Classic Shirley Temple Recipe is a quick, family-friendly mocktail made with ginger ale, grenadine, and fresh lime juice. This easy non-alcoholic drink comes together in five minutes, with a bright red color, plenty of bubbles, and a refreshing citrus finish.
If you like this recipe, you may also love our Cherry Limemade or our Strawberry Lemonade.
Classic Shirley Temple Recipe at a Glance 🔎
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🧊 Optional Chill: None, if the ginger ale is already cold
- 👥 Servings: 4
- 🔥 Cook Method: No-Cook
- 🍽️ Cuisine: American
- 👩🍳 Pair With: Mini cannoli cups, party sliders, or a cheese and fruit board
- ⭐ Difficulty Level: Easy
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We like keeping leftover grenadine on hand for more than Shirley Temples. A splash adds fruity sweetness and color to lemonade, party punch, or even vanilla ice cream. ~Jami
Jump to:
- Classic Shirley Temple Recipe at a Glance 🔎
- Why We Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How To Make a Classic Shirley Temple Recipe
- How to Make a Single Shirley Temple
- Expert Tips for Success
- Storage
- Classic Shirley Temple Recipe FAQs
- More recipes for kids You'll Love ♥️
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Share Your Thoughts
Why We Love This Recipe
- Ready in 5 Minutes: No special equipment or complicated mixing techniques are needed.
- Perfect for Parties: One pitcher makes four servings, so there's no need to mix each drink separately.
- Balanced Sweetness: A splash of fresh lime juice cuts through the sweetness of the ginger ale and grenadine.
- Easy to Customize: Make a single glass, switch to lemon-lime soda, or adjust the grenadine to taste.
Key Ingredients
- Ginger Ale: Use your favorite brand, preferably chilled. Ginger ale gives this classic mocktail its familiar sweetness and mild ginger flavor. Keeping it cold also means you won't need to add ice directly to the pitcher.
- Grenadine: This sweet red syrup gives a Shirley Temple its signature color and fruity flavor. Grenadine is traditionally pomegranate-based, although many commercial brands use other fruit flavors. Start with the recommended amount before adding more.
- Fresh Lime Juice: A small amount adds acidity and balances the sweet ingredients. Freshly squeezed juice provides a cleaner citrus flavor than bottled lime juice.
- Maraschino Cherries and Lime Slices: These give the drink its familiar presentation. Drain the cherries before adding them if you don't want additional syrup changing the sweetness.
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Ginger Ale: Substitute Sprite or 7UP for a sweeter, more citrus-forward Shirley Temple. You can also use equal parts ginger ale and lemon-lime soda.
- Grenadine: Pomegranate syrup can work as a substitute, although sweetness varies by brand. Adjust to taste.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Use fresh orange juice for a slightly different citrus finish.
- Flavor: Add a teaspoon or two of maraschino cherry syrup for a sweeter, cherry-forward version.
- Kid-Friendly: Serve in smaller glasses with colorful straws and a cherry garnish.
- Party Pitcher: Add lime wheels and cherries to a clear pitcher and serve with ice-filled glasses.
How To Make a Classic Shirley Temple Recipe
STEP ONE: Prepare the Ingredients
Chill the ginger ale before making the drink. Cold ingredients help the drink stay refreshing without adding ice to the pitcher.
Slice the lime for garnish and squeeze the juice separately.
STEP TWO: Combine the Ginger Ale and Grenadine
Pour the ginger ale and grenadine into a glass pitcher.
The grenadine may initially settle toward the bottom because it's denser than the soda.
STEP THREE: Add the Lime Juice
Add the freshly squeezed lime juice and stir gently until the color is evenly distributed. Avoid vigorous stirring, which releases carbonation and makes the drink go flat faster.
STEP FOUR: Garnish and Serve
Add lime slices and maraschino cherries. Pour into glasses filled with ice and serve immediately while the drink is cold and bubbly.
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How to Make a Single Shirley Temple
For one serving, combine 1 cup chilled ginger ale, 1 tablespoon grenadine, and ¾ teaspoon fresh lime juice. Stir gently and pour over ice. Garnish with a lime slice and maraschino cherry.
This is the same ratio used in the four-serving pitcher recipe, so it's easy to make just one drink without changing the flavor.
Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
✔️ DO Start with chilled ginger ale.
✔️ DO Use fresh lime juice. It adds enough acidity to keep the drink from tasting overly sweet.
❌ DO NOT Add ice to the pitcher unless you're drinking right away. Add it to individual glasses to prevent dilution.
Storage
Shirley Temples are best served immediately. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 24 hours, but expect the ginger ale to lose carbonation. Freezing and reheating aren't recommended.
Classic Shirley Temple Recipe FAQs
A traditional Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic mixed drink made with ginger ale and grenadine, usually garnished with a maraschino cherry. Many modern versions use lemon-lime soda, and some include citrus juice. This recipe uses ginger ale with a little fresh lime juice for balance.
Ginger ale is the more traditional choice and gives the drink a milder flavor. Sprite or 7UP creates a sweeter, more citrus-forward version. Both work well, and combining the two is another popular option.
Yes, but the flavor and color will be different. Pomegranate syrup is one alternative, while cherry juice or cranberry juice can create a fruity red mocktail. Adjust the sweetness because these substitutes aren't necessarily as sweet as grenadine.
More recipes for kids You'll Love ♥️
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📖 Recipe
Classic Shirley Temple Recipe
Equipment
- 5-cup glass pitcher
- Long-handled spoon
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring Spoons
- Citrus juicer
- Cutting board and knife
- 4 serving glasses
Ingredients
- 4 cups ginger ale chilled
- ¼ cup grenadine
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 lime thinly sliced, for garnish
- 10 to 12 maraschino cherries for garnish
- Ice for serving
Instructions
- Pour the chilled ginger ale, grenadine, and freshly squeezed lime juice into a 5-cup glass pitcher. Stir gently to combine.
- Add a few lime slices and maraschino cherries to the pitcher.
- Fill four serving glasses with ice. Pour the Shirley Temple over the ice and garnish each glass with a lime slice and maraschino cherry.
Save This Recipe 💌
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Video
Notes
- Refrigerate the ginger ale before mixing.
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Add more grenadine only after tasting.
- Combine the ingredients just before serving.
Jami Powell says
This classic recipe never goes out of style. We like to serve it in a large punch bowl at birthday parties.