A classic Shirley Temple drink recipe takes three ingredients and two minutes: ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, a splash of grenadine syrup, and a maraschino cherry on top. I still remember ordering my first one at a family wedding, feeling like the fanciest person at the table with that bubbly, cherry-red glass in hand.
That’s the real appeal of this mocktail — it turns a plain soda into something that feels like a celebration. Whether you’re mixing drinks for a birthday party, a holiday table, or just a Tuesday night treat, this Shirley Temple recipe delivers that same sweet, fizzy nostalgia every single time, and I’ll walk you through the exact ratios that make it taste right.
What’s in a Shirley Temple Drink?
A Shirley Temple drink is built from just a few pantry staples: grenadine syrup, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, ice, and a maraschino cherry for garnish. The grenadine gives the mocktail its signature blush-red color and fruity sweetness, while the soda brings the fizz. Because the base is so simple, it’s an easy mocktail to scale up for a crowd or dress up with citrus.
Most versions land somewhere between tart and candy-sweet, depending on how much grenadine syrup you pour and which soda you reach for. Some home bartenders split the difference and use half ginger ale, half lemon-lime soda for a flavor that’s not too sharp and not too saccharine. It’s a forgiving mocktail recipe — you really can’t mix it wrong.
What is Grenadine?
Grenadine is a sweet, pomegranate-based syrup, not an alcoholic ingredient, despite living near the liquor aisle in most grocery stores. It’s what gives a Shirley Temple its deep red color and fruity, slightly tart flavor. Most bottled grenadine is really just sweetened pomegranate juice reduced into a thick, pourable syrup.
Why Is It Called a Shirley Temple?
The Shirley Temple drink is named after the 1930s child star Shirley Temple, who needed something festive to sip while dining out with adults at Hollywood restaurants. Bartenders mixed up a non-alcoholic drink using what was already behind the bar — grenadine, soda, and a cherry — and the name stuck for good.
Funnily enough, Shirley Temple herself wasn’t a huge fan of the drink named after her; she said as much in a 1980s NPR interview. That hasn’t slowed its popularity one bit — it remains a staple mocktail on restaurant kids’ menus and adult mocktail lists alike, nearly a century later.
Origins of the Shirley Temple
The most repeated origin story places the drink’s invention at Chasen’s, a West Hollywood restaurant frequented by 1930s Hollywood royalty, though the Brown Derby also claims the honor. Either way, the goal was the same: give a young celebrity a fizzy, grown-up-looking drink minus the alcohol.
Why It Works
This recipe works because the ratio of soda to grenadine is intentionally soda-forward, so the drink stays refreshing instead of syrupy. A splash of grenadine goes a long way once it’s poured over ice and topped with fizzy soda, letting the sweetness settle rather than overwhelm.
Using cold soda and plenty of ice also keeps carbonation intact, which matters for a mocktail that’s mostly about texture and fizz. Skipping the shaker and building the drink directly in the glass preserves those bubbles, so every sip stays as lively as the first.
How to Make a Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
Making a Shirley Temple at home takes less time than pouring a bowl of cereal, and there’s no bartending skill required. Fill a tall glass with ice, add the grenadine syrup, top with your soda of choice, give it a gentle stir, and finish with a maraschino cherry.
Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
The only real decision is which soda to use — ginger ale for a more old-school, slightly spiced flavor, or lemon-lime soda for a sweeter, brighter mocktail. Either way, the technique stays exactly the same, which makes this a great recipe for kids to help build themselves.
Ingredients
- 1 to 1½ ounces grenadine syrup
- 8 ounces ginger ale or lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7UP), chilled
- Ice cubes
- 2–3 maraschino cherries, for garnish
- Optional: orange or lime wedge
Directions
- Fill a tall Collins or highball glass with ice.
- Pour the grenadine syrup over the ice.
- Top with chilled ginger ale or lemon-lime soda.
- Stir gently to combine — don’t over-stir, or you’ll lose the fizz.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and a citrus wedge, if using, then serve immediately.
Recipe Variations
Once you’ve got the base Shirley Temple recipe down, it’s easy to riff on it. Swap the soda, add a splash of juice, or turn it into an adult cocktail — the ratio stays roughly the same no matter which direction you take it.
A few reader-favorite twists: add a splash of orange juice for a fruitier finish, swap ginger ale for cola to make a Roy Rogers, or float a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a Shirley Temple float. Each variation keeps the same fizzy, cherry-forward backbone that makes the original so recognizable.
| Variation | What Changes | Alcohol? |
|---|---|---|
| Dirty Shirley | Add 1–2 oz vodka | Yes |
| Roy Rogers | Swap soda for cola | No |
| Shirley Temple Black | Add dark rum | Yes |
| Shirley Temple Float | Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream | No |
Dirty Shirley Drink
A Dirty Shirley is simply the classic mocktail with 1 to 2 ounces of vodka added, turning it into a proper cocktail for adults. Build it the same way — ice, grenadine, soda, cherry — then stir in the vodka before garnishing, so the fizz stays intact.
Making a Shirley Temple Drink Without Grenadine
If you’re out of grenadine, pomegranate juice or maraschino cherry juice both make solid substitutes, though the flavor will be slightly less syrupy-sweet. You can also simmer sugar and pomegranate juice together for a few minutes to make a quick homemade version.
Serving Suggestions
A Shirley Temple is best served ice-cold in a tall Collins or highball glass, which shows off its bright red color and keeps the fizz from going flat too quickly. For parties, SOLO cups work fine, and you can easily batch the grenadine and soda in a large pitcher ahead of time.
Keep a bowl of maraschino cherries and citrus wedges nearby so guests can garnish their own glass. A general starting ratio is 1 ounce of grenadine to every 8 ounces of soda — adjust up or down depending on how sweet your crowd likes it.
Notes
Grenadine is shelf-stable unopened but should be refrigerated after opening, where it typically stays fresh for a few months. If you’re watching sugar intake, a sugar-free lemon-lime soda swaps in easily without changing the method. Always add soda last so the drink keeps its fizz instead of going flat before serving.
Nutrition
A classic Shirley Temple is a light, alcohol-free mocktail, though it does carry a fair amount of sugar from the grenadine and soda combined. Exact numbers will shift slightly based on which soda and how much grenadine you use, so treat the figures below as a solid estimate rather than an exact count.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~200 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | ~50g |
| Sugar | ~41g |
| Sodium | ~30mg |
| Protein | 0g |
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FAQs
What is Shirley Temple drink made of?
A Shirley Temple drink is made of grenadine syrup, ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, ice, and a maraschino cherry garnish.
What is an original Shirley Temple?
The original Shirley Temple was made with ginger ale, a splash of grenadine, and a maraschino cherry — no lemon-lime soda.
Is Shirley Temple made with 7UP or Sprite?
It can be made with either — 7UP and Sprite are both common choices, and some people mix the two with ginger ale.
Is a Shirley Temple healthy?
Not particularly — it’s non-alcoholic and kid-safe, but it’s high in sugar (around 40g per serving), so it’s more of an occasional treat than an everyday drink.
Classic Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the grenadine syrup over the ice.
- Top with chilled ginger ale or lemon-lime soda.
- Stir gently to combine, being careful not to over-stir so the drink stays fizzy.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and a citrus wedge, if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
Once opened, grenadine stays fresh in the fridge for about 4 months.
Always add the soda last to preserve carbonation and keep the drink from going flat.
For a lighter version, use sugar-free lemon-lime soda without changing the method.
To make a Dirty Shirley, stir in 1–2 oz vodka after the soda.
Nutrition (Per Serving)
Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 0g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 14mg | Sugar: 41g | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mgRecipe Expert & Food Blogger
Meet Sarah Hasan – the heart and soul of Kitchen Pinch.As a passionate home chef with a wealth of culinary experience, Sarah specializes in crafting easy yet flavor-packed recipes that showcase comfort food, global dishes, copycat favorites, pasta, tacos, and more. Her simple approach makes cooking approachable and fun for all levels.
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