Ice cream floats are an easy enough treat to make. Simply pick your preferred ice cream and soda and combine in a glass. Perhaps it’s a float made with vanilla ice cream and orange soda, or it’s a more traditional float made with chocolate ice cream and root beer.
But it can quickly become more complex. If you are feeling fancy, you can add syrups and add-ons to your float, and you certainly have an opinion on whether ice should be included.
Ice? That’s not where the controversy ends. Even the invention of the float is questioned.
Floats were possibly invented by Robert Green when he was trying to cool soda to serve at a fair. He had run out of ice, so he decided to add ice cream to the soda to cool it. His employee, George Guy, claimed he actually invented the treat when he accidentally dropped an ice cream order into an order of soda, a similar story to that of baker Philip Mohr, who also claimed the invention as his own. Or perhaps it was Fred Sanders, who added ice cream to soda when he could not find sweet cream, or a combination of whipping cream, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice.
So why not add to the story of the float by putting a new twist on it? For a refreshing snack, go all out and make a fruity ice cream float, combining uncommon flavors for a float into your new favorite summer treat. Here are some ideas for delicious ice cream floats.
Ice Cream Floats
Blueberry and Lemon Float
For a light float, place vanilla ice cream into the glass, adding strawberry sauce or a homemade blueberry puree if desired. Pour in lemon sparkling water and top with fresh blueberries. This Blueberry Buttermilk Ice Cream is a perfect inclusion for a stronger flavor.
Cherry Root Beer Float
Fill a tall glass with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. Pour the root beer and top it with diced cherries.
PB&J Float
Scoop out our No-Churn Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream and chocolate sauce to pour over. Pour strawberry soda and top with strawberries and peanuts if you like a snack with some crunch.
Lemon, Lime, and Strawberries Float
Add strawberry ice cream and strawberry sauce into a glass. Pour lemon-lime soda and top with fresh strawberries.
Will your fruity summer treat make it into the history of the float? Enjoy a bite and find out.