Jump to my Spiced Cranberry Pear Spritz Recipe

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Chai Simple Syrup

Masala Chai simple syrup is such a great addition to cocktails because it is an easy way to fuse many different spices. I had friends over while recipe testing who didn’t even like chai and liked the cocktail. If you aren’t a fan of chai, don’t let this scare you, just think of it as cinnamon, ginger, and more pre-mixed! It’s also great to have on hand to add to coffee or anywhere you’d want a flavored sweetener.

Spiced Cranberry Pear Spritz Ingredients

• Chai Tea Bag: Black tea with warm comforting spices. You’ll use this to make the simple syrup.
• Granulated Sugar: In most well-stocked pantries, you’ll use this for the simple syrup and the sugared cranberries.
• Vanilla Extract: The final ingredient in the simple syrup.
• Prosecco: Italian sparkling wine is traditional in a spritz, but feel free to use Champagne too.
• Pear Juice: Unsweetened and pear as the only ingredient.
• Cranberry Juice: Unsweetened and cranberry as the only ingredient.
• Soda Water: Added bubbles and cuts the alcohol which is great if you are having a few at a party.
• Fresh Cranberries: These will be sugared as garnish.
• Fresh Sprig of Rosemary: Pop of color and just a hint of herb.

What Tools Do You Need to Make a Spiced Cranberry Pear Spritz?

• Wine Glasses | A good-sized red wine glass pulls double duty for a spritz.
• Round Ice Cube Tray | Optional, but filled with cranberry juice they won’t water down the cocktail. Plus they’re cute!
• Glass Bottle | If you don’t use all the simple syrup in your cocktail, store it in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.

Spiced Cranberry Pear Spritz Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

CHAI SIMPLE SYRUP:

• 1 cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Masala Chai Tea Bags
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

COCKTAIL:

• 4 oz. Prosecco
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1 oz. Pear Juice
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice (more if you’d like to make cranberry juice ice cubes)
• 1 oz. Soda Water

GARNISH: will make more than needed for one cocktail

• ⅔ cup Fresh Cranberries
• ¼ cup Granulated White Sugar

Directions

1. Add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 2 tea bags to a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil.
2. Once boiling and the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat, and add the vanilla and fresh cranberries.
3. Allow the tea bags and cranberries to steep for 10 minutes.
4. Remove tea bags and cranberries with a slotted spoon.
5. Place cranberries on parchment paper to dry out at room temperature for about an hour
6. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature to thicken.
7. Once cranberries are dry, toss with ¼ cup sugar, and set aside.
8. Fill a wine glass ½ way with ice.
9. Add prosecco, pear juice, cranberry juice, and soda water. Garnish with three sugared cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
10. Enjoy!

Note: The sugared cranberry recipe is adapted from vanillaandbean.com

Tips

• Sugared cranberries can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
• I suggest preparing the sugared cranberries and chai simple syrup in advance.
• Brown sugar can be used in place of granulated sugar for the simple syrup
• If you need some brightness, add a squeeze of lemon juice. I find I don’t need it with the tart cranberries.

More Festive Winter Cocktails:

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Jump to my Pumpkin Spice Chai Martini Recipe

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Pumpkin Spice Chai Simple Syrup

I like to use easy-to-find ingredients to make simple syrups. If you can find pumpkin spice chai tea in teabags, great, use that! If you can’t, don’t worry. Using one bag of pumpkin spice tea and one back of chai works just as well! You can also use straight-up black tea and add spices to the simple syrup but I like keeping the simple syrup simple.

Like all of my homemade simple syrups, this is great to use later in oatmeal, smoothies, or mixed with sparkling water. The recipe makes 8 oz, and you’ll only use 1-2 oz for each to make your perfect cocktail, so if you have some remaining, store it in a glass airtight container in the fridge.

What Tools Do You Need to Make a Pumpkin Martini?

• Coupe Glasses | These are perfect for both martinis and Champagne. Ideal in city living.
• Cocktail Shaker | I love this because of the minimal design, built-in strainer, and it doesn’t leak.
• Glass Bottle | If you don’t use all the simple syrup in your cocktail, store it in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.

Pumpkin Spice Chai Martini Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

PUMPKIN CHAI SIMPLE SYRUP:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 pumpkin spice chai tea bags (or 1 pumpkin spice tea bag and 1 masala chai tea bag)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

COCKTAIL:

• 2 oz. Gin (I prefer Hendrick’s)
• 1-2 oz. Simple Syrup
• Dash of bitters
• Squeeze of an orange 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon, for garnish
• 1 tsp granulated sugar, for garnish

Directions

1. Add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 2 tea bags to a saucepan and bring them to a boil.
2. Once boiling and the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat, add the vanilla, and let the tea bags steep for 10 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags and let the syrup cool to room temperature to thicken; this will take about 15 additional minutes.
4. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add gin, simple syrup, bitters, and a squeeze of orange.
5. Run an orange slice (you can use the remainder from the squeeze in the cocktail) around half of a glass. Roll the rim of the glass in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
6. Pour the cocktail into the glass, straining the ice.
7. Enjoy!

Tip: I haven’t tested this, but if you are looking for a latte style, feel free to add espresso, cold brew concentrate, or coffee and milk or milk alternatives to taste. You can also add some coffee liqueur if you have it on hand.

More Fall Cocktail Recipes:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. And because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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Jump to my Chai Pear Spritz Recipe

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

What is a Spritz?

Officially a spritz is an Italian cocktail made with Prosecco, bitters, and sparkling water. A spritz is often an aperitif, meant to be drunk before a meal, and has a lower alcohol content. The most popular spritz in recent years has been an Aperol Spritz (check out my mocktail version), but different variations have become increasingly popular.

In this recipe, the chai tea serves as the bitter component, although it’s made into a simple syrup so the flavor is balanced.

What is Chai Tea?

Fun fact: “Chai” translates to “Tea” in Hindi. It’s not a type of tea which is a common misconception in the U.S. What many people in the U.S. think of as chai is masala chai. Masala translates to spice in Hindi. So technically masala chai is spice tea, and that’s precisely what it is, black tea made with spices. Usually, the spices are composed of cardamom, black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon.

I have chosen to use masala chai in the recipe, but you can always use black tea and add the spices to the boiling water. You’ll just need to strain the tea and spices after steeping.

Chai Simple Syrup

I don’t love using hard-to-find liqueurs so I impart a lot of my flavor with infused simple syrup. It’s so easy to make and you know exactly what’s in it. The chai tea simple syrup used in this chai tea spritzer has a lot of flavor and would be great to use later in oatmeal, smoothies, or mixed with sparkling water. The recipe makes 8 oz and you’ll only use 1-2 oz for each cocktail so if you have some remaining, store it in a glass airtight container in the fridge.

What Tools Do You Need to Make a Chai Pear Spritz?

• Ice Cube Mold | The larger the ice cube the slower the ice will water down the drink. Plus square ice cubes are just prettier.
• Jigger | Part of every well-equipped bar.
• Glass Bottle | This recipe will be 8 oz of simple syrup. If you don’t use it all for cocktails now store the remaining in a glass bottle in the fridge. It should last two to four weeks.

Chai Pear Spritz Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

CHAI SIMPLE SYRUP

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 masala chai tea bags
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

CHAI PEAR SPRITZ

• 3 oz. prosecco
• 2 oz. pear juice (pear as the only ingredient)
• 1-2 oz. chai simple syrup
• 1 oz. sparkling water
• Pear, for garnish
• Star anise, for garnish

Directions

1. Add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and chai tea bags to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Once boiling and the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat, add the vanilla, and let the tea bags steep for 10 minutes.
3. Remove tea bags and let the syrup cool to room temperature; this will take about 15 additional minutes.
4. Add prosecco, pear juice, sparkling soda water, and 1 to 2 oz (depending on how sweet you like it) the a glass. Stir, and add ice.
5. Garnish with pear slices and star anise.

Tips

• Can substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar if that is what you have on hand
• If using one oz of simple syrup is too sweet, add a little fresh lemon juice

More Bubbly Cocktails:

Limoncello Inspired Spritz

Passion Fruit Martini

Strawberry Champagne

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. And because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post Spiced Chai Pear Spritz Recipe (Fall Bubbly Cocktail) appeared first on Very Obsessed.

Jump to my Dirty Chai Martini Recipe

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What is a Dirty Chai Made of?

The traditional dirty chai does not have alcohol. It’s simply a chai latte (chai tea and milk) with a shot of espresso (and is delicious)! Rumor has it that it’s called dirty because the espresso dirties the color of the chai latte.

Chai Simple Syrup

Infusing a basic simple syrup with chai tea is the key to making this martini recipe easy. The recipe makes 8 oz of chai simple syrup and you’ll only use 1 oz for the cocktail which means you’ll have plenty left the next time you want to whip up a dirty chai martini (no boiling water to make tea again). Aside from using it in the martini, the syrup is great in a regular dirty chai latte, as an ice cream topping, to sweeten oatmeal, or anything else you’d like.

What Tools Do You Need to Make a Dirty Chai Martini?

• Glass Bottle | If you don’t use the full 8 oz of simple syrup you’ll want to store it in the fridge
• Coupe Glasses | These glasses are great for martinis and Champagne
• Cocktail Shaker | I have this one because it’s got a clean design, built-in strainer, and doesn’t leak
• Jigger | Part of any well-equipped bar.

Dirty Chai Martini Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

FOR THE CHAI SIMPLE SYRUP:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 chai tea bags

FOR THE DIRTY CHAI MARTINI:

• 1 oz vodka (I prefer Grey Goose)
• 2 oz unsweetened extra bold cold brew
• 1 oz chai simple syrup
• 1 oz almond milk
• 2 tbls granulated sugar (for rim, optional)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for rim, optional)

Directions

1. Add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and chai tea bags to a saucepan and bring to a boil
2. Once boiling and the sugar has dissolved, turn off the heat and let the tea bags steep for 10 minutes
3. Remove tea bags and let the syrup cool to room temperature; this will take about 15 additional minutes
4. Fill a martini shaker halfway with ice
5. Add vodka, cold brew, simple syrup, and almond milk
6. Shake vigorously for about 12 seconds (you’ll know you shook it enough if there is a small layer of foam when pouring)
7. Strain ice, pour it into a glass, and enjoy!
8. Optional cinnamon sugar rim: dip a quarter of the rim in simple syrup to dampen and then roll in cinnamon sugar; I do this step while the simple syrup is cooling

More Fall Cocktail Recipes:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. And because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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This version is dairy-free using a milk alternative, but feel free to use the real thing (you’ll even get a better froth).

If you buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support! See disclosure for details.

What is Masala Chai

I’m going to take a minute to share what I’ve learned about chai because I think it’s interesting how words and languages can evolve as they become widely adopted.

Chai translates to tea in India. It isn’t a type of tea so when people in the U.S. say ‘Chai Tea’ they are really saying ‘Tea Tea’. What many people in the U.S. think of as Chai is actually Masala Chai. Masala translates to spice in Hindi. So technically Masala Chai is spice tea, and that’s exactly what it is, a black team made with spices. Usually, the spices are composed of cardamom, black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon.

I have chosen to use masala chai in the recipe, but you can always use black tea and add the spices to the boiling water. You’ll just need to strain the tea prior to blending.

Recommended Tools to Make a Spiked Chai Latte

• Immersion Blender | Also known as a hand blender or a stick blender, this will be essential for getting a nice froth
• Glass Mugs | Not a necessity, but I love seeing a warm cocktail through a glass mug. These are 13 oz and feel solid.

Spiked Chai Latte Recipe

Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 2 Masala Chai Bags
• 1 ½ cups milk or milk alternative
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 oz Brandy
• ground cinnamon & cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Directions

1. Add ½ cup of water and chai to a saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil
2. Reduce heat to medium and steep for 7-10 minutes
3. Remove bags from saucepan
4. Add milk and maple syrup
5. Turn off the heat and blend using an immersion blender until froth forms
6. Pour Brandy into a mug and fill the mug with chai latte
7. Garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and a cinnamon stick

More Festive Cocktails:

DISCLOSURE: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you.  I only feature products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own.  And because I am very obsessed with FTC compliance, check out my full disclaimer here.

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The post Spiked Chai Latte Recipe appeared first on Very Obsessed.