With its signature fizzy sweetness, pretty pink hue, and delightful cherry garnish, our Shirley Temple Mocktail Recipe is easy to make and a fun and refreshing drink for all ages.
The Shirley Temple mocktail evokes nostalgia and charm along with its delicious flavor and is a classic and refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
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Easy mocktail
Named after Shirley Temple, the famous child actress of Hollywood’s Golden Age, this bright and bubbly drink has been a favorite for generations.
Whether serving mocktails, looking for a special drink for the kids (a favorite with my grandkids!), or simply craving a little indulgence, this fizzy drink is the perfect choice.
The traditional Shirley Temple is made with just a few simple ingredients. A light soda, a touch of grenadine and a maraschino cherry garnish are all it takes to make this delightful drink.
I added a splash of lime juice for an added depth of zesty, citrus flavor.
There are also lots of ways to customize a Shirley Temple to your personal taste.
You can adjust the ratio of ingredients to change the flavors, add fresh garnishes, or even substitute ingredients to make this mocktail uniquely your own.
My preference is lemon lime soda. The fresh, citrusy sweetness of this soda pairs perfectly with the rich grenadine to create the mocktail’s signature flavor.
However, if you want to add a touch of spice I recommend using ginger ale or ginger beer soda, which some say is more typical than using 7-Up.
If you’d prefer a less sweet option, just make your drink with club soda.
And don’t forget the maraschino cherry!
A Shirley Temple is not complete without its signature cherry garnish! I also like to drop one, or several, cherries into the glass too for a pop of color and flavor.
Want to elevate your Shirley Temple even further?
A garnish of fresh mint adds a vibrant green contrast to the pink drink in addition to its light, refreshing aroma.
Enjoy this fun and fizzy Shirley Temple mocktail as a delicious way to add a little sparkle to any occasion!
Any way you make this mocktail, it will make you smile with its happy color and delight your tastebuds with its refreshing flavor.
If you want to serve Shirley Temple cocktails for the adults, be sure to give my Dirty Shirley Temple recipe a try!
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How to make a virgin Shirley Temple drink
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Step 1: Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour the lemon-lime soda over the ice, dividing evenly between the glasses.
- Step 2: Drizzle the pomegranate syrup gently over the drinks.
- Step 3: Squeeze the juice of half a lime over the mocktails, dividing evenly between the two glasses.
- Step 4: Top each glass with three maraschino cherries, a lime slice and fresh mint leaves.
Hint: You can easily adjust the sweetness and tartness levels by adjusting the amount of syrup and lime juice you use.
Expert recipe tips
Use crushed ice – Ice cubes work well but if you have crushed ice handy this helps keep the drink extra cold and enhance its refreshing quality.
Stir gently - Pour the grenadine last and stir lightly just before drinking. This will help to keep the beautiful layers of color in this drink
Chill your glass - Place your glass in the freezer for a few minutes before serving for a refreshingly chilled drink
Adjust the sweetness - For a slightly less sweet drink, use a little less grenadine or add more lime juice.
Grenadine - A little grenadine goes a long way so be sure to add just the right amount for a fruity richness. I love just a splash of grenadine syrup but some prefer a lot more!
Fruit slices – A lime slice or an orange slice make a pretty garnish
Substitutions
- Soda - 7-Up is my choice of soda but you can use ginger ale, ginger beer soda or club soda in its place
- Grenadine - If you don’t have grenadine, you can substitute pomegranate juice with a little simple syrup for a similar flavor.
- Lime Juice - Lemon juice works well as a substitute for lime juice if you don’t have fresh limes.
- Maraschino Cherry - If maraschino cherries aren’t available, fresh cherries or even a raspberry would be a great replacement.
Variations
- Roy Rogers Mocktail - This is a similar drink but made with coca cola instead of lemon-lime soda. The cola gives the drink a richer flavor.
- Orange Sunset Shirley Temple - Add a splash of orange juice for a fruitier twist.
- Tropical Shirley Temple- Replace lemon lime soda with pineapple soda. You could also add a splash of coconut water for a tropical flair.
- Frozen Shirley Temple – On a hot summer day you might want to blend the ingredients with ice to make a slushy version.
- Shirley Temple Cocktail - Adults will enjoy a Shirley Temple cocktail with alcohol added
Equipment
- Glass measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Serrated knife
- Cutting board
FAQ
A Shirley Temple drink is a nonalcoholic drink made with soda and grenadine syrup and garnished with maraschino cherries.
A classic Shirley Temple drink is made with just three ingredients:
1. Soda
2. Grenadine syrup
3. Maraschino cherries
Ingredients
Classic Shirley Temple mocktail ingredients
- Lemon lime soda - Lemon-lime soda is the bubbly, refreshing base for the Shirley Temple.
- Grenadine - A deep red, pomegranate-based syrup, grenadine gives the drink its iconic pink color and sweet-tart taste.
- Lime Juice - Fresh lime juice balances the sweetness of the soda and grenadine with a hint of tartness.
- Maraschino Cherries - Maraschino cherries are sweet and juicy, and provide a beautiful finishing touch to the drink.
- Fresh Mint - For an extra touch of elegance, fresh mint makes a perfect garnish.
Related
Check out these delicious non-alcoholic drink recipes too:
What to serve with
Here are some fun appetizer recipes that kids will enjoy snacking on while sipping on their mocktail recipe:
Shirley Temple Mocktail Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 cups lemon-lime soda
- 2 Tablespoons grenadine syrup
- ½ of a fresh lime
- 6 Maraschino cherries
- Ice cubes
- Lime slices , optional garnish
- Fresh mint leaves , optional garnish
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Instructions
- Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes.
- Pour the lemon-lime soda over the ice, dividing evenly between the glasses.
- Drizzle grenadine syrup gently over the drinks. The syrup will sink to the bottom, creating a lovely gradient effect.
- If you like a hint of tartness, squeeze the juice of half a lime over the mocktails, dividing evenly between the two glasses.
- Top each glass with three maraschino cherries, a lime slice and fresh mint leaves and serve.
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