
Creamy vanilla ice cream in ice-cold root beer
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
0 min
Total Time
5 min
Servings
2
2 floats
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
Creamy vanilla ice cream in ice-cold root beer
A frosty American classic—scoops of vanilla ice cream floating in an ice-cold glass of root beer, creating a creamy, fizzy, foam-topped treat.
5m
Prep Time
0m
Cook Time
5m
Total Time
2
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
(Updated )
The root beer float is American soda fountain nostalgia in a glass. Cold root beer hits vanilla ice cream and erupts into a creamy, fizzy foam that's pure summer happiness.
Chill tall glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes for the frostiest float.
Place 2 generous scoops of vanilla ice cream in each chilled glass.
Tilt the glass slightly and pour root beer slowly down the side to minimize foam.
Let the foam settle, then top off with more root beer.
Add a swirl of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve with a long spoon and straw.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate sauce before serving
Arrange on a platter for easy sharing at your next gathering
Pair with your favorite dipping sauce for extra flavor
Each creates a different but equally fun float
Chocolate root beer floats are surprisingly delicious
Test Kitchen Pick
Espresso
Helpful Pantry Staple
For recipes like this, better coffee pays off quickly. Stronger, fresher beans give you more flavor without having to compensate elsewhere.
This recipe tastes closer to its intent when the coffee is doing real work.
Good espresso beans are usually a more noticeable upgrade than a more complicated gadget.
Shop espresso for this recipeFreeze the glasses ahead of time for the best presentation and to keep the float cold longer.
Use premium, high-fat vanilla ice cream—it melts slower and creates creamier foam.
Serve immediately. Root beer floats cannot be stored.
Not applicable—this is a frozen treat.
Per serving (35mg) · 2 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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