I’m just gonna rip the bandaid off. GRENADINE IS POMEGRANATE, NOT CHERRY. Phew. Okay. Now that I got that off my chest, let’s chat about how easy it is to make at home! This sweet pomegranate simple syrup recipe is made using fresh pomegranate juice, sugar, water, and a little squeeze of lemon juice.

As someone who’s been making homemade drinks for over 10 years, I’ve learned a thing or two about flavor. While there is thankfully a trend happening in cocktail bars of using scratch-made and small-batch syrups, most places still use bottled shelf-stable syrups made of coloring and natural flavors (which, by the way, aren’t all much different than artificial ones 😬).
Use this syrup to make any and all drinks that use grenadine, from a Shirley Temple to a pomegranate lemonade! You can also level up classic cocktails that tend to be overly sweet, like a tequila sunrise, hurricane, or rum runner, or create your own seasonal cocktails like a classic pomegranate daiquiri or pomegranate margarita. Trust me, once you make your own grenadine, you’ll never be able to look at the syrup the same.
why this pomegranate syrup recipe works:
♥️ deep & juicy. Fresh pomegranate juice is what really gives this syrup it’s depth of flavor.
🍭 tart & sweet. Pomegranates are naturally tart, so they are an excellent candidate for homemade syrups that help add intresting flavor to drinks and other recipes!
🏠 better than store-bought. Skip the artificial flavors and colors found in commercial grenadine – this homemade version lets the natural pomegranate shine.
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Slice and juice your pomegranates depending on the method of juicing you’re using.
2: Add the juice and water to a saucepan and heat over medium heat.
3: Add in granulated sugar and gently heat the pan until the sugar is dissolved.
4: Squeeze in fresh lemon juice, from one half of a lemon, if using.
5: Allow syrup to cool slightly before straining through a fine mesh sieve to catch any sediment.
6: Pour into an airtight container for storage.
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Use your grenadine to make a bevy of beverages, from non-alcoholic drinks to cocktails! It’s also wonderful in iced tea!
mocktails
- pomegranate soda pop – homemade sodas are some of my favorite things to make with infused syrups at home! You can even make your own Shirley Temple by mixing a bit of lemon and lime juice into this pomegranate soda recipe!
- pomegranate lemonade – another easy way to use syrups is making custom blended lemonades! Try a single serving or full pitcher of pomegranate lemonade!
cocktails
- rum runner – a classic beach cocktail that can sometimes be overly sweet gets a flavor facelift thanks to homemade pomegranate syrup! Want to take it up another notch? Try making your own creme de mure liqueur!
- tequila sunrise – get seasonal with this tequila classic by using a special orange juice, like blood orange juice and pomegranate!
- pomegranate daiquiri – classic daiquiris are one of my favorite cocktails to make. It’s super simple, elegant, and easy to make seasonal variations of, like a pomegranate daiquiri!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- bitter or tart – make sure to taste your juice before making the syrup! If your juice is overly tart or bitter, your fruit could be overripe. You can try adding in more sugar to offset the bitterness.
🔆 top tip
Other homemade grenadine recipes call for more ingredients like pomegranate molasses, orange blossom water or rose water, and while they do add a delicate flavor, it’s not super noticeable when mixing the syrup in drinks.
♻️ grenadine variations
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- pomegranate molasses & orange blossom water – if you want a more traditional grenadine syrup, you can buy a jar of pomegranate molasses or even make your own by cooking pomegranate juice down! Add a few dashes of orange blossom water, too, and you’ve got an “authentic” homemade grenadine on your hands!
🧰 special equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 how to store homemade grenadine
Store your finished syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze your syrup for longer storage. Infused simple syrups have a shorter shelf life than classic simple syrup or rich simple syrup because of the addition of fresh fruit juice.
💬 q+a
What’s the difference between grenadine and pomegranate simple syrup?
Store-bought grenadine is nothing but high fructose corn syrup and flavorings. Other brands include ingredients like pomegranate molasses for depth of flavor and orange blossom water, for a hint of light floral flavor. Since the base flavor of grenadine is pomegranate, it’s technically the same thing!
Can I use bottled pomegranate juice?
Absolutely! You can use bottled pomegranate juice, and the flavor will still be better than a shelf-stable store-bought syrup made on a factory line 6+ months before you get your hands on it. I am contractually obligated to tell you that fresh is best, but you probably already know that. 😜
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
Pomegranate Simple Syrup (Homemade Grenadine Syrup)
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Equipment
- 1 kitchen scale or measuing cups
- 1 non-reactive saucepan such as stainless steel or enameled cast iron, NOT aluminum
- 1 non-reactive mesh sieve or cheesecloth
- 1 spatula or spoon
- 1 citrus press or juicer
- 1 heatproof measuring glass
Ingredients
- 190 g pomegranate juice from 2 pomegranates, 1 cup
- 200 g sugar 1 cup
- 120 g water 1/2 cup
- 10 g lemon juice 1 TBSP, fresh squeezed
Instructions
- Juice fruit. Cut pomegranate in half and juice it using a citrus press, or separate seeds from the fruit flesh and process using a blender or electric juicer. You should end up with 190 g of juice, or one cup.190 g pomegranate juice
- Combine with water. Add the juice and 120g water (1/2 cup) to a saucepan and heat over medium heat.120 g water
- Add sugar. Add in 200g sugar (1 cup), and gently heat the pan until the sugar is dissolved.200 g sugar
- Pop of lemon. Add in fresh squeezed lemon juice, from one half of a lemon, if using.10 g lemon juice
- Cool & strain. Allow syrup to cool before straining through a fine mesh sieve to catch any sediment.
- Bottle. Pour into airtight container for storage.
- Store. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
Can’t believe I never knew grenadine was not cherry! I used POM juice since I couldn’t find pomegranates and it turned out great!