Best Grenadine Substitute (2024)

FAQs

What is a good 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.

But, for a less faithful adaptation that'll add a pleasant shot of tartness to your co*cktails, swap grenadine for another crimson jewel: Make our homemade grenadine with cranberry juice instead.

Using grenadine instead of simple syrup creates a slightly richer drink with more depth of flavor.

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. Think of grenadine the way you might consider simple syrup and sour mix.

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.

Are There Substitutes for Grenadine? Grenadine is often used interchangeably with raspberry, cherry, and strawberry syrups — you'll even see this in many co*cktail recipes — but each of those is very much its own thing, with a distinctive flavor profile and uses.

Grenadine is a syrup traditionally made from pomegranate, but may also be made from other fruits such as elder, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry, or commercially sourced natural or artificial flavors.

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.

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're looking for a simple syrup substitute, there are three favorites you probably have right in your home: honey, maple syrup and agave. For honey or agave, add warm water to them, to help turn the mix to syrup. You can also use a sweet, juicy fruit, like an orange.

Is raspberry syrup the same as grenadine? ›

Notes: Grenadine and raspberry syrup can often be used as substitutes for one another in co*cktails, but there are classic recipes that call for raspberry syrup preferentially (most famously the Clover Club). As with the grenadine recipe, you can also use this one to make syrups out of other fruits.

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.

But, for a less faithful adaptation that'll add a pleasant shot of tartness to your co*cktails, swap grenadine for another crimson jewel: Make our homemade grenadine with cranberry juice instead.

Maraschino cherries, on the other hand, might already be sitting in your fridge -- especially if you've got a sweet tooth and like to indulge in homemade desserts. Even though they're more commonly used as garnishes or toppings, you can utilize them to replace grenadine.

Pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice are the three main ingredients of homemade grenadine syrup, creating the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Store-bought grenadine on the other hand is usually made with little more than high-fructose corn syrup, citric acid, and red food coloring.

If you're missing the grenadine

No grenadine? No worries! You can replace the grenadine in a tequila sunrise in several ways. Use a red juice such as cherry juice or sweet cranberry juice for a slightly different flavor profile.

Unfortunately, the grenadine you buy in the market is just corn syrup, citric acid, and red coloring. Real grenadine is a syrup which starts with pomegranate (granada in Spanish) juice and sugar. add about 1/4 cup of sugar.

Grenadine is a syrup traditionally made from pomegranate, but may also be made from other fruits such as elder, blackcurrant, raspberry, gooseberry, or commercially sourced natural or artificial flavors.