I have such clear memories of ordering Shirley Temples as a kid at restaurants. Felt so fancy getting my own special drink in a real glass with a cherry on top while the adults had their boring wine or whatever. Now I make them for my nieces and nephews and they get the same excited look I probably had back then.
The thing about Shirley Temples is they’re dead simple to make but somehow always feel special. Fizzy, sweet, that bright red color from the grenadine, topped with a maraschino cherry—it just looks fun. Works for birthday parties, family gatherings, or honestly just a random Saturday afternoon when you want something more interesting than water.
Classic version is ginger ale and grenadine, but you can mess with it in all kinds of ways. Add fresh fruit juice, try different flavored sodas, swap the grenadine for raspberry or pomegranate syrup. My sister does this version with pineapple juice that tastes like vacation in a glass.
Here’s something I learned the hard way: chill your glasses beforehand. First time I made a batch for a party, I used room temperature glasses and the ice melted so fast the drinks got watered down in like five minutes. Now I stick the glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving. Makes a real difference.
You can also add a splash of orange or lemon juice for some citrus zing. Or get creative with the grenadine—pomegranate syrup gives it this slightly more sophisticated flavor that adults actually like instead of just tolerating.
Anyway, here’s how to make them. They’re colorful, they’re refreshing, and kids basically lose their minds over them.
Ingredients for Shirley Temple Drink Recipe:
This makes enough for 8-10 people. Good for parties or just having extras in the fridge.
Base Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda if you want it sweeter) – I usually do ginger ale because it’s less sweet and has that slight spice to it. My mom always used 7-Up because that’s what she had, which also works.
- 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is better) – Store-bought is fine too if you’re not trying to squeeze oranges for an hour. I’ve done both and fresh tastes brighter but honestly most kids can’t tell the difference.
- ½ cup grenadine syrup – This is what makes it red. Don’t skip it or you’re just making fizzy orange juice.
- 4 cups ice cubes
Garnishing Ingredients:
- 1 cup maraschino cherries (about 8-10 cherries, plus extra for topping) – The bright red ones. Kids go wild for these. I always buy extra because people eat them straight from the jar while I’m making drinks.
- 1 cup whipped cream (optional) – I’ve never actually put whipped cream on a Shirley Temple but the recipe says you can? Seems like overkill to me but you do you.
- 1 orange (cut into slices for garnish) – Makes it look fancy. Also you can eat the orange slices after which is a bonus.
- Fresh mint leaves – For color and smell. Looks nice, smells good, adds a little freshness. I forget to buy mint half the time and just skip it. Still tastes fine.
Optional Flavor Variations:
Want to change it up? Try these:
- Fruity twist: Replace half the ginger ale with cranberry juice. Makes it more tart and even more pink-red. My friend does this and calls it a “Pink Temple” which is dumb but the drink tastes good.
- Fruity twist: Replace half the ginger ale with cranberry juice. Makes it more tart and even more pink-red. My friend does this and calls it a “Pink Temple” which is dumb but the drink tastes good.
- Vanilla touch: Few drops of vanilla extract. Sounds weird but it works. Gives it this almost cream soda vibe.
- Seasonal flavored sodas: Raspberry soda or peach soda instead of ginger ale changes the whole flavor profile. I did raspberry once for Valentine’s Day and it was a hit.
Adding Sparkle:
If you want to get fancy:
- Edible glitter – Safe-to-eat glitter makes it look magical. Every kid under 10 will freak out over this. Every adult over 30 will wonder why there’s glitter in their drink. It’s divisive.
- Carbonated water instead of ginger ale – Less sweet, more refreshing, good option if you find the regular version too sugary. My aunt always does this because she says the ginger ale is “too much.” She’s not wrong.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve in tall glasses or mason jars. Mason jars make everything look rustic and Pinterest-worthy apparently. Fill with ice first, pour the drink mixture, top with a cherry and orange slice.
The cherry and orange slice on top is non-negotiable. That’s what makes it a Shirley Temple and not just “red fizzy juice.”
You can adjust this recipe however you want. More grenadine for sweeter, less for lighter. Different sodas, different juices, whatever. The base concept is simple enough that it’s hard to mess up. Make it work for your taste and whoever you’re serving it to.
How to Prepare Shirley Temple Drink Recipe:
Making Shirley Temples is stupidly easy. If you can pour liquids into a glass, you can do this. Here’s how:
Gather Your Ingredients
Get everything out before you start. You’ll need:
- Ginger ale or lemon-lime soda – I keep both in my fridge because different people have strong opinions about which one is “correct.” There is no correct. Use what you like.
- Grenadine syrup – The red stuff. Makes it look like a Shirley Temple instead of just fizzy fruit juice.
- Fresh lime or lemon juice (optional) – Adds brightness. I usually skip this if I’m making drinks for kids because they don’t care, but adults appreciate the extra tang.
- Maraschino cherries – Non-negotiable. This is the whole point. The kid gets to eat the cherry at the end. That’s the reward.
- Ice cubes – Lots of them. Warm Shirley Temples are sad.
- Ice cubes – Lots of them. Warm Shirley Temples are sad.
That’s it. Nothing complicated, nothing expensive. Most of this stuff you probably already have.
Prepare Your Glass
Grab a tall glass. Highball glass, regular drinking glass, mason jar—doesn’t really matter as long as it’s tall enough to show off the drink. I’ve used everything from fancy cocktail glasses to repurposed jelly jars. All of them work.
Add Ice Cubes
Fill it with ice. Like, a lot of ice. Not just three cubes floating around—actually fill the glass. This keeps the drink cold and prevents it from getting watered down too fast. Leave a little room at the top for the liquid though. I’ve overfilled glasses before and ended up pouring soda all over my counter. Learn from my mistakes.
Pour the Grenadine
Pour 1-2 tablespoons of grenadine over the ice. It’ll sink to the bottom and create this cool gradient effect—dark red at the bottom fading to clear at the top. That ombre thing is part of what makes Shirley Temples look special. Don’t stir it yet or you’ll lose that visual.
Mix in the Soda
Slowly pour your ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda, whatever you’re using) into the glass. Fill it almost to the top. The carbonation will make it fizz up, which is half the fun. I always pour too fast and it fizzes over the edge. Take your time.
Optional: Add Citrus Juice
Want it tangier? Add a splash of fresh lime or lemon juice. This is totally optional. Kids usually don’t care about this step but adults appreciate the extra brightness. I do it when I’m making these for myself and skip it when it’s just for kids.
Stir Gently
Take a long spoon or straw and give it a gentle stir. Don’t go crazy or you’ll mess up that pretty gradient. Just mix it enough so the grenadine distributes a little. Some people skip this step entirely to preserve the layered look. Up to you.
Garnish Your Shirley Temple
Drop a maraschino cherry on top. This is mandatory. A Shirley Temple without a cherry is just sad red soda. Add an orange slice on the rim if you’re feeling fancy, or throw in a few extra cherries if you want to go over the top. My niece always asks for “extra extra cherries” which means like five cherries floating in there. I allow it.
Serve and Enjoy
Hand it over with a straw or a stir stick. Drink it right away while it’s cold and fizzy. Pairs well with basically any snack food—chips, popcorn, birthday cake, whatever you’re serving.
That’s it. You’ve made a Shirley Temple. Enjoy feeling nostalgic.
Tips for the Perfect Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
Maintain the Right Temperature
Cold ingredients matter. Use ice-cold soda straight from the fridge. Room temperature soda loses its fizz faster and tastes flat. If you’re making these for a party, stick your glasses in the freezer for 10-15 minutes beforehand. Sounds extra, but it actually keeps the drinks colder longer and prevents the ice from melting too fast. I started doing this after serving a round of drinks that turned into watered-down mush within minutes at a summer barbecue. Never again.
Use Quality Ingredients
The grenadine makes or breaks this drink. Get the good stuff made with real pomegranate juice instead of the artificial corn syrup version. It costs more but you can taste the difference. The cheap grenadine tastes like cough syrup. The real stuff tastes like actual fruit.
Fresh citrus for garnishing also matters. A real orange slice or lime wedge looks way better than those neon maraschino cherries alone. Though honestly, kids don’t care. They just want the cherries. Adults notice the difference.
Suitable Substitutions for Dietary Restrictions
Need to cut calories? Use diet soda or flavored sparkling water instead of regular ginger ale. Still fizzy, less sugar. My friend does this because she’s watching her sugar intake and says it tastes almost the same.
Worried about artificial colors? Look for naturally colored grenadine made from real fruit juice. It exists, you just have to hunt for it in fancier grocery stores or order it online.
Vegan? Most ingredients are already vegan, just double-check your grenadine and sodas. Some include animal products in weird ways.
Flavor Variations
Get creative. Add raspberry puree for a berry version. Pineapple juice makes it tropical. Splash of lemon-lime soda gives it extra zing.
Want to make an adult version? Add vodka or rum. Turns it into a cocktail. I’ve done this at adult-only parties where people want something more sophisticated than a kid’s drink but still like the flavor profile. Works surprisingly well.
Presentation Matters
Use tall stylish glasses if you have them. Add colorful garnishes—maraschino cherries, fruit slices, fun straws with little umbrellas. I bought a pack of paper umbrellas from the dollar store and kids lose their minds over them.
Pour ingredients slowly to create layers. Dark red grenadine at the bottom, lighter soda on top, creates this beautiful gradient effect. Makes it look way fancier than the effort you actually put in.
Presentation turns a simple drink into something special. That’s the whole point of Shirley Temples—they’re supposed to feel like a treat.
Storage Tips for Shirley Temple Drink Recipe:
Maintaining Freshness
Make these fresh. Like, right before you serve them. The carbonation dies fast and nobody wants flat Shirley Temples. If you absolutely have to make them ahead, do it a few hours max before serving. Put them in airtight containers to slow down the carbonation loss. It won’t be perfect but it’s better than nothing.
Don’t leave mixed drinks sitting out. The ice melts, everything gets watered down, it’s a mess. I left a pitcher of these on the counter during a party once and came back to find diluted red water. Terrible.
Optimal Storage Conditions
If you mixed drinks and need to store them for a couple hours, refrigerate them in sealed containers. Glass or plastic with tight-fitting lids work. Don’t use metal—it can mess with the flavor.
Store leftover soda and grenadine separately. The soda stays fizzy in its original bottle, grenadine stays good in its jar. Mixing them together ahead of time kills the carbonation.
Shelf Life Considerations
Mixed Shirley Temple in the fridge? Maybe 24 hours tops before it loses all carbonation and tastes weird. After a day, the fizz is completely gone and it’s just sweet flat liquid. Not worth drinking at that point.
Always check smell and appearance before drinking stored mocktails. If it looks or smells off, dump it. Trust your gut.
Freezing for Future Use
Don’t freeze the mixed drink. Carbonated beverages freeze weird and taste wrong when thawed. But you can freeze the grenadine in ice cube trays if you want. Pop out a cube or two, add fresh soda, and you’ve got an instant Shirley Temple. I’ve never actually done this because grenadine keeps fine in the fridge for months, but apparently it’s an option.
Honestly just make these fresh each time. They take two minutes. Not worth the hassle of trying to store them.
Related Recipes to Elevate Your Shirley Temple Experience
If you like Shirley Temples, try these:
1. Roy Rogers – Same idea but with cola instead of ginger ale. Still uses grenadine and a cherry. My brother prefers this version because he’s a Coke person. I think it tastes too much like cherry Coke but people like it.
2. Cherry Limeade – Fresh lime juice, cherry syrup, soda water. Has those same fruity notes as a Shirley Temple but more citrus-forward. Really refreshing on hot days. Sometimes I mix cherry limeade with ginger ale for a hybrid situation that works surprisingly well.
3. Fruit Punch – For big gatherings, make a giant batch of fruit punch. Mix fruit juices, soda, chunks of fresh fruit. Same playful vibe as Shirley Temples but feeds way more people with less effort. I default to this for parties because making individual Shirley Temples for 30 people gets old fast.
4. Mango Lassi – Completely different but also sweet and colorful. Yogurt-based, fruity, works well at the same kinds of events where you’d serve Shirley Temples. My friend serves both at her kid’s birthday parties to give options. The mango lassi disappears just as fast.
All of these fit the same celebratory, fun, non-alcoholic drink category. Mix and match based on your crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Shirley Temple drink?
Non-alcoholic mocktail made with ginger ale, cherry syrup (grenadine), and usually a splash of citrus. Garnished with a maraschino cherry. Classic kid’s drink from way back that adults also enjoy. Gets served at parties, restaurants, family gatherings. It’s just a fun, sweet, fizzy drink that makes people happy.
Can I make a Shirley Temple without ginger ale?
Yeah, totally. Use lemon-lime soda or sparkling water instead. I’ve done both. Lemon-lime soda makes it sweeter, sparkling water makes it less sweet and more refreshing. Both work fine. Ginger ale has that specific spicy-sweet flavor but substitutes get close enough that most people won’t complain.
What can I use instead of grenadine for a Shirley Temple?
Raspberry syrup or cherry juice work as substitutes. They give similar sweetness and that red color. Won’t taste exactly the same but close enough. I used cherry juice once when I ran out of grenadine and honestly couldn’t tell much difference. Raspberry syrup is slightly different but still good.
Is there a way to make an adult version of a Shirley Temple drink?
Add vodka or rum. That’s it. Same drink, now it’s a cocktail. I’ve made these for adult parties where people want something that tastes like their childhood but with alcohol. Gets the job done. Some people call the vodka version a “Dirty Shirley” which is dumb but that’s the name.
What garnishes work well with a Shirley Temple drink?
Maraschino cherry is standard. Add lime slices, lemon slices, orange slices, fruit skewers, little paper umbrellas, whatever looks fun. The garnish is half the appeal—makes it feel special. I’ve gone overboard with garnishes before and ended up with drinks that had more fruit than liquid. There’s probably a limit but I haven’t found it yet.
How can I customize my Shirley Temple for different tastes?
Use different flavored sodas—pomegranate soda, cranberry soda, whatever sounds good. Add fresh fruit like berries or citrus slices. Change the syrup. Experiment. The base concept is flexible enough that you can play with it and still have something that works. I’ve tried probably fifteen variations at this point and most of them turned out fine.
Conclusion:
Shirley Temples are one of those recipes that’s stupid simple but people still get excited about. The classic combination of ginger ale, grenadine, and citrus just works. Refreshing, sweet, looks pretty in a glass.
You can customize it however you want. Try different sodas, swap syrups, add fresh fruit, make it into a cocktail if you’re feeling adult. It’s flexible enough to work for basically any occasion—birthday parties, fancy dinners, random Tuesday afternoons when you want something more interesting than water.
The whole point is it’s supposed to be fun. Don’t stress about making it perfect. Throw some ingredients in a glass, top with a cherry, enjoy the nostalgia.
Make one this weekend. Bring back some childhood memories. Maybe make a batch for your kids or niblings and watch them get excited about their fancy drink. That’s what it’s all about.
