Passion fruit syrup is a popular ingredient used in many drinks and desserts. Its unique, tropical flavor comes from the juice and pulp of passion fruit. However, passion fruit syrup can be difficult to find in stores. Luckily, there are several substitutes you can use in place of passion fruit syrup.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about passion fruit syrup substitutes:
What is the best substitute for passion fruit syrup?
The best substitute is homemade passion fruit puree. Blend fresh or frozen passion fruit pulp with a bit of sugar and water.
Can I use mango syrup instead?
Yes, mango syrup makes a good substitute. It has a similar tropical flavor.
What about guava syrup or nectar?
Guava products work well too. Guava has a slightly different flavor but provides a nice tropical taste.
Is orange or pineapple juice a good swap?
Orange and pineapple juices can be used, but won’t replicate the passion fruit flavor. They offer a more generic tropical/citrus flavor.
Homemade Passion Fruit Puree
The best substitute for passion fruit syrup is homemade passion fruit puree. This allows you to replicate the authentic flavor. To make it:
- Scoop the pulp and seeds from 6-8 fresh passion fruits. This should make around 1 cup of pulp.
- Blend the passion fruit pulp with 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp lemon juice until smooth.
- For a thicker puree, strain out the seeds using a mesh strainer.
- Store puree in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Use the homemade passion fruit puree as a 1:1 substitute in any recipe calling for passion fruit syrup. Adjust sugar to taste.
Mango Syrup or Nectar
Mango syrup or mango nectar are excellent substitutes for passion fruit syrup. They provide a similar tropical, lightly sweet flavor. You can find mango syrup and nectar in most grocery stores, often near the frozen fruit or drink mixes.
When using mango syrup, substitute 1:1 for passion fruit syrup. Mango nectar is a bit thinner, so you may need to use a little less or reduce it on the stove first. Taste the mango product first to assess its sweetness. Adjust any other sugars in the recipe accordingly.
Guava Syrup or Nectar
Like mango, guava syrup and guava nectar make great substitutes for passion fruit. Guava has a unique tropical flavor that works well in place of passion fruit. You can find guava syrup and nectar in Latin grocery stores or the international food aisle of some supermarkets.
Use guava syrup 1:1 in place of passion fruit syrup. For guava nectar, you may need to use a bit less or reduce it first since it has a thinner consistency. Taste and adjust sugar as needed.
Pineapple Juice
Although it won’t replicate the exact passion fruit flavor, pineapple juice can provide a nice tropical taste. Pineapple juice is easy to find and works in a variety of recipes and drinks calling for passion fruit.
Substitute pineapple juice 1:1 for passion fruit syrup. You may want to add a bit of lemon or lime juice to brighten up the flavor. The juice may also be thinner than syrup, so reduce on the stove as needed.
Orange Juice
Orange juice is another readily available option. It provides a pleasant citrus flavor that works well in many passion fruit syrup applications. Concentrated orange juice is best to achieve a thicker, syrup-like consistency.
Use concentrated orange juice 1:1 in place of passion fruit syrup. You may want to add lime, lemon, or a bit of mango or pineapple juice to the orange juice to give it more of a tropical vibe. Simmer to thicken or reduce as desired.
Combination Substitutes
You can also make your own syrup substitutes by combining fruit juices and purees. This allows you to tweak the flavor to closely mimic passion fruit. Some combinations to try:
- 1 part mango nectar + 1 part guava nectar
- 2 parts pineapple juice + 1 part orange juice + 1 part mango puree
- 1 part pineapple juice + 1 part guava nectar + 1 tbsp lime juice
Simmer fruit juice combinations over medium heat until thickened to a syrup consistency. Let cool then use as you would passion fruit syrup. Add sugar, spices, or other flavorings as desired.
Non-Fruit Substitutes
If you want to entirely avoid fruit-based products, here are some other passion fruit syrup substitutes to try:
- Vanilla syrup – Add drops of orange flower water or other flavoring for a tropical twist.
- Honey – Infuse honey with passion fruit, guava, mango, or pineapple for flavor.
- Maple syrup – Maple has a nice complexity that works in some recipes.
- Grenadine – Provides vibrant red color and sweet flavor.
- Raspberry or strawberry syrup – Gives a bright, sweet berry flavor.
When using alternate syrups, you may need to tweak other ingredients in the recipe to account for differences in flavor and sweetness.
How to Use Passion Fruit Syrup Substitutes
Passion fruit syrup is often used to flavor and sweeten drinks, desserts, sauces, and more. Substitute an equal amount of your preferred passion fruit syrup swap in any application. Some specific ways to use substitutes include:
Cocktails & Drinks
Use mango, guava, pineapple, or orange syrups to flavor tropical cocktails like mai tais, hurricanes, and more. You can also use them in lemonades, punches, margaritas, and daiquiris.
Snow Cones & Shaved Ice
Drizzle fruit syrups over shaved ice for fruity snow cones. Mango, guava, and pineapple syrups work especially well here.
Yogurt & Smoothies
Stir passion fruit substitutes into yogurt, smoothies, protein shakes, and blended fruit drinks. Mango and guava pair nicely with tropical flavors.
Dessert Toppings
Use alternate fruit syrups as a topping for cakes, waffles, ice cream, crepes, and other desserts. Grenadine and raspberry syrup also make pretty drizzles.
Cake & Cookie Fillings
Mix mango or guava syrup into cream cheese or whipped cream for a fruity cake or pastry filling.
Pancake & Waffle Syrup
Maple syrup makes a nice substitution here, as do fruit syrups like mango, pineapple, or strawberry.
Sorbets & Granitas
Stir passion fruit substitutes into sorbets, granitas, and other frozen desserts for flavor. Orange, mango, and guava work well.
Recommended Passion Fruit Syrup Substitute Recipes
Here are some recipes that use recommended passion fruit syrup substitutes:
Tropical Fruit Smoothie with Mango
Ingredient | Amount |
---|---|
Frozen mango chunks | 1 cup |
Banana | 1 medium, sliced |
Plain yogurt | 1/2 cup |
Orange juice | 1/4 cup |
Mango nectar | 2-3 tbsp |
Directions:
- In a blender, combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup water.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses to serve. Garnish with mango slices.
Pineapple Coconut Rum Cocktail
Ingredient | Amount |
---|---|
Pineapple juice | 1/4 cup |
Coconut rum | 2 oz |
Lime juice | 2 tbsp |
Grenadine | 1 tsp |
Pineapple wedge | For garnish |
Directions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add pineapple juice, rum, lime juice, and grenadine.
- Shake vigorously until chilled.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge.
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Ingredient | Amount |
---|---|
Vanilla yogurt | 1 cup |
Orange juice | 1/2 cup |
Milk | 1/4 cup |
Honey | 1 tbsp |
Vanilla extract | 1/2 tsp |
Directions:
- In a blender, combine yogurt, orange juice, milk, honey and vanilla.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into glasses and serve cold.
Tips for Using Substitutes
- Taste substitutes before using to assess flavor and sweetness.
- Reduce thinner nectars on the stove to thicken consistency.
- Add spices like cinnamon or vanilla to round out flavor.
- Blend fruit purees and juices for a more complex flavor.
- Add citrus juices or zest to brighten up tropical fruit substitutes.
- Thicken plain syrups with a bit of cornstarch dissolved in water.
Where to Buy Passion Fruit Syrup Substitutes
You can find passion fruit syrup alternatives like the following at many grocery stores:
- Mango syrup/nectar – Look in the juice, drink mix, or cocktail mix sections
- Guava nectar/juice – Find in the international foods aisle or juice section
- Pineapple and orange juice – In the refrigerated juice area
- Grenadine and other fruit syrups – With cocktail mixes and bar supplies
You can also find a wide selection of unique syrups and fruit purees at specialty stores like:
- Whole Foods
- Trader Joe’s
- Latin/Asian grocery stores
- Restaurant supply stores
- Online retailers like Amazon
Conclusion
Although passion fruit syrup can be hard to find, there are many delicious substitutes you can use in everything from cocktails to desserts. Experiment with tropical fruit juices, purees, and syrups like mango, guava, pineapple, and orange for a similar sweet-tart flavor. You can also make easy homemade passion fruit puree. With so many options, you can find the perfect passion fruit syrup alternative for your needs.