People Are Obsessed with This ‘Santa Hat’ Shirley Temple

The holidays go hand in hand with food and drinks. For some of us, that means Christmas cocktails. There are plenty of options for those who drink, like Santa Clausmopolitans and this chilly Jack Frost cocktail. But if alcohol isn’t for you, there’s a popular (and adorable) nonalcoholic option: Santa’s Hat Shirley Temple.

For 11 months out of the year, a Shirley Temple is a fruity drink made with grenadine, lemon-lime soda or ginger ale and maraschino cherries. In December, we add a swirl of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry to make a Santa hat right on top of the drink!

What’s in a Santa’s Hat Shirley Temple?

In addition to the ingredients in a classic Shirley Temple, this holiday beverage has cranberry juice to enhance the red color of the drink. It also offers a tart edge to cut through the sweetness of the soda and grenadine. The whipped cream from the hat makes the drink a little creamy when it’s sipped, like a dirty soda.

This idea comes from a popular recipe-sharing Facebook page. To make a Shirley Temple garnished with Santa’s hat, you’ll need the following:

• 1/2 cup Sprite, 7Up or ginger ale
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1 ounce grenadine
• Whipped cream
• 1 maraschino cherry
• Ice

Fill your favorite type of cocktail glass with crushed ice, then add the soda. Pour in the cranberry juice and grenadine, pipe a generous mound of whipped cream over the top, and add a cherry. Homemade whipped cream will top the drink in a pretty swirl, but canned works too! To be extra fancy, pop in a sprig of rosemary or top the whipped cream with candied cranberries.