Julie Clark
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How to Make a Shirley Temple
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Learn how to make a Shirley Temple drink…an easy recipe with just 3 ingredients. An old fashioned summer drink with cherries.
Years ago we posted our Shirley Temple cake that went viral. Ever since then I’ve been wanting to post the origin of that cake, the vintage Shirley Temple drink recipe.
It’s a perfect summertime drink with sweet grenadine syrup and ginger ale. Load your glass with ice and a few maraschino cherries and watch the smiles flow.
About Shirley Temple Drinks:
- Flavor: This is a smooth, cool drink with a simple flavor. You’ll taste ginger ale with a hint of cherry. Kids love the color, too!
- Method: This is a quick drink that can mix by the cup or by the pitcher. Mix right before serving so it doesn’t lose its carbonation.
Where did a Shirley Temple drink originate from?
It’s not 100% agreed up where this mocktail drink came from. The most common thought is that it originated in Chasen’s restaurant in Hollywood, California, for Shirley Temple herself (source).
There are many different versions of this drink, so we’re sharing a base recipe with optional variations below.
Be sure to also try the little boy’s version of this drink: the Roy Rogers made with Coke!
Ingredients Needed
You’ll need 3 ingredients:
- ginger ale
- grenadine syrup
- maraschino cherries
What is grenadine syrup?
Grenadine syrup is a popular addition to many cocktails and mocktails, known by its deep red color. It’s what gives our orange and peach sunrise mocktail such a gorgeous color. It was originally made from pomegranates, whose french name is grenade, which is how the syrup got its name. Today many grenadine syrups are made with artificial flavors, but you can buy or make your own with natural pomegranate juice.
Because this drink has maraschino cherries in it, you may think that grenadine syrup is made from cherries, but it is not.
I buy Rose’s grenadine syrup, but you can make your own at home.
How to Make a Shirley Temple Drink
It’s easy to make one drink at at time following this guideline: 1 ounce of grenadine syrup to 8 ounces of ginger ale. You can adjust it to have more syrup if you’d like, but this is a good place to start.
- Fill a 12 ounce glass with ice cubes.
- Add 8 ounces of ginger ale.
- Pour in 1 ounce of grenadine syrup over top.
- Stir to mix, then add maraschino cherries as desired.
Recipe Variations
- Use Sprite or 7UP instead of ginger ale.
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice or lime juice.
- Add a tablespoon or two of orange juice.
How to Make a Shirley Temple
Learn how to make a Shirley Temple drink…an easy recipe with just 2 ingredients. An old fashioned summer drink with cherries.
Servings 1
Prep Time 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ginger ale
- 1 ounce grenadine syrup
- ice cubes
- maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Fill a 12 ounce glass with ice cubes.
- Add 8 ounces of ginger ale.
- Pour in 1 ounce of grenadine syrup over top.
- Stir to mix, then add maraschino cherries as desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are for one drink. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 10mg | Sugar: 33g | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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