Food & Entertaining

Tempting Non-Alcoholics Cocktails Using Grenadine Syrup

Grenadine syrup is a staple of many bars for making mixed drinks that contain alcohol and those without. It is red syrup made with sugar, pomegranate juice from concentrate, water, vanilla extract, vitamins, and sea salt. This year, try making alcohol-free cocktails for parties and the holidays.

Tempting Non-Alcoholics Cocktails Using Grenadine Syrup

To begin making these drinks, you will need one bottle of grenadine syrup, crushed ice, a blender, glasses, pitcher, large spoon to stir, and ingredients for each recipe.

Crush ice for mixed drinks in a large plastic bag using a wood or metal mallet. Be careful not to make holes in the bag. The other way is to put ice in a blender or food processor. Put ice in the blender and pulse for a few seconds to crush ice. Store ice in plastic zip lock bags in the freezer. When mixing ingredients chill juices, sodas, soda water, seltzers, syrups, and other ingredients before using. Try the following alcohol-free drinks for the holidays.

Cranberry Pineapple Spritzer

8 ounces of cranberry juice

8 ounces of pineapple juice

1/4 cup crushed pineapple

8 ounces chilled seltzer water

1 tablespoon of grenadine syrup

crushed ice

In a shaker or small pitcher, blend the cranberry juice, pineapple juice, seltzer, and syrup. Mix well. Add crushed ice to two glasses. Pour the mixture into the glasses. Add about 1 tablespoon crushed pineapple to each drink. Serves 2.

Grenadine Ale

16 ounces of ginger ale

2 tablespoons of grenadine syrup

1/2 cup of orange juice

crushed ice

orange slices

In a pitcher or container, add the ginger ale, syrup, and orange juice. Mix well. Add crushed ice to two glasses and pour mixture over the ice. Add one or two slices of fresh orange. Serves 2.

Grenadine Sparkling Wine

8 ounces of apple juice

8 ounces of white grape juice

2 tablespoons grenadine syrup

8 ounces of soda water

2 tablespoons lemon juice

crushed ice

In a small pitcher or container, mix the apple juice, grape juice, syrup, soda water, and lemon juice. Mix well. Add crushed ice to two glasses. Serves 2.

Grenadine Shirley Temple

16 ounces of lemon or lime soda

4 tablespoons of grenadine syrup

4 maraschino cherries

crushed ice

Mix the lemon-lime soda with the syrup in the container. Mix well. Pour ingredient over ice. Add two cherries per glass. Serves 2.

Strawberry Lemonade

3 cups of cold water

2 cups of fresh lemon juice

1 bag frozen strawberries

2 tablespoons grenadine syrup

crushed ice

1/2 cup sugar

In a pitcher mix the cold water and lemon juice. Squeeze fresh lemons or use lemon concentrate. Puree the defrosted strawberries in a blender and add to lemonade with syrup. Add sugar and mix well. Add crushed ice chill and serve over ice. Serve 3 or more.

Orange Juice Cocktail

16 ounce of chilled orange juice

2 tablespoons of grenadine syrup

16 ounces of seltzer water plain

4 ounces of grapefruit juice

crushed ice

Mix the orange juice, syrup, seltzer water, grapefruit juice together well in a plastic or glass container. Put crushed ice in glasses and pour mixture into glasses. Serves 2.

Rum and Cola

16 ounces of cold Coke or Pepsi

2 tablespoons of grenadine syrup

1 tablespoon rum extract

2 to 4 maraschino cherries

crushed ice

Mix the soda, syrup, rum extract well and chill. Put ice into two glasses and pour the mixture into two glasses. Garnish with cherries. Serves 2.

Iced Tea with Grenadine

8 to 10 black tea bags

8 to 10 cups hot water

1/4 cup grenadine

1/4 cup lemon

1/2 cup sugar

crushed ice

In a pitcher, put 8 to 10 tea bags. Boil water and add the hot water. Let it steep and remove the tea bags and discard. Add the syrup, lemon, and sugar, and mix well. Add crushed ice and chill. Pour over crushed ice and serve. Serves 8-10 people

Other Ways to Use Grenadine Syrup

There are other ways to use grenadine syrup with food. It makes a delicious syrup over hot pancakes, waffles, and french toast in the morning. Pour it on, like maple syrup. In baking, it can be used as a replacement for sugar or honey. This syrup makes a delicious topping over fresh fruit, ice cream, or for glazing chicken and meats. It even goes well on pudding or cheesecake. Pink Lemonade Granita makes a delicious after-dinner treat.