Named after the famous child actress, Shirley Temple, this vintage non-alcoholic cocktail was invented during the 1930s, and often served at Hollywood restaurants and bars. Another interesting part of Shirley Temple cocktail history is that it's widely known that the actress didn’t actually like the drink herself. She felt they were too sweet for her taste.
You can vary the traditional ingredients for a Shirley Temple cocktail by switching ginger ale for the lemon-lime soda for a brighter, sweeter flavor that’s closer to the original recipe. Equally, if you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake, you can twist this recipe for a low sugar version. Use diet soda and a mixture of juices in place of the grenadine syrup in this low sugar recipe for a healthier alternative to the classic Shirley Temple cocktail.
Add the grenadine slowly to let it sink to the bottom of the drink, for the signature, colorful visual appearance this non-alcoholic cocktail is famous for. It’s better to use real grenadine, made from pomegranate, for the most authentic tasting color and flavor. Store-bought versions can be very sweet and overpower the other ingredients in the glass.
Grenadine syrup is a cocktail staple found in many popular classic and non-alcoholic cocktails. For more inspiration on how to use this syrup in drinks, take a look at our selection of the top five cocktails to make with grenadine, including a Tequila Sunrise.
We’ve suggested serving the Shirley Temple with a retro maraschino cherry, but many bartenders will also add a slice of orange or lemon to the drink to enhance the fruity notes.
When to Serve It
A Shirley Temple is a vibrant and playful drink that’s perfect for parties with friends and family, or for a non-alcoholic start to a dinner party at home. It can be enjoyed by all the family, so if you’re hosting kids as well as adults, a Shirley Temple is a must-have drink for the menu. It’s also a tasty option for baby showers to accommodate everyone.
Refreshing whatever the weather, the classic Shirley Temple recipe with lemon-lime soda is ideal in the hotter weather. Or you could put a seasonal spin on the drink for the winter with blood orange juice, and rosemary sprigs for the garnish.
There are lots of other recipe twists to explore with this cocktail too. If you want to create an alcoholic version of the drink, you can add 1 oz vodka to the recipe above to make a Dirty Shirley. Or, if you’re making this for a fun movie night at home, you could try a Creamy Shirley, with a splash of vanilla cream soda.
Storage
A Shirley Temple is best enjoyed immediately over fresh ice. Once the soda element of the drink has been mixed into the juice, the carbonation will start to fade, so it should be made fresh when ready to drink.
You can batch part of the cocktail ahead of time, if you plan to serve it to a large group. Simply combine the grenadine syrup and the orange juice and chill. When ready to enjoy, add the lemon-lime soda to individual glasses to top the drink and garnish with the maraschino cherry.
