There are so many cool Halloween cocktails out there, but since they are so sugar laden, we came up with a better-for-you grenadine substitute recipe!
Enjoy the sweet flavorful taste of grenadine and a similar consistency with this easy substitute.
Keep this prepared mixer in an air-tight jar in your fridge for any on-demand happy hours or cocktail parties.
What is Grenadine?
Grenadine stems from the French word for pomegranate, which is grenade.
Thus, pomegranates are the main ingredient of this non-alcoholic syrup. You can usually find grenadine at the liquor store and even at some grocery stores.
It is a type of sweet, simple syrup that has a slightly tart flavor and is a common ingredient in premixed beverage mixes like strawberry daiquiri syrup. It is also used in a number of classic cocktails.
Basically anytime you see a bright red syrup in a cocktail, it is likely grenadine!
Grenadine Calories
Traditionally the grenadine used in most cocktails adds 77 calories per ounce to your cocktails. Most fufu drinks, especially tropical beachside cocktails, usually use a few ounces of grenadine, which can make the calories add up fast.
Conversely, our grenadine substitute only carries 15 calories per ounce.
It adds the sweet flavor and syrupy consistency that you’re used to, but uses fresh pomegranate juice and all natural Purecane zero calorie sweetener.
Purecane comes from a fermented cane sugar plant, so you get the essence of the pure cane sugar but without any calories.
Purecane comes in many varieties, from baking sweetener, to brown sweetener, to even confectionary sweetener.
We use Purecane as an easy substitute to cut calories from our baking or reduce carbs in our cocktails all the time.
Use this no-sugar-added grenadine syrup in any cocktail recipe to reduce your sugar and calorie intake! That way you can have an extra cocktail without the guilt!
Our Grenadine Substitute
Our recipe is the best grenadine substitute because it has no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup, and no artificial colors.
It doesn’t have the deep red color, much like the color from maraschino cherry syrup.
However, the slightly darker color of this recipe’s homemade grenadine syrup still helps to accent tropical drinks and cocktails.
To match the flavor profile, we used part pomegranate juice, part all natural zero calorie sweetener to make this grenadine recipe.
Be sure to use natural unsweetened pomegranate juice that comes right from the pomegranate seeds and not some sort of a fruit juice made with additional sweeteners.
The cornstarch helps to create the viscosity of a typical sugar syrup, without the extra sugar!
Cocktails to use Grenadine Substitute
- Shirley Temple – Who didn’t grow-up on the all-time kids mocktail, the Shirley Temple? We will always have memories going to a sit down restaurant and feeling extra fancy ordering this drink while our parents sipped on their adult drinks. Even though Shirley Temples are non-alcoholic drinks, our grenadine substitute works great in this beverage as well. It’s great to cut out some sugar for kids or for those who are looking for a non-alcoholic option. Just add the homemade grenadine substitute with 7 Up and ginger ale. Also, who says if you’re an adult that you can’t add vodka or gin to make this an official adult beverage.
- Tequila Sunrise – We use Purecane to make our skinny margarita recipe, but another option for a tequila mixed drink cocktail is to make a tequila sunrise with our grenadine substitute, tequila, and orange juice.
- Hurricane Cocktail – We love a good hurricane to remind us of our travels to New Orleans, but dang they are sweet. Use our grenadine substitute with rum, lime juice or lemon juice, orange juice and passion fruit puree.
- Mai Tai – When in Hawaii or an island a Mai Tai is one of the cocktails you might see on every menu. Mai Tai’s are a mixture of pineapple juice, orange juice, rum, and orange curacao, but what makes the cocktail truly have a tropical look and feel is the addition of grenadine. Finish the cocktail with a fresh pineapple and a mini umbrella toothpick and you have yourself a personal cup of paradise.
- Roy Rodgers – Like the sprite forward Shirley Temple, the Roy Rodgers if for those who prefer the sweet nectar of Coca Cola or Pepsi with the addition of our grenadine alternative. Also, to take this classic mocktail up to an adult beverage we’d recommend a bourbon whiskey or rye whiskey, and finish with a cherry.
Our Spooky “Vampire’s Kiss” Cocktail
We used our better-for-you grenadine in a fun Halloween cocktail earlier this month.
Our Vampire’s Kiss cocktail tastes a lot like a French martini cocktail but with less calories.
We started by putting our grenadine substitute on the bottom of a martini glass.
Then, we mixed together equal parts fresh pineapple juice and vodka in a cocktail shaker.
Shake over ice and then pour on top of a cocktail spoon on top of the grenadine to help keep the layers intact.
Finally, top the cocktail with whipped cream. We used a whipped cream dispenser to spray our homemade sugar free whipped cream on top! (Don’t miss our post on how to make sugar free whipped cream!)
Recommended Equipment
For this recipe, there are a few items that will make preparing the grenadine substitute easier:
- Fine mesh sieve – Use a sieve or slotted spoon to remove the orange peel you add for flavor. If your peel were to stay in the liquid it would pick-up bitter notes that you don’t want.
- Funnel – A handheld funnel is the best option to use to ensure you don’t spill any grenadine when transferring it for storage.
- Canning Jar – A simple ball jar with an airtight seal is a great option for storing your grenadine substitute.
Better-For-You Grenadine Substitute Recipe
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Additional Time: 20 Minutes
Yields: 1 cup
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces of pomegranate juice
- ½ cup Purecane All Natural Sweetener
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- Splash of water
- 4 pieces of orange peels
Directions:
- Add the pomegranate juice and the Purecane sweetener to a saucepan and stir.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, add a splash of water to the cornstarch and stir to make a slurry.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan and stir to combine.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the mixture reduces by half, then remove from heat.
- Add the orange peel to the pomegranate syrup and let sit for 15-20 minutes to cool.
- Use a sieve to remove the orange peel, then use a funnel to transfer the grenadine substitute to a mason jar with an air-tight seal.
- Use your grenadine substitute as a sweet syrup in cocktails in place of grenadine and store any remaining in the refrigerator in the air tight jar. Another unique use for the syrup would be as a topping for ice cream or a fruit forward syrup for pancakes or waffles.
Note: If you want a thicker consistency for your own grenadine, just add more cornstarch slurry and continue to simmer until it reaches your desired thick consistency.
Better-For-You Grenadine Substitute Recipe
Our healthier grenadine substitute recipe doesn't have any added sugar. Enjoy all of your favorite cocktails with less calories and carbs!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces of pomegranate juice
- ½ cup Purecane All Natural Sweetener
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- Splash of water
- 4 pieces of orange peels
Instructions
- Add the pomegranate juice and the Purecane sweetener to a saucepan and stir.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, add a splash of water to the cornstarch and stir to make a slurry.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan and stir to combine.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the mixture reduces by half, then remove from heat.
- Add the orange peel to the pomegranate syrup and let sit for 15-20 minutes to cool.
- Use a sieve to remove the orange peel, then use a funnel to transfer the grenadine substitute to a mason jar with an air-tight seal.
- Use your grenadine substitute as a sweet syrup in cocktails in place of grenadine and store any remaining in the refrigerator in the air tight jar. Another unique use for the syrup would be as a topping for ice cream or a fruit forward syrup for pancakes or waffles.
Notes
If you want a thicker consistency for your own grenadine, just add more cornstarch slurry and continue to simmer until it reaches your desired thick consistency.
Recommended Products
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We hope you have an amazing holiday season and that this no-sugar-added grenadine will let you indulge without stressing about all the extra calories or sugar.
Be sure to check out these other Sugar Free Desserts that we’ve made with Purecane:
- Healthy Peach Crisp Recipe
- No Sugar Added Apple Pie
- Sugar Free Whipped Cream
- No Sugar Added Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
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