Frosting Recipes

We were thinking about our pink frosting options for Valentine’s Day cake frosting.  On one hand, we’re cool with natural colorings like beet juice to pinkify a vanilla frosting.  But we decided on a grenadine frosting for both its color and flavor. Grenadine is a syrup traditionally made from pomegranate juice.  Not only does grenadine add a sweet, red tinge to cocktails, it can also be added to frosting recipes.

You can make your own grenadine by simmering pomegranate juice until it thickens and then adding granulated sugar.  This is a more pure alternative than many commercially available grenadine products that have high fructose corn syrup; some don’t even list pomegranate juice as an ingredient.

You may add 2 tablespoons of grenadine to a buttercream recipe, or add 2-3 tablespoons of grenadine to a cream cheese frosting recipe. It’s tastier and has a more natural look than many food colorings.

Here’s one cream cheese version of grenadine frosting from the Food Network served on rose petal cupcakes.  A perfect Valentine’s day treat!

Pink Cream Cheese Grenadine Cake Frosting Recipe

1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons grenadine

Put the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a mixer and, using the paddle attachment on high, beat until the two are incorporated. Add the sugar and beat one minute more. Add the vanilla and grenadine and beat until a uniform pink. Refrigerate until ready to use. Let come to room temperature before using.