I had pomegranate seeds in the freezer, so crushed them into some boiled cider (from King Arthur), which is like apple molasses.

Common sense triumphed, but it is worth buying a bottle when you see it (Cortas is a good one). Keeps a long time in the refrigerator and you will find lots of uses for it once you start. Love it in Prosecco or another bubbly.

I needed only 2 tsp. and couldn't find it anywhere. So i bought a pint bottle of Pom pure pomegranate juice and boiled it til it looked like molasses. Perfect.

Dates and Tamarind paste cooked with sugar and vinegar can be used instead of pomegranate molasses.

Substitute what you like...it's a recipe not an edict

Have to say, I think pomegranate molasses is pretty magic and worth buying a bottle of to play with. I learned about it when we lived in Egypt and always keep a bottle around now. Don't use it as much as I used to, but I've thrown it into all kinds of recipes. As Marcella Hazan once said about making a substitution in one of her recipes: it may make a very good risotto, but it won't be THIS risotto.

Suggest you give it a go!

I've used cassis syrup/blackcurrant syrup as a pom molasses substititute in a dip and it came out delicious

A mix of honey and lemon or honey and balsamic would likely work. Pomegranate molasses is sweet and tart.

Hmm - pomegrante molasses is way way reduced pomegranet juice, so what about some molasses maybe with balsamic? You could reduce the balsamic way down too and then mix them. So you get thick, gooey, sweet and a little acidity? Just a thought ...