2 minutes

Shirley Temple Drink

This Shirley Temple drink is a classic and nostalgic mocktail recipe made with homemade grenadine, ginger ale, ice, and an orange slice!

For a summer twist, turn them into Shirley Temple Floats or toast to a special occasion with Champagne Shirley Temples or Dirty Shirley Cocktails!

Close up photo of a shirley temple drink garnished with maraschino cherries and orange slices.


 

Like me, you may have fond memories of sipping on a Shirley Temple as a kid. Almost everyone knows that this simple “mocktail” is made with a simple mixture of ginger ale and grenadine. But have you ever tried one that’s made with homemade grenadine?

Every once in awhile I get a hankering for a sweet bubbly drink, but I don’t want an alcoholic cocktail. Shirley Temples used to be my go-to at restaurants or big family dinners at home, especially when I was a kid.

How To Make a Shirley Temple Drink:

Shirley Temple’s are super easy to make, that’s probably why I love them so much and make them at home several times a week! Since you only need a few ingredients to make them, this drink whips up in just a couple of minutes!

  1. Begin by filling a large glass about halfway with ice.
  2. Then, pour the grenadine over the ice.
  3. Next, squeeze the orange slice so the juices begin to release from the flesh and drop it into the glass.
  4. Pour in the ginger ale and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
  5. Add a straw and serve.
Shirley Temple Drink with bottle of granadine

But I put a hold on drinking them when I realized that they’re usually full of high fructose corn syrup and dyes.

When I discovered that I could make my own simple homemade grenadine, I knew this would be a game changer in the Shirley Temple recipe. Not only is it chemical-free, it’s totally yummy!

You may think of grenadine as being cherry-flavored, but the base of this bar syrup was originally pomegranate. In fact, its name is derived from the French word grenade, which means pomegranate.

I make mine with a simple mixture of pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice, and believe me when I say that a splash or two of this stuff in ginger ale tastes amazing! Sweet-tart pomegranate and bright notes of citrus pop when they’re mixed with the sweet ginger soda.

Overhead photo of a shirley temple drink.

This is a great option for ingredient-conscious moms to serve as a treat to their children, and you can even use natural ginger ale or ginger beer for the bubbly base of this beverage.

Consider serving a batch of freshly mixed Shirley Temples at your child’s next birthday party, complete with add-ons and garnishes like plastic swords, umbrellas, cherries and orange wedges!

I can assure you, your young guests will feel special while sipping their “fancy” drinks.

Two glasses filled with shirley temple drinks with gold polka dot straws and cherries and orange slices in them.

Every time I host a get-together that includes family members of all ages, I make my underage cousins something special so they don’t feel left out while the adults mixing their cocktails.

Shirley Temples are some of my favorite drinks to serve because they’re simple to make, fun to garnish, and of course, they’re delicious!

You may have grown up enjoying Shirley Temples topped with plastic swords and cherries, and using homemade grenadine puts a refreshing twist on an old recipe. After tasting the real fruit flavors of natural syrup, you may never go back to the store-bought stuff again!

More Delicious Drink Recipes:

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!

This Shirley Temple drink is a classic and nostalgic mocktail recipe made with homemade grenadine, ginger ale, ice, and an orange slice!
5 from 9 votes

Shirley Temple Drink


Course Drink
Cuisine American
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 1 drink
This Shirley Temple drink is a classic and nostalgic mocktail recipe made with homemade grenadine, ginger ale, ice, and an orange slice!

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Fill a large glass about halfway with ice. Pour the grenadine over the ice. Squeeze the orange slice so the juices begin to release from the slice and drop it into the glass. 
  • Pour in the ginger ale and garnish with a maraschino cherry. Add a straw and serve.

Notes

  • A lemon-lime soda like Sierra Mist, Sprite, or 7Up can be used in place of ginger ale.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Sodium: 23mg | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin C: 6.9mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Don’t forget to share it with me on Instagram @sugarandsoulco and follow on Tiktok @sugarandsoulco and Pinterest @sugarandsoulco for more!

Categories:

, , ,

Share your thoughts!

Love this recipe? Share your thoughts with me and leave a review! And don’t forget to connect on your favorite social platform below!

5 from 9 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you for a recipe that uses the true ingredients for a Shirley Temple. Almost everywhere else you look, recipes show only using Sprite or other lemon-lime drink vs. the correct (to me and my memories) ginger ale. I had not ordered one in many years, and a few years ago did so, and was disappointed when a lemon-lime drink with a cherry in it was delivered. Ugh!
    I realize you put the option of a lemon-lime soda at the end, but really ginger ale, besides being a different flavor than lemon-lime, has a different feel and “bite” to it, to offset the sweetness. I know lemon-lime soda pop was introduced in 1929, but it had lithium in it (later banned around 1948), so I doubt it was used in the 1930s, when the Shirley Temple drink was introduced. I think the use of lemon-lime has become common because some people just aren’t as familiar with ginger ale, and go with what they know.

    I also recall other kids drinks: Coke with a cherry (maybe with grenadine, too?) was a Mickey Mouse. Some call it a Roy Rogers I think. Then another using root beer, not sure what was in that one. Perhaps the latter was the Roy Rogers, or “Hopalong Cassidy.”

    1. Hi there, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. I do link to my Roy Rogers recipe in the post as well!

  2. 5 stars
    LOVED Shirley Temples growing up!! I grew up on a small farm in Connecticut! thanks for sharing this recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    I still secretly enjoy a Shirley Temple. These are perfect for kids and adults alike!

  4. 5 stars
    I LOVE Shirley Temples and I’m the grown-up who always orders a mocktail so these are near and dear to my heart! But I’ve never even thought about making homemade grenadine! Genius! And so interesting about the basis being in pomegranate!

More You'll Love