With just a few simple ingredients, you can mix up a classic Shirley Temple mocktail for any occasion. It’s fizzy. It’s sweet. It’s utterly refreshing. And it’s non-alcoholic, making this easy Shirley Temple drink perfect for kids, mamas to be or anyone wanting to skip the headache tomorrow! As a kid, I always loved them because I felt so grown up.

red drink in a tall glass garnished with cherries and mint served on a dark wooden board

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Even now though, I love this easy mocktail because it really does feel like a little treat with bubbles. Whether it’s for kids, an expecting mama, or for someone who just doesn’t feel like drinking alcohol, the Shirley Temple drink is one of the best there is for raising your glass in celebration. And if classic mocktails are your thing, take a look at my easy aperol spritz mocktail too!

What is a Shirley Temple Mocktail?

Yes, the drink is related to famous child actress from bygone years, and Shirley in her curly-haired glory is behind this now-famos mocktail. The cute story behind the drink goes like this: one night when out for dinner with her parents, Shirley was frustrated she couldn’t have one of the fancy cocktails her parents were drinking. The bartender, not wanting to upset the star, whipped up this pretty, non-alcoholic drink, garnished it with a cherry and called it the Shirley Temple.

Researching this story made me go down a Ms Temple rabbit hole online – if you haven’t read about her amazing life, I encourage you to do so!

Why You'll Love It

There are so many reasons but here are just a few. This recipe is:

Simple: It takes just minutes to make. Just pour the ingredients into a glass filled with ice, stir, and serve!

Fast: And yes, I mentioned it takes minutes to make. You won’t waste precious time away from your guests to make this mocktail.

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Great for parties: This recipe can also be made as a batch mocktail to make it even easier to serve and enjoy. Increase the serving sizes accordingly and you can put it in a pretty pitcher everyone so everyone can refill as needed. It also makes a perfect virgin punch.

Ingredients

Typically served in a Collins glass, the Shirley Temple drink recipe is traditionally made using just ginger ale and a splash of grenadine, then garnished with a maraschino cherry.

There have been plenty of variations over the years, this is how I made mine:

1 cup ginger ale
1 teaspoon grenadine (also perfect for sunrise mocktails!)
A squeeze of fresh lime juice
Maraschino cherries for garnishing

To make it, just fill a tall glass with ice, then add the ginger ale, grenadine and lime. Stir and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Better For You Substitions

Want to make it a lower sugar mocktail? I'd recommend using low-sugar ginger ale instead of regular. Additionally, since grenadine has lots of sugar, you can replace it with regular pomegranate juice. As far as juices go, pomegranate is one of the healthiest. If you love it, be sure to try my delicious pomegranate mocktails too.

Throw in the cherry and maybe a little sprig of mint too and it just looks so pretty. That brilliant red color really pops in the glass, making it a non-alcoholic drink that kids and adults alike will enjoy drinking.

I hope you enjoy making this Shirley Temple mocktail as much as I did!