Ana Weaver
Grenadine is a red, non-alcoholic, sweet syrup made from blending pomegranate juice, sugar, and water. It can be made at home and is usually available at stores, but with a few additives like artificial colors and flavors, corn syrup, and sodium benzoate. Grenadine syrup is commonly used in flavoring sweets, slushies, cocktails, and mocktails like Tequila Sunrise, Singapore Sling, and Shirley Temple.
Either you want to throw a party with cocktails as your drinks or to get refreshed on a hot summer day with a mocktail, grenadine syrup is a must-have component.
Even if it can be easily acquired, there are unfortunate times that it can run out. We compiled several substitutes for Grenadine in this article for that, but you can also check this link for more examples and descriptive directions.
What can be used instead of Grenadine?
DIY Grenadine Syrup
Grenadine is relatively easy to make at home as it only requires a few simple ingredients that give authentic flavors. Boil a cup of unsweetened pomegranate juice, 1/4 cup of sugar, and juiced half-lemon in a pan, and you will be able to make your own Grenadine. Keep an eye on it and immediately remove it from heat once it turns syrupy–you don’t want crystallization to happen.
To produce grenadine syrup at home, you’ll just need the following ingredients:
● 2 cups pomegranate juice, unsweetened
● 2 quarts sugar
● 1 lemon’s juice
You will only need to pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over low heat. Make sure to stir the pan constantly to get a complete mix of the ingredients.
Once everything is incorporated, slowly bring the pan to a boil, constantly stirring to ensure the sugar melts.
Reduce the heat and cover the pan when the sugar has dissolved. Simmer the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes or until it appears dense in texture.
You aim to lower the volume of the mixture to about half of what it was before. Always remember that syrup thickens as it cools, so don’t be concerned if your mixture still appears thin after 20 minutes of simmering.
Allow for cooling before transferring to a bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate your homemade Grenadine for up to 3 weeks.
That is about it. You can now make beautiful cocktails and mocktails with your homemade grenadine syrup.
Pomegranate Molasses or Concentrate
This has a syrupy and sticky consistency and is by far the best alternative for Grenadine. A bit of difference from Grenadine is that pomegranate molasses are not as sweet, and it has a more robust flavor, but this can be fixed by adding simple syrup, and it will go unnoticeable.
However, some people prefer to create their own pomegranate molasses because store-bought molasses can be bitterer than grenadine syrup, and you can modify the ingredients and sugar to your personal taste.
If you don’t have any on hand or just want to try creating your own, just put a cup of pomegranate juice into a boil, 1 cup of sugar, and a squeeze of lemon juice for over an hour or until it thickens and looks like grenadine syrup.
Raspberry Syrup
This is a vibrant red liquid that supplies tanginess and sweetness to any drink or food it is added to. It is almost the same as Grenadine because of its color, texture, and tartness. This wonderfully sweet and tangy syrup will provide a splash of color to whatever cocktail you prepare and is an excellent substitute for grenadine syrup if you don’t have any on hand. Replace the Grenadine in the recipe with the equivalent amount of raspberry syrup.
You could also use this adaptable syrup to make a virgin raspberry mojito, a raspberry lemonade fizz, or any other mocktail of your choice for an alcoholic-free drink! Raspberry syrup can also be used in homemade delicacies. The possibilities are limitless.
Cranberry Juice Cocktail
This is a flavorful blend of tart and sweet that is also added to cocktails. It is a good alternative because of its sweetness, tartness, color, and consistency that does not stray far from Grenadine.
Unlike cranberry juice which is cranberry amongst several other fruit juices, such as grape and apple to add sweetness, cranberry juice cocktail concentrate is 100% cranberry juice. So, of course, When you use this replacement for food or drink, you will naturally taste cranberries rather than pomegranate. Cranberry juice concentrate, corn syrup, ascorbic acid, and water are commonly used.
Cranberry cocktail concentrate contains all of the benefits of grenadine syrup, plus more! Sweetness, tartness, a deep red color, and thick consistency that’s difficult to distinguish from grenadine syrup.
The refreshing taste of cranberry juice is combined with a sweet mixture of apple and pear that elegantly enhances the flavor.
Cocktail Cherry Juice
Cocktail cherry juice is another beautiful grenadine syrup replacement that is widely available at most supermarkets. Cherry juice is sweet and pleasant, and it may be used in a variety of drinks, including as a tart cherry fizz and a cherry martini.
Despite the fact that cherry juice differs from pomegranate juice in flavor, cocktail cherry juice will nonetheless provide the vivid red color and refreshing sweetness that you’d expect from grenadine syrup. In addition, cherry juice is also known to provide various health benefits, making it an excellent addition to your drinks.
Cherry juice can improve immunity and reduce inflammation in the body, making it a popular option in many households. This readily available juice may already be a household staple.
Unsweetened Pomegranate Juice
If you’re seeking a bitter substitute for grenadine syrup, unsweetened pomegranate juice will suffice. If you don’t want something as sweet as Grenadine, this is a good substitute. It contains no additional sugars, resulting in a more natural pomegranate flavor. To maintain its freshness and taste, it should be kept refrigerated at all times.
What I listed above are just a few of the many more substitutes for Grenadine. These will be perfect alternatives if you want to make something healthier. All you have to do is an experiment and see for yourself what better suits your taste!