Simple Grenadine Recipe

Grenadine is a great way to add a little bit of extra sweetness to your favorite drink. When most people think of grenadine, they think of the childhood classic, a Shirley Temple (or, as some of us called it, a kiddie cocktail). To create that drink, all you have to do is add a spoonful or two to ginger ale, Sprite, or 7-Up to give it that signature red tint and burst of flavor. Grenadine is also excellent for various things, including as a mixer for adult beverages.

Recipe developer Jennine Rye of Marshside Pantry came up with this simple grenadine recipe to make the perfect mixer for your next drink. "I love how quick and easy it is to make deliciously flavored grenadine syrup, and it feels like such a nice classy drink. Shelf-bought grenadine can be super convenient, but it's also nice knowing exactly what has been used to make it and that it doesn't contain any preservatives," she explains. "When it only takes a few minutes to make, it's definitely worth it!"

Rye also raves about how easy homemade grenadine is, "I do love making syrups. They always seemed so complicated and fancy on the supermarket shelves, [and] I felt as though I had been let in on a big secret when I first made some rhubarb and orange syrup and discovered just how simple and foolproof it is!" We have to agree, and this simple grenadine recipe is sure to elevate all of your drinks.

One of the great parts about this recipe is that you don't need a lot of ingredients to make it. Just get pomegranate juice, granulated sugar, and orange blossom water.

Sometimes, the label may say "orange flower water," which is the same as orange blossom water. "Orange blossom water is an extract taken from the blossom of orange trees. It has more of a floral citrus-orange flavor and is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. Here in the U.K., it's available in the baking section of most medium to large supermarkets," Rye explains. In the U.S., you might find it in the baking or international food aisles. "If you can't find it, it is possible to swap it out with orange zest or orange oil extract instead. It wouldn't be exactly the same as it would miss the complex floral notes, but it will still be delicious!" 

As far as the pomegranate juice goes, Rye says, "Ideally, you want the best, most pure pom juice that you can find to make grenadine. It will work with a [pomegranate fruit juice] blend, it just isn't as good!" 

Once you have those items, you can make this simple grenadine recipe.

The first step is to take out a medium-sized saucepan and place it on your stove. Add the pomegranate juice and sugar, and then turn on the heat. Continue heating until the sugar dissolves and begins to simmer. "The only mistake to watch out for is to make sure that all of the sugar has properly dissolved into the pomegranate juice before taking the syrup off the heat," Rye notes. "Otherwise, you'll end up with grainy syrup!" 

When the sugar is completely dissolved, turn off the heat and leave the mixture to cool. This should take about 30 minutes but may require a bit longer.

Once the syrup cools, pour in the orange blossom water. Give the mixture a few good stirs to combine, and there you have your grenadine. 

Now, it should be bursting with flavor. "Grenadine syrup is delightfully fruity and sweet, though it also has a tartness that balances out the sweetness well," Rye notes. "A lot of people mistake it for cherry or another red berry flavor, but it has that distinct pomegranate tang, similar to cranberries." 

Since the grenadine is good to go, you can transfer the liquid into a sterile bottle with a tight lid. You should have enough grenadine to fill a 1-pint bottle. Pop the syrup in the fridge to store, and be sure to use the grenadine within two weeks.

Many people use grenadine as a mixer for a Shirley Temple, aka "kiddie cocktail," but Rye also provides a few of her favorite serving suggestions. "Grenadine is a lovely, refreshing drink to have on its own, served with sparkling water or lemonade and some ice," she says. "It's a wonderful addition to many classic cocktails and mocktails as well, such as the tequila sunrise, Bahama mama, or the Shirley Temple. I've also seen it served over ice creams and added to fruit salads." 

We hope this tasty syrup makes a great addition to your next beverage!