There’s a reason Shirley Temple’s classic drink has stood the test of time. Its bright red color, bubbly bubbles, sweet and tangy lemon-lime flavor and colorful toppings have earned it a place in the mocktail hall of fame.
Kids and adults love them and they are so easy to make!
While most of us think of a Shirley Temple as a cherry-flavored drink, the red color comes from grenadine, which is actually a pomegranate-flavored syrup without the cherries.
Cherries are often used as a garnish, but the main flavor really comes from the pomegranate.
Looking for more mocktail recipes? To attempt:
What is a Shirley Temple drink?
A Shirley Temple is a classic mocktail made with lemonade (or ginger ale), grenadine and a maraschino cherry for garnish.
Why is it called the Shirley Temple Drink?
The drink is named after the famous child actress Shirley Temple. Legend has it that it was invented by a bartender at Chasen’s in Beverly Hills in the 1930s for the little actress to feel chic at parties, and it’s been a hit ever since. Kids love to feel fancy too!
Does a Shirley Temple contain alcohol?
No, a classic Shirley Temple drink is a mocktail that contains no alcohol. If you want to turn this into a cocktail called “Dirty Shirley,” you would add 2 ounces of vodka (or gin) to the drink to make it a delicious cocktail!
Is a Shirley Temple made with Ginger Ale, Sprite or 7Up?
The simple answer is “it depends”! It’s definitely a preference, and even a regional thing, whether you use a ginger ale, Sprite, or 7Up for the soda portion of the drink. There’s no wrong way, so experiment and find what you like best!
Ingredients:
Lemon Lime Soft Drink: You can use Sprite, 7Up or any other lemonade brand you like. You can also squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime for an extra citrus kick.
grenadine: This pomegranate-flavored syrup is alcohol-free and can be found in the blender section of most liquor stores (and grocery stores that carry alcohol), or you can easily order it online. You can also make your own grenadine At home!
Ice: Whether you like fancy pellet ice, cube ice, or just ice from the fridge ice maker, stack high and low before pouring in your ingredients to keep your drink cold.
Garnishes: You can use lime (or lemon), orange, or mint wedges to garnish your drink. Just don’t forget the classic maraschino cherries!
Variations on the classic Shirley Temple:
- Instead of lemon-lime soda, Try swapping out half the soda for ginger ale or use all ginger ale IInstead of the lemon-lime.
- If you don’t have grenadine, you can use that Cherry juice from the Maraschino cherry glass or cherry syrup which gives you an optimized, cherry version.
- For a less sweet version, Opt for a carbonated lime water (or fresh lime squeezed in clear sparkling water) in place of the soda and sweeten with the grenadine if you like.
- Instead of a store-bought version, Try making your own easy grenadine and adjust the sweetness ratio to your liking.
How to make a Shirley Temple:
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Add 1 ounce of grenadine syrup
- Top up with 8 ounces lemonade (or ginger ale).
- Add maraschino cherries to garnish
- Enjoy!
What is the difference between a Shirley Temple drink and a Roy Rogers drink?
Although similar, a Shirley Temple contains grenadine, lemonade, and a maraschino cherry, while a Roy Rogers is made with grenadine, cola (like Coke), and a maraschino cherry.
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Get the recipe
Make the classic Shirley Temple drink with just a few ingredients!
instructions
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Fill glass with ice
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Add 1 ounce of grenadine syrup
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Top up with 8 ounces lemonade (or ginger ale).
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Add maraschino cherries to garnish
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Enjoy!
Remarks
If you don’t have grenadine, you can use cherry syrup or the juice from the maraschino cherry jar instead.
nutrition
nutritional information
Classic Shirley Temple Drink Recipe (with variations!)
amount per serving
% Daily Value*
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Note: Nutrition is automatically calculated using Spoonacular for your convenience. Where appropriate, we recommend using your own nutritional calculations.
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