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Home » Holiday » Valentine's Day

Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

Published: Apr 14, 2022 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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This Shirley Temple recipe is the perfect drink to make on short notice, as it takes basic ingredients you might have in your kitchen already.  Whether you're an adult or a kid, it's a pleasure to drink!

If you love mocktails, make sure to check out our recipes for Roy Rogers drink and this tequila sunrise mocktail.

two glasses of Shirley Temple with straws

Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Variations
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe
  • Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
  • Comments

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Why This Recipe Works

  • It's easy. Skip fancy cocktail shakers and other fancy barware. All you need is a glass, spoon, and measuring spoons/cups!
  • It's customizable. Feel free to make substitutes or try a variation to make this Shirley Temple your own.
  • Make a small batch or a pitcher. Mix up one glass, or make a whole pitcher for a punch bowl or party.

Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for Shirley Temple drink

Fortunately, you don't need very many ingredients to whip up a Shirley Temple drink! Let's talk about the key ingredients in this simple mocktail.

  • Ginger Ale: Although many people use Sprite, ginger ale is the traditional choice for this drink. Try different flavors of ginger ale for a unique twist!
  • Grenadine: This pomegranate syrup adds sweetness and color. If you can't have red food coloring, make your own grenadine from pomegranate juice.
  • Orange Juice: This isn't part of a traditional Shirley Temple, but does make a delicious addition to it. Feel free to leave it out if you want.
  • Garnishes: I like to garnish a Shirley Temple with orange slices and maraschino cherries. It's simple and pretty!

How to Make

person pouring ginger ale and orange juice into a glass
  1. Put a few ice cubes into a highball glass, then pour in 1 cup of ginger ale.
  2. Add ⅓ cup of orange juice to the ginger ale.
person adding grenadine to the Shirley Temple drink

3. Pour in 1 tablespoon of grenadine syrup.

4. Gently stir with a straw until combined.

person garnishing a Shirley Temple drink

5. Cut a slit in an orange slice and balance it on the edge of the glass.

6. Cut a slit in the bottom of a maraschino cherry and balance it on the rim of the glass as well.  Enjoy your Shirley Temple drink!

Recipe FAQs

Why is it called a Shirley Temple cocktail?

It was invented in 1938 for the actress Shirley Temple herself. According to legend, she was celebrating her tenth birthday with her parents and other actors at a restaurant, and the bartenders created this treat for her to enjoy. Ironically, she never cared for it, as she found it too sweet.

Who created the Shirley Temple drink?

The name of the inventor of this drink isn't known, but we do know it was a bartender at Chasen's, a famous restaurant in Beverly Hills, during the 1930s.

What does a Shirley Temple taste like?

A Shirley Temple has a subtle ginger flavor from the ginger ale, but tastes mostly of cherry/pomegranate from the grenadine syrup. The orange juice adds a citrusy tang. If you eat the cherry garnish, you'll get even more of a cherry flavor. It's delicious!

What's in a Shirley Temple?

Traditionally, a Shirley Temple is made from ginger ale and grenadine and topped with a maraschino cherry. Many people swap out the ginger ale for Sprite or 7-Up, and add orange juice for additional flavor. My recipe uses the traditional ginger ale and adds a splash of orange juice.

Variations

  • Don't have ginger ale? Use Sprite, 7-Up, or any lemon-lime soda.
  • Don't have grenadine?  Use maraschino cherry juice, homemade grenadine, or raspberry cordial instead.
  • Allergic to red food dye?  Use homemade, dye-free grenadine and dye-free cherries.
  • Want to change up the flavor?  Add a dash of orange bitters for a more adult flavor.
  • Want to rim the glass?  Dip the rim of the glass in water, then in granulated sugar.
  • Want to try a different garnish? Try a paper umbrella, a curl of orange peel, or a skewer of maraschino cherries.

Expert Tips

  • Chill the ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Add ice cubes if you want the drink extra cold.
  • Pour the soda slowly to prevent it from fizzing too much.
  • Stir the drink gently with a straw or spoon to combine the ingredients.
  • Enjoy the drink immediately to prevent the loss of carbonation.

More Mocktail Recipes You'll Love

  • Watermelon Slushie Mocktail
  • Virgin Piña Colada
  • 11 Mocktails for New Year's Eve
  • Frozen Virgin Margarita Recipe

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Recipe

two glasses of Shirley Temple with a bowl of cherries

Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

A Shirley Temple is a fun non alcoholic drink that’s made with ginger ale, grenadine, and orange juice.  It’s easy to whip up in just a few minutes.  This classic treat for kids will be popular at a party or all summer long!
4.2 from 5 votes
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Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 10-ounce drink
Calories: 172kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup ginger ale
  • ⅓ cup orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon grenadine
  • 4 ice cubes
  • Maraschino cherries, for garnish
  • Orange slices, for garnish

Instructions

Making an Individual Glass

  • Place about 4 ice cubes in a 12-ounce highball glass and pour in the ginger ale.  (The drink makes about 10 ounces of liquid, but you need a 12-ounce glass to make room for the ice cubes.)
  • Add the orange juice and grenadine.  Stir gently to combine.
  • Cut a slit in an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, then balance the garnishes on the rim of the glass.  Enjoy immediately.

Making a Pitcher

  • Stir together 2 ⅔ cups of orange juice and ½ cup of grenadine until combined.
  • Just before serving, stir in 8 cups of ginger ale.
  • Pour the Shirley Temple drink into individual glasses and garnish with a cherry and orange slice.  This will make eight 10-ounce glasses.

Notes

  • Chill the ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Add ice cubes if you want the drink extra cold.
  • Pour the soda slowly to prevent it from fizzing too much.
  • Stir the drink gently with a straw or spoon to combine the ingredients.
  • Enjoy the drink immediately to prevent the loss of carbonation.

Nutrition

Calories: 172kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 43g (14%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 1g (2%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 26mg (1%)Potassium: 173mg (5%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 37g (41%)Vitamin A: 165IU (3%)Vitamin C: 41mg (50%)Calcium: 19mg (2%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @savortheflavourblog or tag #savortheflavour!

This post was originally published on February 12, 2018, and updated with new photos and content on February 13, 2020. The photos were resized and the content was updated on April 14, 2022.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    February 07, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    5 stars
    The orange juice adds a tangy flavor to the pop, and the color is very impressive. The grenadine gives it a unique flavor. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Emma

      February 07, 2020 at 12:57 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it, Alex!

      Reply
  2. Beth

    October 13, 2019 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    This is so refreshing with the grenadine and ginger ale. The fruity grenadine and orange juice tastes lovely with the ginger ale. The pretty color makes the drink look very sunny. The garnish is beautiful. Simply wonderful!

    Reply
    • Emma

      October 14, 2019 at 3:45 pm

      It's interesting how such a simple combination can be so refreshing. Thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply

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Welcome to our kitchen! We're Brooke & Emma, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. As self-taught cooks and bakers, we love to inspire you to cook from scratch with real food! Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts.

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