Bloody Shirley Temples

🧛Why You'll Love This Halloween Recipe

Every Halloween party needs a signature drink, and this one delivers maximum drama with minimum effort. The grenadine sinks through the ginger ale for a genuine 'blood in the glass' effect, the red-sugar rim photographs beautifully, and because it's completely non-alcoholic, kids and adults can all raise a glass. Ten minutes, one pitcher, zero cooking.

🩸Ingredients for Bloody Shirley Temples

• 4 cups ginger ale, chilled
• 3/4 cup grenadine, plus extra for drips
• 12 maraschino cherries with stems
• 1/4 cup red sanding sugar, for the rim
• 2 tbsp light corn syrup, for the rim
• Plenty of ice
• Gummy eyeballs or plastic vampire fangs, for garnish (optional)

👩‍🍳How to Make Bloody Shirley Temples Step by Step

1. Rim the glasses. Dip each glass rim in corn syrup, then in red sanding sugar. Drizzle a spoonful of grenadine down the inside of each glass so it looks like dripping blood.
2. Add ice. Fill each rimmed glass three-quarters full with ice.
3. Pour the 'blood.' Add 2 tablespoons of grenadine to each glass — it will sink to the bottom.
4. Top with fizz. Slowly pour in chilled ginger ale so the layers stay separated and the drink stays fizzy.
5. Garnish and serve. Skewer 2 cherries on a cocktail pick, add gummy eyeballs or vampire fangs, and serve immediately.

🎃Halloween Party Serving Ideas

Serve Bloody Shirley Temples as the welcome drink at your Halloween party alongside Witch Hat Cupcakes and Spider Donuts. They also make a great non-alcoholic option next to grown-up cocktails. Find all our Halloween recipes in one place.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions

Are Bloody Shirley Temples kid-friendly?

Yes — they're completely non-alcoholic, just grenadine, ginger ale, and cherries. They're one of the best Halloween party drinks for kids because they look spooky but taste sweet and familiar.

Can I make a pitcher ahead of time?

Mix the ginger ale in a pitcher up to 4 hours ahead and keep it chilled, but add the grenadine to individual glasses right before serving so each drink gets the layered blood effect.

What makes the drink look bloody?

Grenadine is denser than ginger ale, so it sinks to the bottom and creates a natural red gradient. Drizzling extra grenadine down the inside of the glass adds the creepy drip effect.