DIY Gift idea: Syrups for a Christmas Unlike Any Other
Here we are. The strangest holiday season we’ve encountered in our lifetimes. Personally (me Devin) have never spent the holidays away from my parents in 32 years, and thanks to new quarantine guidance, the closest I will get this year will be a Zoom call. No holiday parties to drink ceaselessly with coworkers. No cocktail parties with friends where I will try and outdo myself with some wild recipe.
It’s not all bad though, we’ve changed the way we’re shopping this year, opting to mostly go DIY or online to avoid crowds and minefield-like parking lots. Our weekends are clear of obligations like Holiday Parties or get togethers, open for personal time or to get crafty. Most of all, we are extremely lucky in that we have each other here in quarantine, and don’t have to spend the holidays alone.
If you are sorely missing your yearly cocktail party hosted with friends, the next few days of posts aim to appease your woes by offering you some DIY gift ideas to bring you and your friends joy despite social distances. Today we’re starting with some holiday syrups to enjoy either in cocktails or on pancakes!
Holiday Syrups
Syrups are the spice cabinet of any good home bar (or professional bar for that matter). Often, in tiki and craft cocktail recipes there will almost always be a call for a specialized syrup or infusion. We pride ourselves on always staying experimental with this aspect of cocktail-ing, reason being, THEY ARE SO EASY TO MAKE. Literally a syrup usually at its base is equal parts sugar and water heated until the sugar dissolves. You can stop there and call it simple syrup, or paint upon this sweet canvas with spices, fruits or even in some cases coffee or tea. This holiday season why not give it a try yourself as a DIY gift!
1.Spiced Pear Syrup
Spiced pear liquor from St. George Spirits is a regularly used staple of our holiday season. It’s sweet and spicy flavor immediately imparts an “apple pie” vibe to anything it’s mixed with, but alas, it’s a bit difficult to come by and a bit on the pricier side. This spiced pear syrup is dead easy and gets you a very similar flavor. A perfect gift for the apple pie loving imbiber in your life! AND it can be used on pancakes (for the non-imbibing or pregnant folks in your life). We have this recipe on Pinterest in Story pin form here!
Cook time: 0 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
•2 bartlett pears
•3 all spice berries
•2 cloves
•1 cinnamon stick
•1 cup of water
•1/4 cup of white sugar
•1/4 cup of brown sugar
Instructions
Step 1: Peel and core pears, then cut into small pieces
Step 2: Use side of knife to crack/crush spices - primarily the all spice and cloves. Cinnamon is a bit tougher!
Step 3: Add water and sugar to medium sauce pan as well as spices and pears
Step 4: Bring to boil, then immediately reduce to simmer for about 15-20 minutes
Step 5 : Strain syrup into glass vessel. We usually recommend something with a pouring spou
Step 6: Bottle and wrap!
2. Gingerbread Syrup
Gingerbread cookies are so delicious!! We love the sweet and spiciness of them and the way they make the house smell. OOOOWEEE it’s truly the scent of the holidays for us! Imagine now, that you could take those great flavors and smells and bring them to your glass for a nightcap? Enter gingerbread syrup! A devilishly easy way to get the flavor profile of gingerbread cookies into a cocktail. Also great on pancakes for non-imbibers or pregnant folks in your life! Pinterest story pin available here!
Cook time: 0 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
•1 cup water
•1 cup sugar
•1/2 inch knob of fresh ginger
•1 cinnamon stick
•4 cloves
•6 all spice berries
Instructions
Step 1: Peel and finely chop ginger
Step 2: Use side of knife to crack/crush spices - primarily the all spice and cloves. Cinnamon is a bit tougher
Step 3: Add water and sugar to medium sauce pan
Step 4: Bring to boil, then immediately reduce to simmer
Step 5: Add spices and ginger and let this chill for 15-20 minutes
Step 6: Strain syrup into glass vessel. We usually recommend something with a pouring spout
Step 7: Bottle and wrap!
