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Do not boil.
Pour half of the sugar syrup over the fruit. Reserve the remaining syrup.
Roast the fruit for 20 to 25 minutes, until soft and slightly caramelized.
Remove the fruit from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Transfer the roasted fruit and the remaining reserved syrup to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing down on the solids to extract all liquid. Discard the solids. You now have the fruit base.
To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour one part fruit base and one part chilled sparkling water into each glass. Stir gently.
Garnish each drink with an apple slice.

Notes

You can roast the fruit ahead of time and store the base in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Adjust the amount of sugar in the syrup based on the sweetness of your fruit.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Category: Beverage
Method: Roasting and Blending
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 glass
Calories: 150
Sugar: 25
Sodium: 5
Fat: 0
Saturated Fat: 0
Unsaturated Fat: 0
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 38
Fiber: 4
Protein: 1
Cholesterol: 0

Keywords: roasted apple pear mocktail, non-alcoholic drink, fruit beverage, spiced apple pear