Here’s how to make Grenadine Syrup, that bright red syrup for cocktails! It’s all natural and easy to make with pomegranate juice.
Did you know you can make your own grenadine syrup? If you like cocktails like we do, you’ve probably already made drinks with this bright red syrup. It features in many grenadine cocktails and mocktails and is very easy to make at home. Why do it yourself? Store-bought grenadine is usually made with high fructose corn syrup and additives. This version is all natural and skips all those unnatural preservatives and sugars. And it only takes 15 minutes to make! Here’s what to do and some other drink recipes that use it.
What is pomegranate?
Grenadine is a sweet, tangy syrup used in bright red cocktails. While some people think it’s cherry, it’s actually pomegranate juice! (The name comes from the French word for pomegranate, grenade.) Grenadine is used in many popular drinks: famous in a non-alcoholic Shirley Temple or in the lively Tequila Sunrise!
The Homemade Grenadine Trick!
Most homemade grenadine recipes result in a dark syrup: barely the light color you need in that syrup! Because everything is natural and free of artificial colors, expect less vibrant colors than store-bought. But you can use this trick to color your grenadine syrup even better: Use fresh pomegranate juice! This results in a shiny pink color instead of a dark mud brown. How to prepare freshly squeezed pomegranate juice:
- Take some pomegranate seeds. You can also buy whole pomegranates: you just have to sow them first. See below how to sow a pomegranate.
- Crush the seeds in a shaker to extract the juice. You can also use a tall glass and a wooden spoon.
- filter juice. Use a fine strainer to strain the juice. As simple as that!
How to Make Grenadine Syrup (Basic Steps)
Here’s a rundown of what you will do to make grenadine syrup at home. It’s that simple, and for us, better than pulling a bottle of high fructose corn syrup from the store:
- Prepare pomegranate juice (see above).
- Put the pomegranate juice and sugar in a saucepan.
- Heat until sugar dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool, then add some lemon juice to add a tart flavor.
Not sure if you want to tackle it? Go to the best grenadine substitute.
Shelf life of homemade grenadine
Homemade grenadine syrup is less stable than the commercial version. Here’s what you need to know about shelf life:
- 1 month storage: Store in a sealed container at room temperature and will keep for up to 4 weeks.
- 6 months storage: Add 1 ounce of vodka or brandy to the syrup to fortify it and it will keep for up to 6 months.
Popular grenadine drinks
Here comes the fun part: what do you do with grenadine syrup? Many famous drinks use grenadine: here are some of our favorites:
- Tequila Sunrise This vibrant cocktail layers the colors of a summer sunrise with tequila, orange and grenadine.
- Singapore Sling A classic cocktail with an impressive list of ingredients! It’s complex, fruity, sparkling and just plain fun.
- Shirley Temple A classic non-alcoholic cocktail! The classic version of this mocktail uses lime and ginger ale. Or make a Dirty Shirley with vodka!
- Clover Club This refreshing cocktail consists of gin, grenadine and egg white mousse.
How to sow a pomegranate
If you can only find whole pomegranates, here’s how to pit a pomegranate to make the freshly squeezed juice:
- Quarter the pomegranate and place in a large bowl of water. Under water, carefully remove the seeds with your fingers. Finally, you can turn the skin over to extract the seeds closest to the outer skin.
- As you work, the pomegranate seeds will sink to the bottom while the fruit’s white rind will float to the top.
- When all the seeds are extracted, skim off the white skin and filter the water. Rinse the pomegranate seeds and store the excess seeds in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Interested in more recipes with pomegranate seeds? Visit our best pomegranate recipes and pomegranate cocktails!
This recipe for grenadine syrup is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
The description
Here’s how to make Grenadine Syrup, that bright red syrup for cocktails! It’s all natural and easy to make with pomegranate juice.
- Prepare pomegranate juice: If using whole pomegranates, remove the seeds (see directions above). Place the pomegranate seeds in a cocktail shaker (or tall glass) and mash with a pestle or wooden spoon until all the juice is released. Then strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a measuring cup.
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the pomegranate juice and sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from fire.
- Let cool and stir in the lemon juice. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three weeks. For longer storage, add 1 tablespoon of vodka or brandy to thicken the syrup.
Remarks
*You can also use bottled pomegranate juice, but the color won’t be as bright.
- Category: Essential
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Grenadine syrup
More cocktail recipes!
Aside from these grenadines, there are many other great cocktail recipes! Here are some of our top drink collections:
