Ice cream floats (or ice cream sodas) are the perfect summer drink that make a great dessert as well. Really, anything served with ice cream is wonderful.
The history of the ice cream float is somewhat sketchy, especially when you have a wide variation of terms and definitions of what a float is. Some say it is the same as an ice cream soda, some disagree. There is a debate I choose not to deal with.
Making floats is a pretty simple affair, and they are traditionally made today with root beer and vanilla ice cream. But don't settle for the ordinary. There are all kinds of variations that you might not have thought of.
Fizzy Orange Floats
A bubbly and citrus flavoured ice cream float, that's a fun way to have some juice.
- 1 cup orange juice, no pulp
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 2 cups lemon lime soda
In a bowl or pitcher, stir together orange juice and soda pop. Pour into 4 tall glasses. Add a scoop of ice cream to the top of each glass and serve with a straw.
Coffee Ice Cream Soda
Don't give up on coffee just because its too hot to brew it. Instant crystals make this a tasty soda treat.
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbs instant coffee crystals
- 4 scoops vanilla or coffee ice cream
- Club soda
Mix sugar and water, then heat until just simmering. Stir in coffee crystals until they dissolve. Take the mixture off the heat and let cool thoroughly. Pour cooled coffee into 4 tall glasses. Fill about ¾ of the glass with club soda and then top off with a scoop of ice cream.
A Pale Cow
A traditional root beer or Coke float is sometimes called a Brown Cow, so this lighter float deserves a lighter name. This particular recipe serves a crowd.
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup white grape juice
- ½ gallon vanilla ice cream
- 1 bottle of ginger ale
Chill and mix the juices, then partly fill each tall glass. Add a scoop of ice cream, then top off with ginger ale. This recipe should serve about 20-25 people. It might be awkward, but these drinks do serve up best if you scoop into each glass individually, rather than trying to create a huge float in a punch bowl.
Creamy Classic Ice Cream Soda
A milkier and chocolate version of the float, sized just for one.
- ¼ cup of milk
- 3 tbs chocolate syrup
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- Club soda
Mix milk and chocolate syrup together in a tall glass. Add a scoop of ice cream, then pour club soda over top to fill the glass.
Terri Paajanen - Terri Paajanen is a published author and freelance writer. She has been writing on a wide-range of topics for years, including spending ...
