A Shirley Temple is a bubbly pink drink that is made with just 2 simple ingredients- grenadine syrup and lemon-lime soda. It is a popular drink ordered in restaurants but can be easily made at home. This is a great non-alcoholic drink (mocktail) that kids can enjoy at parties!
This drink has kind of a fruity flavor of lemon, lime and most of all cherry. It is a pretty sweet drink, but it is also super delicious. It is akin to another popular kiddie cocktail called the Roy Rogers Mocktail, but that one is made with cola.
Sure, you could just have Cherry 7 up or Cherry Sprite, but I promise you this will be SO much better!! It is especially perfect for special occasions.
Another popular non-alcoholic drink, great for kids and adults, is the Arnold Palmer. It is a non-carbonated mix of iced tea and lemonade.
RELATED: At Halloween time check out the Bloody Shirley Temple!
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Why is it Called a Shirley Temple?
This kiddie drink actually gets it’s namesake from the famous actress Shirley Temple. She was a VERY famous actress in the 1930’s. Curly hair, bright eyes, and she could dance, sing and act!
Some movies you might recognize are Little Princess and Bright Eyes. When I was little I LOVED to sing “On The Good Ship Lollipop”!
She would regularly attend adult parties and could not enjoy the drinks at the bar, so the bartenders would make her a drink with the grenadine syrup and soda… and so this drink became known as the Shirley Temple.
Shirley Temple Ingredients
Soda
You definitely want to use a carbonated beverage in your Shirley Temple Drink. Most commonly used are Sprite or 7-Up, or a similar lemon-lime soda.
You could also opt for a ginger ale. Or for less sugar you can use a sparkling water.
Grenadine Syrup
Grenadine Syrup is a cherry flavored sweet liquid that is added to soda, giving your Shirley Temple a nice pink/red hue.
The most common brand you will find at the grocery store is Rose’s Grenadine Syrup. It is made by Mott’s and consists of high fructose corn syrup and all sorts of terribly delicious ingredients LOL!
You can absolutely make your own syrup, follow this recipe for Homemade Grenadine. You just need pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon.
Maraschino Cherries
Maraschino Cherries are not a necessary ingredient to make this Shirley Temple Recipe… but in my opinion it is one of the most delicious parts!
A maraschino cherry is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. (sited from Wikipedia)
You should really include 2-4 maraschino cherries per glass, just sayin’.
Fun Snacks to Serve with a Shirley Temple Soda
Since a Shirley Temple is sweet and fizzy I like to serve things that lean savory and salty. Here are some fun snacks that kids and adults love:
Adult Shirley Temple Recipe
There is an adult version of this kiddie cocktail called a Dirty Shirley Temple or a Dirty Shirley Cocktail! If you like a sweet cocktail this one is for you:
- 1 oz grenadine syrup
- 2 oz vodka (or rum)
- 4 oz lemon lime soda or ginger ale
Garnish with lime wedges and orange slice and/or maraschino cherries!
A Halloween Spin on the Classic Shirley Temple Soda
If you love celebrating Halloween you can make a Bloody Shirley Temple, which is basically a normal Shirley Temple but served in a science beaker and the grenadine get’s delivered in a bloody syringe (a medicine dropper). FUN!
More Mocktail Recipes
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Shirley Temples Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz grenadine syrup
- 8 oz lemon-lime soda - (Sprite or 7-Up) can also use ginger ale
- ice and maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour the grenadine syrup over the ice.1.5 oz grenadine syrup
- Fill the glass with the soda. Give it a light stir to mix the syrup into the soda.8 oz lemon-lime soda
- Give it a taste and add more grenadine per your tastebuds!
- Garnish with 2-4 maraschino cherries.
Recipe Tips and Notes:
Make this BLOODY SHIRLEY TEMPLE for Halloween! Or for a cola option try this Roy Rogers Drink. For a non-carbonated option, try this Arnold Palmer.
Susan Padilla says
This was a refreshing drink, my daughter and I especially loved the cherries, I skipped the syrup but I think it still works, loved it for party ideas as well ๐