Have you checked your bottle of grenadine lately. Go look. I'll wait. You're back. Yeah, it's pretty bad, isn't it. Your bottle of store bought grenadine is made up red dyed high fructose corn syrup. Really. There is absolutely nothing in the ingredients that even gives you any idea of what grenadine is supposed to be. I had no idea. Cherry? I mean it's bright red. Strawberry? Again, it's red. Nope. It's supposed to be made from pomegranates! Who knew?
I googled around and found several different ideas. Some used fresh pomegranates, which would be ideal of course, but I was a bit too lazy for that and besides my store wasn't selling them any more. I had missed their fleeting season. Instead I focused on those using pomegranate juice. Once again, there were a few variations. You could include pomegranate molasses or you could leave it out. I decided I wanted the richness that I assumed it would add. Some added orange flower water and some didn't. Since I already had orange flower water, that was a no brainer. I searched high and low for pomegranate molasses and eventually ordered it off of Amazon, with Prime it was here in two days.
You are not going to believe how easy this is. Basically you heat up the ingredients. Let it cool and pour it into a bottle. That's it. I'm not kidding. Wait till you taste it! It is so delicious, tart and sweet. You will not feel bad about using this in your cocktails! Don't be surprised if, like me, you find yourself searching for cocktails that contain grenadine just so you can use it!
Homemade Grenadine
Ingredients
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange flower water
- 2 ounces pomegranate molasses
- 1 ounce vodka optional
Instructions
- Heat the pomegranate juice, sugar, and molasses in a pan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and stir in the orange flower water.
- Cool to room temperature and store in a lidded jar or bottle in the refrigerator. If you are not planning on using it all in one month, you can add the ounce of vodka to extend the life.
Nutrition
Never had grenadine before but it looks delicious! I'll save the recipe and will try it sometime soon!
This is so funny because until I read this, I had no idea what grenadine actually was! I have used it in cocktails so many times and never thought to make my own. Now we are only shopping for essentials, this is a lovely and easy project.
What a great recipe and Grenadine is one of those things that people don't know what they are missing until they try the real stuff. The nuclear red sugar water they sell at the store just doesn't even compare to a recipe like this. Thanks so much for sharing Pam!
I love, love, LOVE making things like this from scratch! I love that you created a homemade version of grenadine! Such a great idea!
I've never made my own but it's a good to have a recipe on hand for it! Thank you for sharing 😀
What a great recipe to have on hand! Thank you for discovering and sharing it!
This recipe made my day! I grew up drinking grenadine with water, it was the soft drink of that time, a million years ago, lol. I'm dying to make it now. I hope I find pomegranate juice! Thanks for sharing.
This is fab! I've never tried making my own, but after seeing this recipe and how easy it is, I think I will be having a go at it very soon! Cheers!
Woah, I had no idea grenadine was made from pomegranates -- and that's coming from a huge shirley temple enthusiast! I definitely want to try out this healthier, homemade version, so I can whip up some of my favorite drinks right from home. 🙂
I have not tried to make this. Looks easy enough. Perhaps I will like to more than the store-bought variety.
This is fantastic, Pam! I always have pomegranate molasses on hand, and this would make my son's Shirley Temple treats SO much better 🙂
Ooh, I've made my own grenadine. Went the long way, though. With the pomegranates. I really love this version. Much easier and available year round!
I love this homemade version!! I really want to make it now 🙂
Shut the front door! Pomegranates?!?! I HAD NO IDEA! I seriously always thought it was cherries. Love that you made it without all that stuff in it, that is why I never buy it. Now I can make Roy Rogers drinks without the red dye guilt! 🙂
There is nothing quite like homemade grenadine. This totally beats the stuff you buy in the store. So good!
This is a great thing to make Pam! I avoid using artificial ingredients and this is not hard to make. Cheers!
Hmmmmm, and thanks!
I make Pomegranate Molasses all the time at home you just reduce down juice into a thick syrup, great to have on hand for lots of things, drinks, cooking etc
I've done this and it works great. GREG
What a great idea! I haven't had grenadine in my house for years because the ingredients are so gross. I can't wait to make this.
I didn't know it was so easy to make grenadine! Where did you find the pomegranate molasses? I would love to make some grenadine to have on hand!
Thank you! You have no idea how much money you've saved me. I 've been buying the real ($$$) stuff online.
Love your homemade version! I've been trying to stay away from artificial dyes lately.
I hope you're making ALL THE SHIRLEY TEMPLES with this!!