Classic Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

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This classic Shirley Temple Drink recipe brings back fond childhood memories. As a child, I was delighted to be served a Shirley Temple drink garnished with maraschino cherries on a skewer. They are so simple to make, and kids love them.

Shirley Temple Recipe

The origins of this drink cannot be confirmed due to conflicting accounts, but one origin story is that in the late 1930s, a bartender at Chasen’s, a restaurant in West Hollywood, California, invented the mocktail to serve to the young Shirley Temple. However, it could also have been invented at the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles, California.

What’s in a Shirley Temple Drink?

A Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic drink consisting of ginger ale, a splash of grenadine, ice, and maraschino cherries. This simple base makes it a great candidate for substitutions and additions, allowing you to tweak it to your taste endlessly. A tall Collins glass is traditionally used when making these fun drinks, but you can use whatever fun glass you want! Don’t forget to garnish with a fun skewer.

Here are some tweaks you can make:

You can swap the ginger ale with a lemon-lime soda to give it a zesty citrus flare.

Another option is to use cherry juice instead of the ounce of grenadine.

For fun, I like to offer different-flavored syrups. These are perfect for kid’s birthday parties, served in a punch bowl with a fruit-flavored ice ring.

To make this drink healthier, omit corn syrup ingredients and replace some ginger ale or lemon-lime soda with orange juice.

If you plan to, you can add a splash of grenadine and cherries to your ice cubes for a unique garnish. I found many healthier grenadine syrups online to order some for my next mocktail party.

Roy Rogers Drink

If you replace the soda in a Shirley Temple Drink with cola, it becomes a Roy Rogers. This mocktail tastes similar to a Cherry Coke.

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What is Grenadine?

Grenadine is a sugary pomegranate syrup with zero alcohol, making it perfect for kids’ drinks and mocktails.

Grenadine is available in most grocery stores. It is generally sold in 12-oz bottles and is usually near the club soda in the liquor aisle.

Grenadines generally last around 4 months and are opened and stored in the fridge before going bad. 

How to make a Shirley Temple

1. Start by filling a tall glass with ice cubes.
2. Next, I fill a shot glass 3/4 full with Grenadine and pour it into the glass.
3. If I am feeling adventurous, I then fill the glass with ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, or a combination of both.
4. Finally, I garnish the Shirley Temple with Maraschino cherries. You can place them on top or put them on a skewer first.

Alternatively, you can free-pour this drink. Start by filling a highball glass with ice and then pouring your soda of choice until the glass is about full. Next, add about an ounce of grenadine. You cannot overdo it. Just pour until the drink becomes a deep red tone.

You can add more garnishes, like a wedge of lime on the rim or a lime slice in the drink, to add a little pizzazz.

Dirty Shirley Drink

If you are looking for a little something stronger, then you will enjoy an adult-spiked version known as a Dirty Shirley. Our not-so-virgin Shirley Temple can be found in another post here. My sister and I loved Shirley Temples so much when we were young that we have to have the adult Shirley.

To make this mocktail a cocktail, add vodka or a light rum.

1. I would make this by filling a tall glass with ice and pouring 1 ounce of vodka (or rum) over the ice.
2. Next, top the glass with ginger ale lemon-lime soda or a combination of both.
3. Then drizzle grenadine over the top to taste and stir.
4. Now add garnish with cherries, and enjoy!

Sometimes, we all need a little inspiration for easy meals and recipes. I have put together some recipes that I think you will like. If you want easy everyday recipes, you might enjoy my favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox. Click HERE.

Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you have found some inspiration.

Bon appétit,

Kippi

Ps. This post was shared on Between Naps on The Porch.