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. All of these sweeteners are essential to a well-stocked bar. If you want to make popular drinks such as the tequila sunrise, Shirley Temple (or its alcoholic counterpart, the dirty Shirley), and countless others, you will need a bottle of grenadine.
Just like most co*cktail mixers, grenadine is better when made from scratch. You will also find that it can save money in comparison to store-bought brands, especially if you buy pomegranate juice regularly and have it on hand.
Orange flower water is typically available in Middle Eastern grocers or the international aisle of a well-stocked grocery store. If you can't find it, you can make your own.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SES-how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-hero-0213-e84d03e679a24b4b8f245da96388f856.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (1)")
What You'll Need To Make This Grenadine Recipe
"This syrup is delicious! It's typically used in co*cktails, but I could see it used in other ways. Drizzle it over ice cream, fritters, or pancakes, or add some to flavor to frosting or yogurt. Orange flower water can be found online if you can't find it locally." —Diana Rattray
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-diana-rattray-20201-f4a39cd0457343bb980ae696efdab16a.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (5)")
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
2 cups pomegranate juice
2 cups granulated sugar
1 to 2 dashes orange flower water
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
In a saucepan, combine the pomegranate juice and sugar.
Bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly until all of the sugar is dissolved.
Reduce the heat and cover.
Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Allow the mixture to cool, then pour it into a small decanter or bottle with a tight-sealing lid.
Add a dash or two of orange flower water(don't overdo it).
Seal the bottle and give it a few good shakes.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-01-71dc1f734d7545239fa168d14fe13fac.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (6)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-02-27d5d99363cf479ba4be94ad06bba1e0.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (7)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-03-1-59c7da9eeea14850a1d379c8d58b52c2.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (8)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-04-28c15622fbb7450fbca05f48246b070f.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (9)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-05-1-8fb8bdd44cf6441c908cd885d0658ce2.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (10)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-06-f137ccbb6fb842e38f6e3b6b4f13d401.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (11)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-07-bf76a69e5b374726877435641bc1f77c.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (12)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine-760291-step-08-1-57b31f7ac4e94e51b2c2f78ecb3049b8.jpg "Make Your Own Grenadine for Shirley Temples and Beyond (13)")
Tips
- This grenadine recipe makes about 3 cups or about 48 tablespoons. Most drink recipes use about 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, so you should be able to get up to 48 drinks from a single batch.
- Fresh pomegranate is always a good choice. The fruits are typically in season from September through December. You will need to work with the juicy little seeds, however, which can be time-consuming.
Recipe Variations
- If you can't find orange flower water—it's not a common ingredient—you can use orange or lemon peels instead. Simplyadd citrus peelsto the boiling pomegranate juice and sugar.
- Orange oil or triple sec may also be used as a substitute for the orange blossom water.
- Grenadine can also be made from a combination of black currant and pomegranate juices. Decide which flavor you want to dominate and split the total juice volume between the two. You could also add a little black currant liqueur, such as crème de cassis, which is easier to find than the juice.
- Blended juices such as pomegranate-cranberry juice are readily available and are often much less expensive than straight pomegranate juice. It makes a good cranberry grenadine that can work well in many drinks.
How to Store and Freeze Grenadine
- Homemade grenadine should last up to three weeks in the refrigerator, which is much shorter than commercial brands that contain preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup. Feel free to halve this recipe or adjust it according to your anticipated usage.
- Add 1/4 ounce of vodka as a preservative to extend grenadine's shelf life. The higher the proof, the better; choose one over 80 proof for the best results.
- Some people also recommend freezing the grenadine. However, you might find this takes the freshness out of the syrup. Freeze it in ice cube trays with a lid, if possible.
- American Food
Recipe Tags:
- pomegranate
- grenadine
- american
- birthdays
