July 7, 2026
Best Soda and Ice Cream Recipes: How to Make an Ice Cream Float
What Is an Ice Cream Float?
The ice cream float has been a soda shop and diner staple for over 150 years. It was invented way back in 1874 in Philadelphia. Soda shop owner Robert Green wanted to create a new drink that would help him stand out from rival soda shops. Combining vanilla ice cream with soda was a hit with his customers, and a classic American dessert was born.
An ice cream float is different from a milkshake. While a milkshake is a thick, creamy drink made from blending ice cream and milk, an ice cream float is soda poured over a big scoop of ice cream. It’s not as thick as a milkshake, but the addition of ice cream to the soda makes it a wonderfully creamy, refreshing drink.
The most popular ice cream float is the root beer float with vanilla ice cream, or a “Black Cow,” as some call it. But you can make a float with any ice cream and soda combination you want! Read on for a guide to making an ice cream float, with flavor combination suggestions and step-by-step instructions.
Dirty Soda vs. Ice Cream Floats
Dirty sodas and ice cream floats are both refreshing, fizzy beverages that mix soda with different flavors for a sweet, unique treat. However, while an ice cream float is topped with ice cream, a dirty soda uses creamer, half-and-half, or coconut cream to achieve its creamy consistency.
You can make your own dirty sodas with our deliciously easy dirty soda recipes.
How to Make an Ice Cream Float
With just a few ingredients, you can make your own ice cream floats at home. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a root beer float, but you can make it with any ice cream or soda flavor you want.
Ingredients You Need
- Root beer (or the soda flavor of your choice)
- Vanilla ice cream (or your preferred ice cream flavor)
- Optional toppings:
- Whipped cream
- Maraschino cherries
- Chocolate, caramel, or strawberry drizzle
Step-by-step directions:
Step 1: Chill your glass in the freezer for 15–30 minutes for the perfect icy temperature.
Step 2: Add one or two large scoops of ice cream into your glass.
Step 3: Slowly pour cold soda into your glass, making sure it doesn’t overflow.
Step 4: Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry, if desired.
Step 5: Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips for the Perfect Float
Use cold ingredients: Make sure all your ingredients are chilled to the right temperature (including your glass). This will help keep your ice cream float crisp and cold and stop your ice cream from melting too quickly.
Pour your soda at an angle: Hold your glass at a 45-degree angle and pour your soda down the inner side of the glass. This will stop your soda from fizzing too much.
Use a tall glass, like a fountain or milkshake glass: You don’t want your float to be all ice cream and no soda! Using a tall glass will make sure there’s enough room to achieve the right ice cream-to-soda ratio.
Choose a plain, high-quality ice cream: Try to avoid flavors with chunks of nuts, fruit, or candy that will fall to the bottom of your glass and get stuck in your straw.
Best Soda and Ice Cream Flavor Combinations
Root beer floats may be the most popular ice cream float flavor, but why stop there? Try one of these unique ice cream float flavor combinations or make up your own!
| Soda | Ice Cream Flavor |
| Root beer | Vanilla |
| Cola | Vanilla bean |
| Orange soda | Vanilla |
| Cream soda | Chocolate |
| Ginger beer | Butter pecan |
| Grape soda | Strawberry |
| Cherry cola | Chocolate |
| Lemon-lime soda | Raspberry sorbet |
| Cola | Coffee ice cream |
Best Ice Cream for Floats
Vanilla Ice Cream: Vanilla ice cream is a classic choice for a reason. It pairs well with almost any soda flavor and is the perfect creamy, neutral base.
Chocolate Ice Cream: Want something a little richer? Chocolate ice cream will give your ice cream float a deeper flavor. Chocolate ice cream pairs particularly well with cola and cherry cola.
Sorbet and Dairy-Free Options: Dairy-free options work great in ice cream floats, too! Try a fruity sorbet or use your favorite vegan ice cream in your float.
15 Easy Ice Cream Float Recipes to Try
Classic Root Beer Float
It’s a classic for a reason. Combine root beer, vanilla ice cream, and homemade whipped cream for a timeless diner treat.
Blue Raspberry Shark Attack Float
This float is perfect for summer. Add blue raspberry syrup to lemon-lime soda and pour over vanilla ice cream. Finish it off with a shark gummy candy and a dramatic drizzle of grenadine.
Orange Cream Float
To make a float that tastes like your favorite popsicle, combine orange soda with vanilla ice cream. You can even add a drizzle of chocolate sauce to make it taste like a chocolate-covered orange.
Cherry Cola Float
There are a few ways to make a Cherry Cola Float.
- You can use cherry cola and top it with vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
- You can use plain cola and top it with cherry ice cream.
- You can use plain cola, add grenadine or maraschino cherry juice, and then top with your preferred ice cream flavor.
Cream Soda Float
Cream soda is a sweet soft drink that has vanilla-tasting notes. You can pair it with French vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream or try it with a caramel ice cream to complement the vanilla flavoring.
Chocolate Cola Float
Mix cola with a tablespoon of chocolate syrup, then top with chocolate ice cream for a rich, decadent drink.
Strawberry Soda Float
Strawberry soda and vanilla bean ice cream will give you a light, sweet, strawberries-and-cream-style float. For extra strawberry flavor, replace the vanilla ice cream with strawberry ice cream.
Coffee Cola Float
The spices in cola pair well with the rich flavors in coffee ice cream. Add a drizzle of chocolate or caramel at the end for a latte-inspired float.
Purple Cow Float
Want to delight your kids? Serve them a colorful Purple Cow Float, made with grape soda and vanilla ice cream.
Ginger Beer Float
The bright, zesty taste of ginger beer makes it the perfect base for an ice cream float. Pair it with vanilla ice cream for a simple flavor combination, or get adventurous with coconut, blueberry, or lemon ice cream.
Vanilla Cola Float
You can make a basic Vanilla Cola Float by using cola and French vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream. To boost the vanilla flavor, try adding a vanilla bean syrup to your cola.
Raspberry Lemon Float
Mix lemon-lime soda with raspberry ice cream for a fruity, refreshing float. Make a non-dairy version by replacing the ice cream with raspberry sorbet.
Butter Pecan Root Beer Float
Put your own twist on a classic Root Beer Float by subbing the vanilla ice cream with butter pecan. The nuttiness from the ice cream goes great with rich, spicy root beer.
Salted Caramel Cola Float
Pair the vanilla notes in cola with a salted caramel ice cream for a sweet float that’s balanced with a hint of salt.
Tropical Pineapple Float
A tropical ice cream float will make you feel like you’re on vacation! Vanilla bean ice cream perfectly complements a sweet pineapple soda.
Tips for Serving Ice Cream Floats at Parties
Ice cream floats are a fun and unique party treat. Here’s how to serve them at your next birthday party or get-together.
- Set up an ice cream float bar: Include different soda, ice cream, and topping options so everyone can make their own.
- Pre-scoop the ice cream: Pre-scooping ice cream in the right portions for floats saves time and is less messy than having guests scoop their own ice cream.
- Include kid-friendly toppings: Whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate sauce make great kid-friendly ice cream soda toppings.
- Keep everything cold: No one wants a melted float! Keep all your ingredients in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to build your floats. Then, make sure everything is kept on ice to keep the soda cold and prevent the ice cream from melting.
Giveaways
Ice Cream & Novelties Coupon Giveaway
Get ready for our summer giveaway for a chance to win ice cream and novelties for a year!
