2.55 from 362 votes

Shirley Temple Drink Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Shirley Temple is an easy-to-make, two-ingredient non-alcoholic mixed drink. Not only is it one of the most popular mocktails of all time, but also believed to have been the first. 

The Shirley Temple is a must-serve non-alcoholic option that’s perfect for any social gathering. Best yet, it’s built directly in the glass, which means no shaking, blending or stirring required.

How To Make a Shirley Temple

Ingredients

Parts ml
Number of Servings
1

Rate this recipe

2.55 from 362 votes

What You’ll Need

  • Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
  • Highball Glass

How to Mix

  1. Fill a Highball Glass with Ice Cubes.
  2. Use a Jigger to measure and pour Grenadine into the Glass.
  3. Gently top up with Ginger Ale. 
  4. Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry on top.
  5. Sip and enjoy!

WATCH HOW TO MAKE A SHIRLEY TEMPLE DRINK

The History of the Shirley Temple 

The Shirley Temple drink was invented in the 1930s and is said to have been the first ever mocktail.

The story goes that a famous child star from the era felt left out at Hollywood parties while the adults enjoyed fancy cocktails. So, a bartender at a Beverly Hills restaurant created this drink in her honor.

Ironically, in a 1986 interview, she admitted she wasn’t a fan of the drink because she thought it was too sweet, yet she was served it everywhere she went! Even if the actress herself may not have been a fan of the drink, the Shirley Temple remains one of the most well-known and most popular mocktails of all time.

Tips for Making the Perfect Shirley Temple Drink

Layer your drink…slowly

Slowly pour the Ginger Ale into the Glass to preserve the layered look, allowing the Grenadine to sit at the bottom of the Glass. No stirring! Talk about an easy to make drink!

Variations of a Shirley Temple 

  • With Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

Add 10 ml Lemon Juice to add an acidic and citrusy freshness and brighten up your drink.

For this version, we recommend garnishing the Shirley Temple with a Lemon Wheel in addition to a Maraschino Cherry.

  • Ginger Ale Substitutes

What a traditional Shirley Temple drink is made with Ginger Ale, modern Shirley Temple recipes sometimes swap Ginger Ale for Lemonade, Lemon-Lime Soda, or Orange Juice.

These substitutions obviously change the drink’s profile, replacing the spiciness of Ginger Ale with more citrus-forward flavors.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Shirley Temple 

We recommend serving the Shirley Temple drink in a Highball Glass filled with Ice Cubes.

Garnish with a single Maraschino Cherry. While the Cherry won’t add flavor to the drink itself, it enhances the visual appeal until you enjoy it at the end.

IF YOU LIKE A SHIRLEY TEMPLE, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE MOCKTAILS:

Go to Gentle Sea Breeze
gentle sea breeze

Gentle Sea Breeze

Cranberry Juice (sweetened), Grapefruit Juice, Lime

Go to Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade

Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Grenadine, Soda Water

Go to Virgin Appletini
virgin appletini

Virgin Appletini

Apple Juice, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Apple

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