Is there a good substitution for pomegranate molasses?

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll give the cranberry juice reduction a try with a little dark brown sugar to pull out more of those molasses notes.

@Bkpesch

I have another idea. If you go the cranberry, sugar reduction route.
Make a bit more to use after you make the dressing.
Then, Slice up some ginger and reheat it and let it simmer. Strain it and jar it, use that to mix with soda/seltzer water or for teas. Oh, I think I'll do this myself...a cranberry 'ginger' sugar in soda water would hit the spot about now. (well, it's late, so maybe a touch of vodka in that too).

So it sounds like the recipe wants a burst of intense nuanced flavor, these can be hard to substitute. Tamarind and honey are lovely, but have very distinct flavors. I doubt its worth reducing a symple syrup to practically nil just for this. I'm going to suggest adding a bit of jam--I'm going to say (seedless) raspberry as my first choice, oh, maybe black cherry, think deep, think red. In fact, if you are feeling fussy, you could even reduce your jam until it is a thick and intense goo (which is what the molasses is). Honestly, considering the other ingredients, you could also reduce and make a syrup from a lovely balsamic with much the same result.

So it sounds like the recipe wants a burst of intense nuanced flavor, these can be hard to substitute. Tamarind and honey are lovely, but have very distinct flavors. I doubt its worth reducing a symple syrup to practically nil just for this. I'm going to suggest adding a bit of jam--I'm going to say (seedless) raspberry as my first choice, oh, maybe black cherry, think deep, think red. In fact, if you are feeling fussy, you could even reduce your jam until it is a thick and intense goo (which is what the molasses is). Honestly, considering the other ingredients, you could also reduce and make a syrup from a lovely balsamic with much the same result.

Bkpesch -- first, thanks for trying out our app! second, I missed your tag -- my bad. I think Sam's suggestion of cranberry juice and brown sugar would work well as a sub in a vinaigrette. Let us know how it goes!

You can make your own pomegranate molasses by boiling down pomegranate juice -- either fresh or bottled -- until you have a consistency that's a little thinner than maple syrup. If you use fresh or unsweetened bottled juice, add some sugar; if you use something like POM Wonderful, I'd taste the syrup before adding sugar, since the POM is already heavily sweetened.

I just got this app and am trying to figure it out. I couldn't see how to expand on my question. Sorry a newbie. It is for a vinaigrette which I wrote in my tag line. Recipe calls for pomegranate molasses olive oil red wine vinegar and Dijon

This brings up an issue about questions and submitters. To get good answers we need good info.
I know some people like to keep questions short. That's fine.

But sometimes we can go "what no kumquats? Try a blood orange or a Meyer lemon instead"
I tend to think that people wanting subs for stuff that can't find, probably don't have any other 'exotic' stuff in their pantry.

What's the recipe? I would think cranberry juice and brown sugar might work. (or Cranberry and molasses)
reduce the juice and add the sugar component.
If using just cranberry juice...basically make a simple sugar with brown sugar. (depending if your juice pre-sweetened with sugar, taste and adjust).

Depends on what it's for but you could use marmalade, tamarind paste, or honey mixed with citrus.

Oddly enough, I just picked up a bottle of pomegranate molasses over the holidays because I was so curious about it and it pretty much is what it sounds like--very very thick, not quite sweet, not quite bitter, a few drops in the bottom of a champagne glass will do you very well. What are you using it for? It really isn't like many other things I've tasted, but I could imagine using a very thick raspberry (or other fruit) syrup. I think it all depends on what you are trying to do, but, yes, bottom line, make a very very thick simple syrup with berries of your choice.