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    In the Kitch » Recipes » Drinks

    Updated: Mar 21, 2024 · Published: Jul 22, 2020 by Joss Dyckson · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Shirley Temple Punch

    Jump to Recipe
    Shirley temple punch in glass with text overlay that says 'shirley temple punch'.
    Shirley temple punch in glass with paper umbrella and text overlay that says 'shirley temple punch'.
    Shirley temple punch in glass and dispenser with text overlay that says 'shirley temple party punch'.

    Sweet, fizzy, and fruity, this Shirley Temple punch will make you feel like you're reliving your childhood. This punch is perfect for children's birthday parties, backyard get-togethers, school activities, youth groups, and even adult parties if you feel like having a non-alcoholic party punch option.

    Shirley temple in glass with maraschino cherries, orange wedges and umbrella.

    Combined with flavorful grenadine syrup, a non-alcoholic cocktail ingredient, this punch will make kids feel like adults and adults feel like kids again. It truly is a staple in American culture and has been for decades.

    I personally adored this drink as a kid and always ordered it when we ate out. I wanted to come up with an easier way to serve it at parties so I turned it into a punch! I serve it every Thanksgiving and both the kids (and adults) drain that punch bowl.

    For more non-alcoholic cocktail ideas, try this Moscow mule mocktail or mojito mocktail.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make it
    • Tips
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipes FAQs
    • ❤️More Beverages You Will Love
    • 📋Recipe

    Ingredients

    Shirley temple punch ingredients prepped and labeled on white wooden background.
    • grenadine - If you want to avoid unnatural colors and flavors, make your own grenadine syrup. Another bonus is it tastes better; the downside is you aren't going to get that bright red color from the commercial syrup. I retested this recipe with homemade syrup (as you can see in the ingredients pic) and the color is more like a dark cherry than the bright scarlet red you see in the finished pictures.
    • orange juice - This drink already has plenty of sugar so I use unsweetened orange juice from concentrate.
    • lemon-lime soda - I use 7-Up but you can also use Sprite or the cheaper store brand.
    • ice - Instead of adding ice, another option would be to add frozen fruit (such as frozen cherries) or frozen orange juice cubes directly into the individual glasses when serving. This way there is pretty much no chance of watering-down the drink.

    *Check recipe card for full ingredient amounts.

    Chef's Note: The amount of punch in this recipe fits in my 1.5 gallon/5.6 liter drink dispenser. The servings can be easily adjusted to fit the size of your punch bowl in the recipe card.

    How to Make it

    Ice in glass dispenser.

    Step 1. Add ice. Add the ice to a punch bowl or dispenser.

    Ice, orange juice and 7-Up in glass dispenser.

    Step 2. Add liquids. Pour the orange juice and 7-UP over the ice.

    Shirley temple punch in glass and pitcher with maraschino cherries and orange wedges on the side.

    Step 3. Add grenadine. Add the grenadine and give it a gentle mix.

    Shirley temple in glass with orange wedges and maraschino cherries on brick background.

    Step 4. Serve. Serve immediately with maraschino cherries as a garnish.

    Tips

    • Close the dispenser. Here is my #1 tip if you're using a dispenser. Make sure it is in the closed position before adding the ingredients!
    • Make-ahead: I suggest making it no longer than a few hours head of time because the soda will start to lose its fizz. You can hold off on the ice until just before serving or serve the ice in glasses instead, so that the punch doesn't get watered down.
    • Get the kids involved. This cherry-red, fizzy, fruity drink has been a staple of birthday parties and school proms for decades. For a fun afternoon project, try inviting your kids to make this drink with you. It's simple to make, requires only a few ingredients, and they'll enjoy stirring in the orange juice and grenadine and watching the punch change colors.
    • Get creative with the garnish. If you want to get a little creative, try experimenting with the garnishes. Maraschino cherries are the classic garnish, but try mixing things up with orange slices or lemon wedges. Try using cocktail spears to make the drink seem even more "adult"--in a fun, playful way. Or, top the drink with this grenadine flavored whipped topping.

    Serving Suggestions

    This punch is best when it's served right away, but if you've got an evening celebration planned, it should have no problem chilling in the fridge for a few hours.

    If you're having a large party, you can serve the punch in a massive bowl so you don't have to worry about refilling everyone's glass.

    But for smaller gatherings, try serving the drink in glasses filled with ice and topped with a garnish. This simple touch will elevate the recipe from a fun party drink to a restaurant-quality mocktail.

    Add a splash of white rum or vodka to turn it from mocktail to fruity cocktail (kind of like my Hawaiian Mai Tai).

    Recipes FAQs

    What was in the original Shirley Temple drink?

    The original Shirley Temple consisted of ginger ale and grenadine over ice with a maraschino cherry garnish.

    Why is it called a Shirley Temple cocktail?

    It's named after the child star actress Shirley Temple. Apparently, during a fancy dinner with her parents and others enjoying cocktails, the bartender crafted a special non-alcoholic drink just for Shirley.

    What is a Shirley Temple called when it has alcohol?

    Adding vodka or rum transforms this drink into a 'Dirty Shirley'.

    How long can I store it?

    While the drink will slowly lose its fizz, it will still taste great if consumed within a few days. Keep it covered in the fridge.

    Shirley temple in glass with orange garnish and umbrella.

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    If you tried this Shirley Temple Punch Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!

    📋Recipe

    Shirley temple in glass and dispenser with maraschino cherries and orange wedges.

    Shirley Temple Punch

    Joss Dyckson
    Sweet, fizzy, and fruity, this Shirley Temple punch will make you feel like you're reliving your childhood. This punch is perfect for children's birthday parties, backyard get-togethers, school activities, youth groups, and even adult parties if you feel like having a non-alcoholic party punch option.
    5 from 3 votes
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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 18
    Calories 188 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 6 cups ice cubes
    • 8 cups orange juice
    • 8 cups 7-UP - or any brand lemon-lime soda
    • 2 cups grenadine
    • maraschino cherries - to garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Add the ice to a punch bowl or dispenser.
      6 cups ice cubes
    • Pour the orange juice and 7UP over the ice.
      8 cups orange juice, 8 cups 7-UP
    • Add the grenadine and give it a gentle mix.
      2 cups grenadine
    • Serve with maraschino cherries as a garnish.

    Equipment

    • Large punch bowl

    Notes

    • Punch bowl size: The amount of punch in this recipe fits in my 1.5 gallon/5.6 liter drink dispenser. The servings can be easily adjusted to fit the size of your punch bowl.
    • Close the dispenser. Here is my #1 tip if you're using a dispenser. Make sure it is in the closed position before adding the ingredients!
    • Make-ahead tip: You can hold off on the ice until just before serving or serve the ice in glasses instead so that the drink isn't watered down. I suggest making it no longer than a few hours head of time because the soda will start to lose its fizz.
    • Alcoholic version: Adding vodka or rum transforms this drink into a 'Dirty Shirley'.
    • Storage: While the drink will slowly lose its fizz, it will still taste great if consumed within a few days. Keep it covered in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 25mgPotassium: 230mgFiber: 1gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 220IUVitamin C: 55mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

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    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tasha says

      January 16, 2023 at 11:13 am

      Served this at my son’s birthday party and everyone loved it, including the adults!

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        January 17, 2023 at 9:04 am

        Good to hear, Tasha! Thank you.

        Reply
    2. Patricia Hrusa says

      July 24, 2020 at 12:39 am

      I would love to receive emails with each new post or any recipes. I am giving your site a 5-star rating as it has a lot of interesting recipes I want to try.

      Reply
      • Joss D says

        July 24, 2020 at 9:28 am

        Thank you so much Patricia! That's great to hear. Stay tuned for a recipe update sign-up. 😉

        Reply

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