Shirley Temple Drinks Made Two Ways

A classic Shirley Temple Drink is a fabulous fizzy pink mocktail. Another version substitutes pomegranate ariels for maraschino cherries. Both of these recipes are a great way to entertain or make for Valentine’s Day. Try these two recipes for Classic Shirley Temple or Vanilla Cream Shirley Temple. Grenadine syrup makes these drinks a fizzy blush pink.

History of Classic Shirley Temple Drink

The child actress the drink is named for often was invited to evening parties. Being so young, the bartender came up with a mocktail using ingredients commonly stocked at the bar. This popular drink is still served today. (Ironically, the actress herself did not care for the drink that bears her name.)

Grenadine Syrup Used in Classic Shirley Temple

Grenadine is deep-red pomegranate syrup. Not to be confused with pomegranate molasses or something you would serve on pancakes.

 You can find the bottle in the grocery store with the drink mixers, or it may be near the bottled juices.  This non-alcoholic syrup gives a sweetened fruit flavor and turns the liquid a lovely blush pink. You can also substitute pomegranate-flavored Torani syrup. While some recipes substitute maraschino cherry juice for the grenadine, I think that makes the drink way too sweet, especially when lemon-lime soda is used.

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Cream Soda in This Second Shirley Temple

A retro soda that ranges in color from clear to tan to light brown. The vanilla burst with carbonated soda varies from the manufacturer.  Some international manufacturers make a cream soda that is very sweet with a taste that is similar to cotton candy.

Pomegranates For Vanilla Cream Shirley Temple

This second variation uses cream soda as the base. While I don’t usually choose to drink cream soda, it really adds to this version of a Shirley Temple drink. The deep vanilla taste offsets the ginger-ale. The combination of the two gives a delicious flavor profile. 

Pomegranate ariels are the small burst of fruity juice with a tiny edible seed inside. Check out this post for more information about pomegranates. In making this drink, you can change the look by when you add the ariels in the glass.

If you put the ariels in the glass first, they will float up through the drink to the ice. If you add the ariels after the ice, they will float at the top and for the most part not disperse throughout the drink.

Grenadine syrup punctuates the pomegranate taste in this drink. Don’t substitute maraschino juice in this drink as that would make it much too sweet. Since the combination of ginger-ale and cream soda provides the sweetness, only a scant teaspoon per glass is needed.

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