The Drink of the Summer Just Got Frozen: Rita's Debuts Shirley Temple Ice

The Shirley Temple has always been more than just a drink—it's a sip of nostalgia.

Read the original at Franchising.com
The Drink of the Summer Just Got Frozen: Rita's Debuts Shirley Temple Ice

TL;DR

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard debuts a new limited-time Shirley Temple Italian Ice flavor, inspired by the classic drink. The flavor will be available in various forms, including Italian Ice, Gelati, Blender, and Misto Shake.

The Shirley Temple has always been more than just a drink—it's a sip of nostalgia. Now, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is freezing the beloved classic with the debut of its new limited-time Shirley Temple Italian Ice. Inspired by the iconic drink, this new flavor blends sweet cherry and bright citrus into a refreshingly cool treat, topped with shimmering Shirley Sparkle for all the fun of a Shirley Temple - without the bubbles. Available for a limited time beginning July 20 at participating Rita's locations.

In addition to enjoying the new Italian Ice on its own, fans can experience the flavor across Rita's signature menu with three limited-time offerings:

  • Shirley Temple Ice Gelati – Layers of Vanilla Frozen Custard and Shirley Temple Italian Ice, finished with Shirley Sparkle.

  • Shirley Temple Ice Blender – A refreshing frozen beverage blending Shirley Temple Italian Ice into a smooth, icy drink and topped with Shirley Sparkle.

  • Shirley Temple Misto® Shake – Creamy Vanilla Frozen Custard blended with Shirley Temple Italian Ice for the ultimate summer treat.

"At Rita's, we're always looking for new ways to turn today's biggest flavor trends into unforgettable frozen treats, said Carmela Hughley, SVP of Marketing Insights and Innovation at Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. "The Shirley Temple has captured everyone's attention while remaining a timeless favorite, and we were excited to reimagine its iconic sweet cherry-citrus flavor as an Italian Ice that's perfect for making new summer memories."

The launch of Shirley Temple Ice marks a summer program for Rita's. Additional updates are anticipated later this month.

In this story

This story was originally published in Franchising.com on July 15, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.

Read the full story at Franchising.com

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