Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

➤ Introduction for Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

OMG, the Shirley Temple! This drink hits differently – it almost feels like being a kid again in the best way possible. I honestly still recall being seven at a wedding my cousin had where I happened to be holding one of those fancy glasses with the red cherry in the perfect spot, feeling like such a big deal when all the adults were perplexing themselves with their own drinks.

So apparently all of this began because of the tiny, adorable actress that came out of the ’30s – Shirley Temple herself. The legend has it that she was out to dinner with her parents at some ritzy Beverly Hills establishment – and the bartender felt bad that she couldn’t consume anything fun that everyone else was having. So he whipped together this special drink for her that looked just as cool as everyone else’s, but he made it child-appropriate.

Now whenever I make one, I can’t help but remember how many birthday parties and family get-togethers this drink could make some kid’s entire night. Isn’t it funny how a simple drink like this can make you feel special at any age?

➤ Why I Love This Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

• There is something about this Shirley Temple Drink that brings me joy every single time. It’s not just the sweet, bubbly, cherry flavor – although that is amazing! It’s more like the whole experience, all of the memories, and that feeling of celebration even when we’re not celebrating.
• That pink color is just beautiful, especially with that little cherry perfectly placed, just floating there so red. It looks like a tiny little celebration waiting to happen. I just love Shirley Temple Drink it creates that party vibe for everyone – kids get their own special drink, and adults get to have a cocktail.

➤ Shirley Temple Drink Recipe Ingredients

For the classic one:

•3 oz ginger ale or lemon-lime soda (ginger ale all day – gives it a nice little kick)
•1-2 tablespoons grenadine syrup (what garners the great pink color)
•1-2 maraschino cherries for garnish
•Plentiful ice
•Optional: tiny splash of fresh lime juice for brightness

When I feel fancy:

•Real cherry juice instead of grenadine – tastes way closer to an actual cherry.
•Some bougie ginger ale brand
•Luxardo cherries instead of maraschino – they’re just better.
•If I’m really going for it: splash of fresh orange juice for something different.

➤ How to Make Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

1 • Step 1: Prep your glass

•Fill up a tall glass with ice – Personally, I love using high ball glasses or even Mason jars when I’m being lazy. Fill it with ice up to about two-thirds full.

2 • Step 2: Grenadine first

•Slowly pour that grenadine over the ice. You can see it sink straight to the bottom, which is exactly what you want – that is the layered look that we are going for that makes everyone say “ooh”.

3 • Step 3: Pour your soda

•Now gently pour your ginger ale (or soda) over the ice. Don’t just dump it in or you’ll screw up the layers. If done correctly, you will have a beautiful gradient from dark pink on the bottom to light pink on top.

4 • Step 4: Garnish

•Add your cherries. I always add two because why not? To be extra, you can add a lime wedge to the rim.

5 • Step 5: Get it all mixed up

•Just before you give the drink to someone, give it a gentle stir to mix up that grenadine. You’ll see it all turn into this perfect pink color.

➤ Shirley Temple Drink Recipe Tips and Variations

• Make sure everything is cold: ice cold. Chill your soda first so when you pour it, it stays ultra fizzy. Also, if you want those pretty layers, you need to slowly pour the grenadine. And don’t skip the cherries because you think they are just for decoration; they add flavor as you drink.
• I sometimes change it up. The Roy Rogers is the same drink, but made with Coke instead of ginger ale. It was named after the old cowboy actor. For adults I’ll make a “Dirty Shirley” by adding some vodka, or rum. Around the holidays, use cranberry juice instead of grenadine and you will have this beautiful deep red color.

➤ Serving Suggestions for Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

• This Shirley Temple Drink is suitable for many different occasions, and I have come up with some pretty creative ways to serve it over the years.
• Shirley Temple Drink is obviously great for kids parties! Every kid loves feeling like they’re getting something special and fancy. I love making these at family gatherings where you can have toddlers all the way to grandparents. They are great for brunch time, especially with kids around who want to drink something fun.

• When Shirley Temple Drink comes to food these pair well with all the classic kid foods, pizza, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, and more. They are also great with brunch types of food like pancakes or French toast, and oddly enough, the sweet flavor actually works pretty well with salty snacks like pizza strips.

If you were a fan of this Shirley Temple, you’re definitely going to fall in love with my gin drink recipe next! Both drinks are refreshing and perfectly balanced – one’s sweet and nostalgic, but the other is sophisticated and botanical. Both are crafted with the same level of attention to the balance of flavors, and they offer such a different drinking experience. You must try the gin cocktail next!

➤ Storage and Leftovers

• You can mix the grenadine and soda ahead of time in a large pitcher, but don’t put ice in until people are actually ready for drinks or you’ll lose all the fizz. Keep it in the fridge for like 4 hours tops.
• Open grenadine stays good in the fridge for months. Same with the maraschino cherries, just make sure your soda is already cold before you mix… warm soda is the worst.
• But don’t even try to prepare them ahead of time. The ice has melted and it is just watery, plus the soda is completely flat. Always prepare them fresh, and it only takes about two minutes anyway!

➤ Shirley Temple Drink Recipe FAQs

Q: Can I use different sodas?

⤷ A: Definitely! Ginger ale is considered traditional, but lemon-lime soda, Coke, or even sparkling water all work great. Each one gives it a completely different feel.

Q: What if I don’t have grenadine?

⤷ A: You can try sparkling water with a splash of real fruit juice, instead of soda. You can also cut back on the grenadine to decrease the sugar.

Q: Can I make it alcoholic?

⤷ A: Yes, then it becomes a “Dirty Shirley” – just add in some vodka or rum. I would start with like 1 oz and see how you feel.

Q: How do I get the perfect pink color?

⤷ A: It is all about good quality grenadine and getting the ratios right. Too much grenadine and it looks like red Kool-Aid; too little and you can barely see it. I would start with 1 tablespoon and go from there.