Shirley Temple Floats

Being a mom to young kids, I am fond of non-alcholic cocktails and mixed drinks. I particularly like a nice, cold Shirley Temple, especially when it’s warm outside. A Shirley Temple can be made with ginger ale, 7-Up, or Sprite. It may or may not contain orange juice. Grenadine provides the lovely pink color, and a maraschino cherry tops it off.

My Shirley Temple cocktails usually consist of Sprite (my favorite) and maraschino cherry juice/brine rather than the grenadine. And I always toss in a few cherries. (For another great summery drink, add some fresh lime juice for a Cherry Lime Rickey.)

As a little girl, I would often stay overnight at my grandma’s house. She would almost always make us a float (ice cream soda) out of vanilla ice cream, Maraschino cherries and their brine, and Sprite or 7-Up. Basically, a Shirley Temple Float.

(We love how pretty it looks from the side!)

On Sunday we had Shirley Temple Floats for dessert. It was the first time my kids and my husband had ever tasted one. And I would be lying if I didn’t confess that we’ve managed to have one nearly every day this week. My little girl and my husband can’t seem to get enough. (This makes me happy, of course.)

Shirley Temple Floats
Serves 6-8 depending on size of float

Ingredients:

2 liters of lemon-lime soda or ginger ale
1 large or 2 small bottles maraschino cherries
1/2 gallon premium vanilla ice cream (store bought or homemade)

Instructions:
Place a few scoops of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass, pour a tablespoon or so of the maraschino brine over the top. Add the soda. Top with a few maraschino cherries.

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149 Comments

  1. They look so pretty! We used to do something similar growing up, but with out the marachino cherries and we’d call them ghost floats. :)

  2. This looks sinful! I don’t drink alcohol either, and I’m always looking for ways to make non-alcoholic drinks, thanks for the recipe!

  3. That looks really good Lindsey. AS you know I don’t drink alcohol for the same reasons although I do cook with it from time to time. I will have to give your recipe a try. I have been craving a root beer float ever since I moved over here. No REAL rootbeer here (A&W), only pale imitations!!!

  4. Oh my goodness! My kids LOVE Shirley Temple drinks (virgins, of course) and I love the lady!!! But I will have to make these….they will go bananas!

  5. Isn’t it great when you can share a treasured bit of your childhood with your loved ones and they love it just as much as you did and do? It looks beautiful. This pic should be in the next DMBLGIT!

  6. Genius! I love Shirley Temples and other “mocktails.” I, too, don’t drink alcohol for religious (and other) reasons, but I like a good non-alcoholic mixed drink! Never occurred to me to make a float of it, though! Awesome.

  7. i’m so glad that finally I found a blog that have a lot of drinks recipes without alcohol. My family and I didn’t drink alcohol too because religious reasons. Thanks for having this blog. It’s so awesome :)

  8. I make homemade maraschinos and have a quart of leftover brine in the fridge! or syrup I guess…surprised when you knew it was brine :) I didn’t know until I made them.
    I used to order Shirley Temples when I was little.

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