Arby's Shirley 'n Cream

About the Shirley 'n Cream

Arby's Shirley 'n Cream ($3.09 for a Small, 210 cal in a Medium) starts with the chain's Classic Shirley Temple and finishes it with a cap of sweet cream cold foam and one dark cherry. Underneath sits the same Sprite and grenadine syrup mix Arby's pours for the plain version, so the cup tastes bright, fizzy and cherry sweet before the cream ever reaches your lips.

The foam is the whole point of this drink. Cold foam rests on the soda like a soft white cap, and each sip pulls a little sweet cream through the bubbly red soda below. The effect lands somewhere between a cherry cream soda and a float, minus the scoop of ice cream. As the foam slowly melts, the bottom of the cup turns pale pink and the flavor rounds out, so the last few sips taste noticeably creamier than the first. The dark cherry rides on top of the foam and makes a good final bite once the straw starts to rattle.

Three sizes sit on the board: Small, Medium and Large. A Medium cup has 210 cal, and nearly all of its carbs come from sugar, since the panel shows very little fat and only 2 grams of protein. If you are weighing the Shirley 'n Cream calories against other cups, the Small is the lightest pick and the Large carries the most, because the soda and foam scale up together. Next to the Classic Shirley Temple, the cream version costs a little more and picks up a touch of fat from the foam, which is the trade for that velvety top.

This cup suits a hot afternoon in the drive thru, a treat for kids who already love Shirley Temples, or anyone who wants something sweeter than lemonade but lighter than a milkshake. It also looks great in a photo: red soda, white foam, one dark cherry. Arby's files it under both the Arby's drinks menu and its limited time menu, so you will find it beside the seasonal sandwiches too. Our figures were recorded at a single Austin, TX store, and other stores set their own prices.

For a sweet pairing, set the cup next to a Peach Cobbler Roll 2PC, where cherry and peach flavors play well together. For something savory, a Classic Beef 'n Cheddar balances the sugar with salty roast beef and warm cheese sauce.