You might think it’s strange, but Shirley Temple Mocktails are my go-to happy hour drinks.

Yes, I’m a woman in her mid (okay, late) 30s. And, yes, you will see me order this drink at every fancy occasion without any shame whatsoever.

BECAUSE IT’S DELICIOUS.

Why are Shirley Temple Mocktails the book-inspired recipe for The Haunting of Brynn Wilder?

This book-inspired recipe for The Haunting of Brynn Wilder was actually inspired by my Instagram author chat with Wendy Webb.

Attendees were encouraged to bring a cocktail to the virtual chat as a nod to the happy hours featured in her book. So, I figured it was a good time to concoct my favorite mocktail: a Shirley Temple.

With a little twist. (Of lime, that is.)

You may remember that Mr. Tart and I are not big fans of alcoholic beverages.

That said, I will drink anyone under the table as long as we’re downing Shirley Temples. I’ve adored this super-sweet drink ever since I was kid – so much so that I toasted with one at my own wedding.

Basically any time a bartender is around, I’m ordering one of these babies. This ruby red and fizzy drink calls to me like a Siren across a crowded event hall.

If you’ve never had one, let me tell you – you are missing out.

Now that weddings, work parties, and other social events have pretty much come to a screeching halt for awhile (thanks, COVID), well…needs must: I’ve learned how to make my beloved Shirley Temple drink at home.

When I say “learned,” please don’t get the impression that making a Shirley Temple is hard. Because it’s not. If anything, it’s so embarrassingly easy that when I told my husband I was making it for the blog, he went, “Ummm….IS there really a recipe for Shirley Temples?”

I would argue Yes, absolutely! As should he, given the depressingly large number of disappointing Shirley Temples we’ve imbibed together over the years.

It’s embarrassingly easy to make a Shirley Temple

While there are very few components of a Shirley Temple, there are key ingredients and proportions needed to make this mocktail perfectly.

For example, some (crappy) bartenders will make a Shirley Temple with ginger ale (meh) or seltzer water (gag, cough, gag, BLECK!). But, you really should use Sprite or 7-Up as your base. The lemon-lime pairs SO well with the sweet cherry syrup.

As a personal twist, I finish off my Shirley Temple with a slice of lime, either floating in the drink or balanced on the glass rim as a garnish.

It just makes your mocktail look a little more like a cocktail.

Cheers, Tartlets! Although it’s nice to be able to make a Shirley Temple at home, here’s to hopefully drinking them at non-socially-distanced social occasions in the (please, god, I’m so over this) near future.

What do you serve with Shirley Temple Mocktails?

Fun and festive Shirley Temple Mocktails are perfect for Sunday brunch alongside some Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, Lobster Tortellini Salad, and Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches.

Their bright red color also makes them the perfect non-alcoholic drink to sip during holiday cocktail parties with Baked Brie Bites or Potato and Onion Knish. Pair them with Spruce Soda for a wintery, Christmassy theme.