Easy, Classic Shirley Temple Drink

This pretty reddish pink classic Shirley Temple drink is perfect for all ages! It’s the perfect combination of refreshing fizz and sweetness, complete the cherry on top. You only need two ingredients for this one and it is so easy to make.

Jump to:

• 🥂 What is a Shirley Temple Drink?
• Why you’ll love it
• ⭐ When to Make This Drink
• 📖 Variations
• 🥄 Equipment
• 📋 Ingredients
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Instructions
• Recipe

🥂 What is a Shirley Temple Drink?

Shirley Temple drink is a classic mocktail (or non-alcoholic drink) which is made from a combination of grenadine syrup and ginger ale and is topped with a cherry. This bright colored drink tastes a little like a cherry slushie with a sweet cherry flavor and a little bite of the spicy ginger.

The history of the drink is a little murky. Some tales state that it was made for child actress Shirley Temple back in the 1930s. But, there’s no proof to confirm whether that is true or not.

Another non-alcoholic drink that’s super popular and also named after a person is this refreshing Arnold Palmer drink.

Why you’ll love it

• So easy: you only need two ingredients for this drink. And you don’t have to use a shaker or do any glass rimming or anything fancy.
• Sweet and refreshing: this mocktail is a perfect combination of sweet and fizzy refreshing flavor.
• Brightly colored: The bright red color of this drink makes it a perfect eye-catching centerpiece cocktail to serve at get togethers and celebrations.

⭐ When to Make This Drink

This one is easy to make and it’s perfect for kids, teenagers and adults alike. Serve it up at times like:

• Valentine’s Day
• brunch
• Birthday parties
• holidays

📖 Variations

Although there aren’t a ton of substitutions and variations to make in a drink that only has two ingredients, here are a few you can try out:

• Use orange juice. Some some recipe variations call for a little orange juice. You can substitute anywhere from 0.5 oz all the way up to the full 6 oz for the ginger ale. Leave out the soda all together and just add orange juice for a sunrise mocktail.
• Use lemon lime soda. Ginger ale is the original mixer used in this drink. However, it is commonly substituted for lemon lime soda these days. Especially if you don’t like the spicy ginger flavor of ginger ale.
• Use ginger simple syrup. At about 0.5 to 1 oz of ginger simple syrup if you would like to capitalize on the spicy ginger flavor.
• Make a Roy Rogers. Substitute the ginger ale for Coke and you’ll have a Roy Rogers.
• Add a citrus twist. Add a little splash 0.25 to 5 oz of lemon juice or lime juice to the top of the drink.

🥄 Equipment

• highball glass
• jigger
• 4″ and 8″ cocktail picks
• bar spoon

📋 Ingredients

• 1 oz Grenadine – grenadine is a bright red very sweet syrup. It is made with pomegranates, however, many people think it tastes like cherries.
• 5 – 6 oz of Ginger ale
• Ice
• Maraschino Cherries

👩🏻‍🍳 Instructions

Step one

Gather up everything you’ll need including maraschino cherries, jigger, highball glass, ice, bar spoon, ginger ale and grenadine.

Step two

Toss enough ice into your highball glass so that it is filled to the top.

Step three

Use the jigger to measure out 1 oz of grenadine. Pour the grenadine into the bottom of the glass.

Note: If you don’t have a jigger to measure in ounces you can use two tablespoons.

Step four

Take your ginger ale and pour it directly into the glass filling it to the top. This will typically be around 5 to 6 oz.

Note: pour slowly so that you keep as much carbonation in the drink as possible.

Step Five

If desired, take the bar spoon and give the drink a few good stirs to mix it all together.

Add maraschino cherry to the top and you’re ready to get sipping.

Recipe