Shirley Temple Cocktail-Inspired Cupcakes

Shirley Temple Cocktail Cupcakes

The non-alcoholic Shirley Temple cocktail has a reputation for being super sweet, so it’s no surprise that it translates well into cupcake form. I also really like the grown-up Shirley Temple Black cocktail, which has all the ingredients of the original version, but with a shot of Kahlua (or Campari. Or dark rum, some would argue). So, I decided to make these cupcakes both ways.

The cute little bows on top of the cupcakes are plastic ring birthday party favors. I think they make adorable toppers for Shirley Temple cupcakes. To differentiate the two cupcake flavors, I gave the non-alcoholic cupcakes a pink bow and the Kahlua-flavored cupcakes a black bow.

Original Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black

Honestly, I’m not sure which version I like better. Both are distinctly different and delicious. Grenadine plays a huge role in the flavor of the beautiful pink icing that goes on both types of cupcakes. Most grenadine is flavored with pomegranate or black currant juice, so you can expect a fruity-slash-berry sweet-tart flavor. I used Sprite soda in the cupcake batter, which gives the baked cakes a really subtle flavor that’s hard to put a finger on, but it all works together so very well flavor-wise. If you prefer using ginger-ale in your Shirley Temples, then you can certainly substitute it for the Sprite in the cake batter.

Shirley Temple Cocktail Cupcakes

Okay, so this part of the process felt a little deviant, somehow. You literally give the cupcakes a shot of grenadine with a syringe! These flavor-injectors are normally used for injecting marinades into Thanksgiving turkeys, but I love using them to give cupcakes a sweet-hit of flavor in their centers. The syringes are inexpensive, and you can find them online here. Most of the syringes have metal needle-tips, but if you can find one with a plastic needle, those work fine for cupcake injecting and are less dangerous to come across when rifling in your utility drawer. 

Shirley Temple Cocktail Cupcakes

The Shirley Temple Black cupcakes were treated in the same manner. Instead of grenadine, they each got a shot of Kahlua in the center. These were so good! They might be my favorite of the two. Maybe. It’s hard to say for sure, so more taste-testing is in order (wink).

Shirley Temple Cocktail Cupcakes

One thing is for sure, nothing beats biting into one of these and finding that there’s more to offer than just cake inside. The injected syrups keep the cake so moist and flavorful.

An important thing to note: Don’t overfill the cakes with grenadine or Kahlua. I used just one teaspoon in each of my cakes. If you use too much the liquids will completely soak through the bottom of the cupcake liners and then you’ve got a mess on your  hands. Or on your pretty white tablecloth.

Shirley Temple Cocktail Cupcakes

These are really easy to make, and if you don’t have a flavor-injecting syringe, you can cut a little divot in the tops of each cupcake and drizzle syrup in with a spoon.

When party-time rolls around, I’ll definitely serve these cupcakes alongside their cocktail counterparts. I’ve included the drink recipes in this post if you’d like to do the same.

Shirley Temple Cocktail Cupcakes

Heather Baird
This recipe is written assuming that you want to make both Shirley Temple and Shirley Temple Black cupcakes. If you want to make an entire batch of original cocktail Shirley Temple cupcakes, just replace the Kahlua with grenadine, and for an entire batch of Shirley Temple Black cupcakes, vice-versa. I like to give my cupcakes a stately crown of frosting but not everybody is into that much on one cupcake. Feel free to half the Grenadine Buttercream recipe.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 15

Equipment

  • kitchen syringe/injector

Ingredients
  

Cake

  • 1/2 cup/113g butter softened
  • 1 cup/200g granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups/ 223g all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup/122g sour cream
  • 1/2 cup/ 4 oz. Sprite soft drink or ginger-ale
  • 1/4 cup grenadine
  • 1/4 cup Kahlua liqueur

Grenadine buttercream

  • 1 lb/452g of unsalted butter softened
  • 2 lbs one 32 oz. bags/ 453g confectioners’ sugar
  • 3-4 tablespoons grenadine or more to taste
  • Milk or heavy cream if needed
  • 15 maraschino cherries
  • White nonpareils for sprinkling

Instructions
 

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line one cupcake pan with 12 paper liners and another cupcake pan with three liners. I used 8 pink liners for the regular Shirley Temple cupcakes and 7 black liners for the Shirley Temple Black cupcakes. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup Sprite soda and 1/2 cup sour cream (mixture will fizz and bubble a little). Add flour and Sprite mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour.
  • Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup level measures of batter. Bake for 17-22 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely. When cupcakes are cool, fill a flavor injecting syringe with roughly 1 teaspoon of grenadine. Place the needle in the center of a cupcake and push the plunger as you gently pull the needle up and out of the cupcake. Repeat with 7 more cupcakes. Wash the syringe and repeat process with Kahlua and remaining cupcakes. Set cupcakes aside while you make the frosting.

Grenadine buttercream

  • Mix together the butter and confectioners’ sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Begin mixing on low speed until crumbly and then increase to high and beat for 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low and add the grenadine 1 tablespoon at a time; add more grenadine to taste if desired. Beat frosting again for another 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and mix again on the highest setting for 3 minutes.
  • If you find the buttercream is too stiff, you may add milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture is piping consistency. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip, such as Ateco #856. Pipe frosting onto each cupcake in two large swirles and top each with a maraschino cherry. Sprinkle over the white nonpareils.
  • Store cupcakes loosely covered in plastic wrap or in a plastic cupcake-keeper.

Notes

Shirley Temple cocktail recipe with variation
Yield: 1 serving
6 oz. lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite (can use ginger-ale)
1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine Maraschino cherry for garnish
Pour the lemon-lime soda into a Collins glass filled with ice. Add grenadine. Garnish with a cherry and a fancy straw. Stir drink just before sipping. Shirley Temple Black variation: Add 1 to 2 oz. Kahlua and an additional cherry.
Keyword grenadine buttercream
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Cindy
Cindy
9 years ago

Heather, these are SO CUTE! I loved Shirley Temple movies and the beverage when I was a kid. Love those bow-ring toppers, too.

Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen
Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen
9 years ago

These are so adorable!

June Burns
June Burns
9 years ago

Oh my gosh these are so cute! Grenadine buttercream sounds heavenly. Like the idea of injecting the syrup, too 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I am loving these cupcakes. The colour of the frosting the little toppers. Everything is just soo cute x

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

I am loving these cupcakes. The colour of the frosting the little toppers. Everything is just soo cute x

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
9 years ago

So pretty! I'd love to taste these cupcakes.

Cheers,

Rosa

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

These are so, so cute!

Ramona - A Dutchie Baking
Ramona - A Dutchie Baking
9 years ago

Oh wow, "injecting" that syrup into the cupcake is such a good idea! I reckon you could do that with lots of flavored syrups (I'm thinking rum syrup for example).

Colleen @ Royal Icing Diaries
Colleen @ Royal Icing Diaries
9 years ago

Ingenious! I just love this idea, and I love the idea of Sprite in the batter! Your photos are to die for. I just want to lick my computer screen! 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Adorable. Great idea for mothers day pressie.x

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

These are so sweet! I love the hidden centre,I recently made some cupcakes with a hidden heart centre; http://myownbakeoff.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/hidden-heart-centred-cupcakes.html

Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures
9 years ago

These are so adorable! I like the squirt of grenadine!

Stefanie | Sarcastic Cooking
Stefanie | Sarcastic Cooking
9 years ago

OMG I'm dying over the cuteness! I need an excuse to make these for my pink-loving-princess nieces!!! I have never heard of a Shirley Temple Black! I have only ever added vodka to a Shirley Temple, I think I was led astray!!!

Becky
Becky
9 years ago

What a cute idea! I remember drinking about ten Shirley Temples at a wedding when I was a kid and then running around like a maniac before crashing. Must. Exercise. Restraint.

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

These cupcakes are SO cute! You did an amazing job injecting a little bit of color into each cupcake too!

I've never had a Shirley Temple Black before but now I want to try one! Thanks for the inspiration Heather!

Danielle at Framed Frosting

Rachael | Spache the Spatula
Rachael | Spache the Spatula
9 years ago

Oh gosh, these are like painfully cute! And a grenadine buttercream?! BRILLIANT!

Back Taste
Back Taste
9 years ago

Wonderful:) colors fabulous.

Tracy | Pale Yellow
Tracy | Pale Yellow
9 years ago

Not only are these cupcakes gorgeous, I imagine the flavor is amazing as well! The injection technique is amazing, my mind is running with all the possibilities!

marla {Family Fresh Cooking}
marla {Family Fresh Cooking}
9 years ago

OMG are these cupcakes adorable!!!

dina
dina
9 years ago

i loved shirley temples as a kid. these look delightful!

Colette (Coco)
Colette (Coco)
9 years ago

Love grenadine, bowties and these cupcakes!

Maribel Cota
Maribel Cota
9 years ago

Oh my God! Amazing cupcakes, looks so yummy!
Saludos desde México!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Where can I get those cute little bows? I didn't see any source posted. Thank you!

Coco's Kitchen Lab
Coco's Kitchen Lab
9 years ago

I love this idea! Shirley Temples were my favorite as a kid! Delicious!

Cris @ Home made easy cakes
Cris @ Home made easy cakes
9 years ago

I am loving these beautiful cupcakes:X Soo tasy

Lauren
Lauren
9 years ago

Flavor injector for cup cakes = genius!! These are so pretty!

cookies and cups
cookies and cups
9 years ago

Amazing! I have had Shirley Temple Cupcakes on my "make list" for ages, but there is no way I could have done them as perfect as you did!

Marybcn
Marybcn
9 years ago

I love your blog. I use to take a look when I can because I think you are creative. I have a pug too and a bulldog, and my blog has the name because of them.
Kisses from Spain.!!
loschatoschefs.blogspot.com

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Super cute and nostalgic for me. PS Did you make the bow tie? If so, inquiring minds want to know.:) Thankyou for sharing your artistry with us !

Melody
Melody
9 years ago

I'd use it in my sugar cookies!
Your cakes look to die for! I am drooling! 🙂

Nicole (Bellenza Party Suite)
Nicole (Bellenza Party Suite)
9 years ago

Cutest cupcakes ever! Love the concept!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Beautiful! (and delicious) looking cupcakes! May I ask what the beverage next to them is called and if there's a recipe? : )

Renee @ Awesome on 20
Renee @ Awesome on 20
9 years ago

These are precious! Beautiful as always! Kahlua doesn't sound to me like it would taste very good with grenadine, but I'm willing to give it a try. Probably because I'm a bit of a lush. 😉

My Linh
My Linh
9 years ago

Oh gosh, these look too beautiful to eat! You've got some amazing decorating skills! I just discovered you blog and I love it :3

Unknown
Unknown
9 years ago

Ok, this is GENIUS! Dirty Shirleys are my go-to drink! How have I not make them in a cupcake form?? Definitely trying these 🙂

Sam-I-Am
Sam-I-Am
9 years ago

Made a spin off of your recipe for my sisters 21st birthday, the sprite cake was a huge hit. Very moist and delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!

Anonymous
Anonymous
8 years ago

Thank you so much! I'm making a cake and wanted a raspberry butter cream but could find no raspberry extract so I decided in a bottle of grenadine instead! Hopefully it works out well!

Unknown
Unknown
8 years ago

can i use cake mix for this

Unknown
Unknown
8 years ago

i was wondering if it's possible to use yellow or white cake mix?

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
8 years ago
Reply to  Unknown

Hi Cherry, you can use yellow cake mix in place of the scratch recipe. Thanks for asking!

Libby
Libby
6 years ago

Wow these cupcakes look beautiful! What a creative recipe. I haven’t had a Shirley Temple probably since I was before 21!!!!

Thea Chandross
Thea Chandross
6 years ago

It looks so yummy. I can't eat it. beacause it is beautifull.

Melanie
Melanie
2 years ago

I just made these cupcakes and made them with Cu4Cup gluten free flour using the same measurements in the recipe. They were so delightful!