Vanilla Spiced Rum Soaked Cherries

Looking for a way to make those sweet, in-season cherries last just a little longer? Then make these boozy Vanilla Spiced Rum Soaked Cherries!

I just love when cherry season rolls around each summer. My only problem with cherry season is that it just doesn't last quite long enough. Who's with me on that one? 

I mean, just a few measly months each year? Come on! Cherry season should definitely last longer. But since I can't somehow magically extend the length of cherry picking season, I will instead find ways to make these sweet, fresh cherries last just a tad longer. 





One way to extend the life of those juicy cherries is by boozing them up. ;) Soak them in a little rum or brandy, & you can make them last at least a month longer. Plus, they are soaked in booze. That's just bonus points in my book.

Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider Sangria

Warm spices, sweet pomegranate, and crisp apples come together perfectly in this Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider Sangria...

While I know that the turkey, and all the sides, and the pumpkin pie are the stars of that big turkey day coming up next week, I do firmly believe that a Thanksgiving dinner menu is not complete until a fall festive cocktail has been added to the mix. ;) 

Usually, we pick up a bottle of wine that will pair well with turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner, but this year I am changing things up just a bit. 

We will still be sticking with the wine, but I am jazzing it up with fresh pomegranate, apples, and lots of spice in this easy-to-make sangria recipe that I am sharing with you all today.

I know most people think of sangria as just a warm weather thing, but why should summer get all the boozy fun of this delicious cocktail? The fall season offers such wonderful flavors that lend themselves perfectly to a good homemade sangria. 

Since I have been on such a pomegranate kick lately, I really made it the star of this sangria with the addition of pomegranate vodka, pomegranate juice, and fresh pomegranate seeds. The apple cider, spiced rum, and cinnamon smooths out the entire cocktail making for easy sipping for your Thanksgiving feast next week... :)

Spiced Pear Planter's Punch

Sweet fresh pears and spiced rum come together in this perfect for fall Spiced Pear Planter's Punch...

I know that pumpkin and apples tend to reign supreme when fall rolls around, but I really think that pears should get a little more of the autumn spotlight. They become plentiful this time of the year and are begging to be made into delicious, fall inspired recipes. 

While doing a little cocktail research online, I came across a recipe for planter's punch and was instantly intrigued. A traditional planter's punch usually is a mix of dark rum and fruit juices making it the perfect libation for summer. 

But I thought why not give this rum cocktail a spicy fall makeover?

I infused a homemade simple syrup with fresh pear and shook that together with spiced rum and sparkling apple juice. The result? A perfect for fall cocktail that you will want to serve around a fire pit on a cool autumn night or as an adult treat with dessert after Thanksgiving dinner.

I do encourage you all to save the slices of pear that you use to infuse the simple syrup with to toss into your cocktail or to simply snack on and enjoy later (or right then ;) ). 

Something unexpected happened when I tried one of these syrup-soaked pieces of pear- I was instantly transported back to my childhood when my grandmother used to can pears from the tree in her backyard. 

She always jarred them in a simple syrup, and I remember them being such a special sweet treat for us kids. This Spiced Pear Planter's Punch is an adult version of that childhood fall treat...