This Root Beer Float Ice Cream is one of my favorite childhood treats, turned into a scoopable ice cream. It's a super easy recipe - just a few ingredients, barely any effort, and an absolutely delicious result.
This was originally published in 2015, as a root beer float. I've updated it to the ice cream recipes and added new photos. (If you'd like the drink recipe, email me for it anytime.)
My grandfather made the best root beer float ever. It wasn't just the vanilla and coffee ice cream, or the A&W root beer he insisted on, though those were the only three ingredients he'd allow.
It was the ceremony of it. The chilled glasses, the frantic mashing and stirring with a tall silver spoon, the careful walk down the hall with the tray so nothing would spill.
It’s always been one of my favorite food memories, and I decided to turn it into something I could scoop straight from the freezer: Root Beer Float Ice Cream, with just a hint of coffee swirled through. It's creamy, it's nostalgic, and it captures everything I loved about those nights at my grandparents' house.
Ingredient Notes
- root beer - This is the star ingredient, so use one you love drinking. My grandfather was loyal to A&W, and I am too. It has a smooth, creamy sweetness that works beautifully here. Any good-quality root beer will do, though the more pronounced the root beer flavor, the more it comes through in the finished ice cream.
- whipping cream - Heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) is what gives this ice cream its rich, scoopable texture.
- sweetened condensed milk - This both adds sweetness and keeps the ice cream soft enough to scoop straight from the freezer, even without an ice cream maker.
- instant coffee or espresso powder - Just a touch, to nod to my grandfather's coffee-and-root-beer combination.
- pure vanilla extract - The vanilla adds warmth to the final flavor. I use Nielsen-Massey.
- salt - Just a pinch to brighten the flavors.
How to Make my Root Beer Float Ice Cream with Coffee
- The first step is to "flatten" the root beer. We want to remove the carbonation. To do this, pour it into a bowl and leave it out for at least 3 hours before you start.
Recipe Tip: Don't skip the step of removing the carbonation from the root beer. Flattening the soda helps prevent trapped bubbles and ice crystals.
- Pour the whipping cream and vanilla into a blender and blend just to thicken slightly. This should take just a couple of seconds.
- Then add the sweetened condensed milk, flattened root beer, coffee, and a pinch of salt. Blend for a few seconds to mix. It will look very bubbly, which is okay. (Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer and a large bowl, following the same steps.)
- Pour the mixture into an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and ideally overnight.
- Freeze according to your ice cream machine's directions. Keep it in the freezer and scoop when you're ready to serve.
* ICE CREAM MAKER TIPS * 1) Always read the manual for your ice cream machine before you begin. Most ice cream machine bowls take at least 12 hours to completely freeze completely. Put your bowl in the freezer the night before you want to make the ice cream. (I keep it in the freezer at all times during the summer so it's at the ready.) 2) If you want to double the recipe, you'll likely have to do this in two batches, unless you have a particularly large ice cream machine. An average-sized machine usually holds 1½ quarts.
Variations
- Skip the coffee. Leave out the instant coffee for a pure Root Beer Float Ice Cream. It'll taste even more like the classic combination of root beer and vanilla.
- Make it a float again. Scoop this ice cream into a chilled glass and pour a little extra root beer over the top for an ice cream float made with the ice cream itself.
- Add mix-ins - A handful of mini chocolate chips or crushed chocolate-covered coffee beans. They can be folded in at the end.
- No-Churn (No Ice Cream Machine) - While I use an ice cream maker for the creamiest texture, this can be made no-churn too. Whip the cream to soft peaks before folding in the other ingredients, then freeze.
Storing Homemade Ice Cream
- These airtight containers are generally the best option for storing ice cream.
- You can also reuse plastic pint gelato containers with screw-on lids.
- Cake and loaf pans are also a great option. If you go this route, press a piece of plastic wrap, wax paper, or parchment paper directly onto the surface of the ice cream, then wrap the whole thing with plastic wrap.
- The ice cream will be at its best within the first month of freezing, though it'll keep for a few months or so.
I hope you love my Root Beer Float Ice Cream with Coffee as much as I do! I'm certain my grandfather would approve. 🙂
Root Beer Float Ice Cream with Coffee
Equipment
- blender (or hand mixer)
Ingredients
- 1 (20-ounce) bottle root beer (2½ cups)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- "Flatten" the root beer. We want to remove the carbonation. To do this, pour it into a bowl and leave it out for at least 3 hours before you start. (This is important - removing the carbonation from the soda helps prevent trapped bubbles and ice crystals.)
- Blend the ingredients. Pour the whipping cream and vanilla into a blender and blend just to thicken slightly. This should take just a couple of seconds. Then add the sweetened condensed milk, flattened root beer, coffee, and a pinch of salt. Blend for a few seconds to mix. It will look very bubbly, which is okay. Alternatively, you can use a hand mixer and a large bowl, following the same steps.
- Refrigerate. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and ideally overnight.
- Freeze. Freeze according to your ice cream machine's directions. Keep it in the freezer and scoop when you're ready to serve.
Mimi Rippee
Brilliant!!! Such a great idea.
http://www.chefmimiblog.com
Sherry M
well this sounds decadent and delightful. Root beer? not sure we get it here but possibly ...
cheers
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
Valentina
Hi Sherry. Thanks for visiting. It's delightful indeed. I hope you can get root beer.:-)
Sandra
Yum, what do you think I could sub for the sweetened condensed milk? I bought an ice cream maker a few weeks ago and have been experimenting. My mom loved root beer floats—reminds me of her:) Thanks!
Valentina
I love that this reminded you of your mom. 🙂 Is there something in the sweetened condensed milk you can't have, or do you just not have it available? You can make a version of it at home with 2 1/2 cups whole milk and 3/4 cup granulated sugar - simmer until it's reduced by about 1 cup. Let it cool completely before adding it to the recipe. I hope this helps. Enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina
Christina Conte
I can hear you laughing before I even write this, but would you hate me (in addition to David) if I told you I would have to switch out the root beer for classic Coke? 😬 What a great idea to make an ice cream flavor of a float, though! Brilliant!
I just LOVE that photo of you with your grandfather, so sweet! Love the memories of him carrying the floats on a tray, too! Thanks for sharing, Valentina! xx
Valentina
I respect your choices. 😉😂 Thank you for all the kind words, Christina. XO Valentina
David
Summer magic! But, would you hate me if I said I had to have vanilla ice cream for my float? xo
valentina
Vanilla is delicious! And how would I ever hate one of my favorite food bloggers!?!?! xoxo
Christina Conte
She's gonna hate both of us! haha!
Bob Sunness
Valentina: Sure brings back memories and a desire for a root beer float with coffee ice cream predominating. I wasn't the beneficiary of one of Dr. Kenney's concoctions but was of his expertise in other areas.
Love to you!
Bob
valentina
Thanks so much, Bob. I remember my grandfather being so fond of you. 🙂
Cal Darrow
Valentina: Wonderful story and memories of grandfather Harry. The photo is priceless....it's been so long since I've seen a photo of him at that age. The root beer float sounds good, too.
I'm still making variations of your delicious melon salad.
Best regards to you and yours.
Love 'n' kisses,
Cal Darrow
valentina
Awww Cal, thank you! So cool that you knew him when. 😀 I LOVE that you're still making versions of the salad! xoxo
joan dunsmuir
Reminded me of my parents making floats - they were called "brown cows" and they had plastic straws that had a tiny spoon at the bottom of the straw - so you could scoop and sip. Yummy!!! thank you for reminding me - might just have to have one. xxx
valentina
Thanks, Joan. It's those little things I love remembering -- like your plastic straw with the tiny spoon. Hope you have one soon. So tasty, too!
Catherine
A lovely memory of your grandfather, thank you so much for sharing and thank you so much for sharing a picture of you and your grandfather. So precious !
valentina
Thank you, Catherine. I so appreciate the kind words. 🙂 xoxo Enjoy!
Rosalia levy
What a sweet memory ,Valentina.
Thank you for sharing with us .
Can't wait to make it.
Beautiful!
valentina
Thank YOU, Rosalia. xoxo