Sweet and Fizzy Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
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Sweet, citrussy, and balanced beautifully by the sour crispness of the ginger ale, my Shirley Temple recipe is great for all ages and all occasions. As non-alcoholic cocktails go, this one is right up there in terms of delivering wondrously refreshing flavor.

Shirley Temple Drink Recipe
Especially if you’re hosting kids or people who don’t drink, but still want that party feel, Shirley Temple is a great go-to. Plus, garnished with maraschino cherries and lime, it looks fun, stylish, and gloriously red in color!

What is a Shirley Temple?
Many cocktails are named after people, and the common belief is that the drink was served to Shirley Temple, when she was a child actress in the 1930s, by a bartender at Chasen’s. Chasen’s was one of the go-to restaurants in West Hollywood for the rich and famous during that era.
However, Shirley famously debunked this belief on a radio show in the 1980s, saying she had nothing to do with the drink, even though she had been served them by waiters, waitresses, and bartenders for many decades.
While its origin remains unclear, what we do know is that the classic Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic cocktail, which mixes ginger ale with a little grenadine, garnished with maraschino cherries.
Variations
Lemon-Lime Soda – A later addition to the traditional recipe, we used lemon-lime soda in our recipe.
Lemonade/Orange Juice – Some variations of Shirley Temple substitute the lemon-lime soda with lemonade, orange juice, or add both or all three in varying parts.
Alcoholic Versions – A little vodka or dark rum makes what is known as a Dirty Shirley, while if dark rum is used, the drink is referred to as a Shirley Temple Black.
Recipe Ingredients
To make my classic Shirley Temple, you’ll need the following (per glass/serving):

- Ginger Ale – 3 ounces ginger ale (85 ml/6 tbsp)
- Lemon-Lime Soda – 3 ounces lemon-lime soda (85 ml/6 tbsp)
- Grenadine – 1/2 ounce grenadine syrup (15 ml/1 tbsp)
- Ice – 4-5 large ice cubes
- Maraschino Cherries – 3 maraschino cherries (cocktail cherries) for garnishing
- Lime – 1 thin slice of lime for garnishing and a squeeze of lime juice (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Fill the glass with ice.

Step 2 – Add 3 ounces of lemon-lime soda.

Step 3 – Add 3 ounces of ginger ale.

Step 4 – Add half an ounce of grenadine syrup.

Step 5 – Repeat the steps for each mocktail (if you’re making more than one).

Step 6 – (Optional) I like to add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to each glass.

Step 7 – Give everything a light stir with a cocktail spoon or a long spoon.

Step 8 – (Optional) – Garnish each drink with maraschino cherries and a lime slice.

There you have it. The Shirley Temple is that simple to make, and it delivers a truly refreshing combination of citrus, zest, sweetness, and that iconic spiced sweet-yet-sour taste of ginger ale.
Your guests will love this beloved cocktail, and it’s also a great way to keep things alcohol-free or kid-friendly while keeping the class and sophistication of a cocktail party.

Shirley Temple Drink Recipe Card

Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 ounces ginger ale 85 ml/6 tbsp
- 3 ounces lemon-lime soda 85 ml/6 tbsp
- 1/2 ounce grenadine syrup 15 ml/1 tbsp
- 4-5 large ice cubes
- 3 maraschino cherries cocktail cherries for garnishing
- 1 thin slice of lime for garnishing and a squeeze of lime juice optional
Instructions
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add 3 ounces of lemon-lime soda.
- Add 3 ounces of ginger ale.
- Add half an ounce of grenadine syrup.
- Repeat the steps for each mocktail.
- (Optional) I like to add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to each glass.
- Give everything a light stir with a cocktail spoon or a long spoon.
- (Optional) – Garnish each drink with maraschino cherries and a lime slice.
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Save and Pin for Later
Keep my Shirley Temple recipe for safekeeping, ready for a future mocktail party or summer gathering, by saving this recipe to one of your boards.
