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Don’t have the bright red syrup on hand? Here are the best grenadine substitutes to use when you’re mixing up cocktails, plus my favorite recipe for homemade grenadine!
Grenadine is a bright red, sweet tart syrup used in cocktails. People mistakenly think it’s cherry-flavored, but the real version is actually made out of pomegranate juice! (The name comes from the French word for pomegranate, grenade. While some commercial brands sub in artificial sweeteners, the good stuff still uses pomegranates.)
Grenadine is used in lots of popular drinks, like a non-alcoholic Shirley Temple and the vibrant Tequila Sunrise. If you’re all out of grenadine or can’t find it at the store, don’t worry. I’ve come up with some grenadine substitutes that are just as (if not more!) delicious.
My top grenadine substitutes
1. Homemade grenadine
You can make homemade grenadine syrup using fresh juice from pomegranate seeds. This results in a brilliant hot pink color that’s naturally made from scratch. How to do it? I have the recipe for you after the rest of my favorite grenadine dupes.
2. Pomegranate juice + simple syrup
Mix together 2 parts simple syrup and 1 part pomegranate juice for a sweet, bright red syrup that’s very similar to the real thing. Another option, if you happen to have it or want to make it, is pomegranate molasses. This one tastes a little more indulgent since it’s a thicker syrup.
3. Raspberry syrup
Another great grenadine substitute is raspberry syrup. This cocktail syrup is bright red and beautifully sweet. You’ll also get the flavor of berries, but there’s no harm in that! You can buy raspberry syrup at a liquor store or make Homemade Raspberry Syrup using fresh or frozen raspberries and sugar.
4. Cranberry syrup
If you don’t have raspberries, an alternative is making cranberry syrup, another bright red, sweet-tart homemade option. Make this Cranberry Simple Syrup recipe with fresh or frozen cranberries.
5. Maraschino juice (from cocktail cherry jar)
If you’re finishing up a jar of cocktail cherries, the leftover maraschino juice is perfect as a grenadine substitute. It’s milder in flavor than grenadine, but it works pretty well and brings in that signature color. See how it works in this Fresh Cherry Limeade.
Related recipes
Here are some more recipes featuring grenadine to try:
- Tequila Sunrise
- Shirley Temple
- Singapore Sling
- Clover Club
- Hurricane
- Zombie
- El Presidente
- Pineapple Vodka
Homemade Grenadine
Here’s how to make grenadine syrup, that brilliant red syrup for making cocktails! It’s all natural and easy to make using pomegranate juice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: ¾ cup 1x
- Category: Essentials
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup fresh squeezed pomegranate juice (8 ounces pomegranate seeds or 2 medium pomegranates)*
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Make the pomegranate juice: If using whole pomegranates, remove the seeds. Place the pomegranate seeds in a cocktail shaker (or tall glass) and mash with a muddler or wooden spoon until all the juices have been released. Then pour it through a fine mesh strainer into a measuring cup.
- Add the pomegranate juice and sugar to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Cool and stir in the lemon juice. Pour into a sealed container and refrigerate up to three weeks. For a longer storage time, add 1 tablespoon vodka or brandy to fortify the syrup.
Notes
*You can also use bottled pomegranate juice, but the color won’t be as vibrant.
