Easy 2-ingredient Grenadine Syrup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a homemade substitute for grenadine? ›

Another great grenadine substitute? Pomegranate juice and simple syrup. Mix together 2 parts simple syrup and 1 part pomegranate juice. It makes a sweet, bright red syrup that's very similar to the real thing.

Grenadine is a pomegranate syrup—or that's what it's supposed to be. If you've ever seen a pomegranate, you know that it's not an easy fruit to juice. So somewhere along the way, grenadine makers strayed away from using real pomegranate juice and instead used corn syrup and red dye #40.

Contrary to popular belief, grenadine is not a cherry-flavored syrup. Maraschino cherries have nothing to do with it. This sweet-tart syrup is actually made from pomegranates, and it is surprisingly easy to make at home.

Morgenthaler makes the grenadine by heating equal parts juice and sugar similar to how you make simple syrup. The finished product keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for about one month, but you can extend its shelf life by adding a small dose of booze.

A Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic mixed drink traditionally made with ginger ale and a splash of grenadine, and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Modern Shirley Temple recipes may substitute lemon-lime soda or lemonade and sometimes orange juice, in part or in whole.

Here, I opt for making a homemade grenadine with cranberry juice. This recipe makes a good amount of cranberry grenadine, which you can use anywhere you would use a traditional grenadine, or simply mix it with soda water for a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink.

Grenadine

Its vibrant red color also makes it an excellent addition to visually stunning drinks. Unlike triple sec, grenadine is non-alcoholic, which means that it's perfect for those who prefer not to include alcohol in their co*cktails.

If you don't have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau. For a non-alcoholic substitute you can add fresh orange juice, or agave nectar/simple syrup, to add a touch of sweetness.

We've gone back to the original grenadine recipe (pomegranate and lime juice) and swapped out refined sugars with maple syrup to create a truly delicious, all-natural grenadine. No Red 40, no Blue 1, no High Fructose Corn Syrup – just delicious mixers with ingredients that you can feel good about.

Grenadine syrup typically does not need to be refrigerated, however, storing grenadine in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight or heat sources is advisable to maintain its quality! Hmmm…so THAT'S why they keep bars so cool and dark!

What does grenadine do to a drink? ›

“Grenadine serves a dual purpose in co*cktails, adding a beautiful hue to drinks while giving bartenders an opportunity to add an unexpected depth of flavor,” says Larios. For best results, look for a grenadine that lists pomegranate juice as its first ingredient and has a darker, more maroon color.

In their modern form, the cherries are first preserved in a brine solution usually containing sulfur dioxide and calcium chloride to bleach the fruit, then soaked in a suspension of food coloring (common red food dye is FD&C Red 40), sugar syrup, and other components.

Unopened grenadine syrup typically has a long shelf life. If stored properly in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, it can last for several years beyond the "best by" date on the bottle. The high sugar content in grenadine serves as a natural preservative, helping to extend its shelf life.

Real grenadine is not “pomegranate syrup”, but it is made with pomegranates. Pomegranate syrup is only pomegranate juice and sugar. Grenadine has the addition of pomegranate molasses and orange blossom water (or Rose Water). This gives the syrup a deep, fruity flavor.

Originally, grenadine was made with a base of pomegranate juice, which is how it got its name — the French word for pomegranate is grenade. Pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice are the three main ingredients of homemade grenadine syrup, creating the perfect balance of tart and sweet.

Grenadine is a syrup used in co*cktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and somewhat rarely in cooking. Made from pomegranate juice that gets cooked down with sugar, grenadine has a delicious balance of mouth-puckering tartness and sweetness that adds surprising depth to co*cktails.

Grenadine was traditionally made from pomegranate but is more often encountered as a commercial imitation with few to no actual fruit components.

Modern Grenadine

Rose's grenadine, the most popular brand, is made from "High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Red 40, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Blue 1." Yum!