Virgin Shirley Temple Recipe

When you want something a little more fancy than regular soda, but want to skip the booze, this alcohol-free Shirley Temple Drink recipe is just what you need! Made with only 3 ingredients and ready in 5 minutes or less, this mocktail is perfect anytime, especially kid’s parties, Valentine’s Day, Halloween & New Year’s Eve!

We love making alcohol-free cocktails to both relax with or get the party started! For a refreshing, minty mocktail give our Non-Alcoholic Mint Julep a whirl, and these Virgin Piña Coladas and Italian Cream Sodas are so good throughout the summer!

My first real job was as a server at a Mexican restaurant in high school. I wasn’t allowed to serve alcohol, but I could go behind the bar and make all the Shirley Temples I wanted, so I had one every shift!

It has long been one of my favorite drinks and I got the craving for one the other day and decided to pick up a bottle of grenadine and some soda at the store so we could make them for a treat. I figured while I was at it, I might as well photograph them to share on here with you!

What is a Shirley Temple Drink?

Shirley Temples are a fun drink recipe to enjoy on special occasions, without the alcohol! There are just 4 ingredients in this easy mocktail recipe: grenadine, lemon-lime soda, ice, and maraschino cherries. These sparkling drinks come together in less than 5 minutes and are perfect if you are looking for an extra fun treat with the family at the weekend after a long week.

The flavor of this nonalcoholic Shirley Temple is sweet with a slightly tart kick. Grenadine is a pomegranate syrup with both sweet and tart notes, and the lemon-lime soda elevates the taste with a refreshing citrus flavor. It’s pretty addicting and especially good on a hot day in the summer.

Hosting a July 4th party? Try this Shirley Temple recipe with some blueberries for a red, white, and blue beverage that suits all ages! This Shirley Temple drink with sprite could also be a “love potion” on Valentine’s day for either a party or just something fun to make with the kids.

I made these Shirley temple drinks individually, but feel free to multiply the recipe and mix it up in a pitcher to serve a crowd!

Origins of the Shirley Temple Drink (Virgin version)

This Shirley Temple drink was originally invented and served at a restaurant in Hollywood to the 1930s-40s child actress, Shirley Temple. However, Temple herself has said that she doesn’t actually enjoy the drink as it’s a little too sweet for her taste!

There is another version made with Coca-Cola known as a Roy Rogers that Paul likes to get when he is at happy hour with coworkers since we don’t drink. You make it the same way as above, just subbing in cola for the lemon-lime soda.

Shirley Temple Drink Recipe Ingredients

• Ice: This Shirley Temple drink is best served ice-cold, so I fill up each glass with ice before adding the other ingredients.
• Lemon-lime soda: Sprite or 7-Up, or just an off-brand version is perfect to make these mocktails!
• Grenadine: Grenadine is a delicious syrup traditionally made with pomegranate juice. The simultaneously sweet and tart flavor is pretty addictive! You can pick up this ingredient in the alcohol aisle of your grocery store.
• Maraschino cherries: These sweet cherries are a fun garnish (my kids always ask for extra) but totally optional. I leave the stems on to finish the look I’m going for, but they can be removed as well. If you’re not a fan of Maraschino cherries, fresh cherries or strawberries would be a great substitute.

How to make a Shirley Temple Mocktail

1. Fill the glass with ice: Firstly, fill each glass with plenty of ice.
2. Pour the grenadine. Secondly, pour the Grenadine over the ice in each glass. I always eyeball this, but it’s generally a couple of tablespoons depending on the glass size. The amount can be adjusted to personal preference.
3. Add some sparkle. Next, add the lemon-lime soda to each glass to fill it to the top.
4. Garnish & serve. Finally, garnish with maraschino cherries and serve. That’s all there is to it!

Events to serve this Shirley Temple Mocktail

You can twist this drink to make it suit many themes:

• Valentine’s Day (love potion)
• Halloween (witch’s brew)
• July 4th (top with blueberries for a red, white, and blue drink)
• Christmas (garnish with a slice of lime or kiwi to make it red and green)
• New Year’s Eve and parties (perfect as is!)

Shirley Temple Drink FAQs

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