Shirley Temple Drink
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Shirley Temple Drink is the best mocktail to serve to kids, expecting mothers, designated drivers or anyone that loves a fun, sweet beverage at a party without the alcohol. They are super easy to make with only three ingredients. Kids LOVE them because they feel fancy drinking them. Such a fun, classic non-alcoholic drink for everyone!

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about all the fun get-togethers and parties with friends and family! Memorial Day is almost here and then summer officially begins, so there’s no better time than now to start planning all the fun summer drinks.
This Shirley Temple mocktail is kid-friendly, but it’s also a great option for adults who want a refreshing fizzy drink without any alcohol. We always have a mix of kids and adults at our summer get-togethers and so I feel really good offering a fun mocktail that kids and adults will love. Plus, it’s a really cute drink to serve and so easy to make.
Serve this fruity, bubbly beverage with your summer cookout favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers!
What is a Shirley Temple?
Shirley Temples have been around forever — the drink was actually created in the 1930’s! It’s a very fun and easy drink to make. I love the ruby-red color and there’s nothing better than a fizzy drink during the summer.
This is a classic non-alcoholic drink made with grenadine. Grenadine is a syrup made with pomegranate which gives the syrup it’s tart flavor and the pretty color. When you mix it with something fizzy you get a beautiful ruby-colored drink.
Garnish with maraschino cherries, add a cute straw and you’re all set!
Why You’ll Love this Shirley Temple Drink
- This Shirley Temple recipe only takes 5 minutes, total time, to make. Mix up a tasty drink in no time at all!
- You only need 4 simple ingredients to make a classic Shirley Temple drink. So just keep the ingredients on hand and then you’ll be able to make it whenever you want.
- It’s always great to have fancy drinks that are non-alcoholic to ensure everyone at your party will have something to drink. Whether they’re avoiding alcohol or are underage, they can skip the soda and waters and have a fun mocktail instead!
Ingredients for a Shirley Temple Mocktail
- Lemon-lime soda – We like to use Sprite or 7-up, but any of your favorite lemon lime sodas will work. You can also use ginger ale or ginger beer as the bubbly addition.
- Grenadine syrup – This bright red syrup adds tasty flavor and a pretty color to this yummy mocktail.
- Ice – You’ll need plenty of ice cubes to make your drink the perfect temperature.
- Maraschino cherries – If you want an extra touch of sweetness, add a splash of maraschino cherry juice to your Shirley Temple.
How to Make a Shirley Temple
It’s such an easy drink to make! There’s really just a couple steps — here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Mix a little of the grenadine with lemon-lime soda.
- Pour the mixture into a highball glass with ice and then garnish it with the maraschino cherries.
- That’s it! Then serve and enjoy.
Large Batch Shirley Temple Recipe
If I’m having a large gathering I often times will make this into a large batch of punch. It’s perfect for serving to guests young and old alike.
So here’s a quick run down on how to make a big batch:
- Add about 2 lbs of ice to your punch bowl.
- Pour in a 2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda.
- Mix in 10 ounces of grenadine syrup.
- Finish it with maraschino cherries in the punch bowl.
If you are hosting a baby shower, graduation etc. you can also add scoops of lemon sherbet in the punch bowl. Feel free to make any other variations you want. Some fresh orange slices would be a pretty garnish in a punch bowl!
How to make this a dirty shirley
If you’d like to make this into a real cocktail just add 1-2 ounces of vodka to the drink and you have yourself a Dirty Shirley temple cocktail the adults will love.
Is Shirley Temple better with ginger ale or sprite?
The traditional way to make a Shirley Temple is with ginger ale, but as time went on it become more common to make it with lemon-lime soda, which we prefer. Try it both ways and see what your favorite is!
What is grenadine made of?
The main ingredient in grenadine is pomegranate juice. Usually it is sweetened and also has red food coloring added to it to obtain the bright red color we are familiar with.
Pro Tips for the Best Shirley Temple Drink
- If you’re making these one by one, don’t make the drink until just before serving. The ice melting will water down the beverage and make the bubbles no as crisp.
- Feel free to make any kind of variations that you want! Different fruit juices, simple syrups and fruit can all be added to this yummy drink.
- To make your drink extra cold, refrigerate the lemon-lime soda before adding it to the mocktail.
Shirley Temples are definitely kid-approved, but they’re great for adults, too, and serving up glasses of this classic non-alcoholic drink is sure to make your guests smile. It’s a childhood favorite for sure
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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup lemon lime soda
- 1 ½ Tablespoons grenadine syrup
- ice
- maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Mix together soda and grenadine.
- Pour over ice.
- Top with cherries
Tips
- Best served in highball glass
- Add about 2 lbs of ice to your punch bowl.
- Pour in a 2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda.
- Mix in 10 ounces of grenadine syrup.
- Finish it with maraschino cherries in the punch bowl.
YOUR MOM says
SHIRLEY TEMPLES ARE DELICIOUS AND SO REFRESHING. I WILL USE THIS RECIPE TO SATISFY MYSELF, THANK YOU
Julie Evink says
They are!! Enjoy!
Sj says
Quick to make and tastes so refreshing ! Thanks for the recipe.
Julie Evink says
You’re welcome! Enjoy!
Danielle Green says
My children will soon be at the stage of loving their Shirley Temples!
Julie Evink says
Yes they will be!