Festive Ice Cream Floats

During the pandemic, we started planning special home based events and activities as a way to lessen our boredom. On Monday mornings we’d make muffins, on Tuesday’s we’d have tacos for dinner (obviously) and on Friday nights we’d make ice cream floats. These activities gave us something to look forward to and relieved lock down stress. Even though pandemic restrictions have been lifted, our Friday night ice cream float tradition continues. In fact, we’ve doubled down on this Friday float idea and created a series of festive ice cream floats to celebrate seasons, holidays and special occasions.

Candy Cane Float

Slurp up a cool peppermint treat with this easy and fun candy cane float. This winter holiday float is a nice detour from baked goods and other traditional holiday treats.

You’ll need:

peppermint or candy cane ice cream
crushed candy canes
vanilla frosting
cream soda
whipped cream
red food coloring

For festive floats, I like to use a mug with a handle. You’ll want to start this float but rimming the mug with vanilla frosting and then dropping it in a shallow dish of crushed candy cane. Next, fill the mug with cream soda and add a bit of red food coloring to achieve a nice, red color. With the mug fill, begin dropping in several scoops of peppermint or candy cane ice cream (if it’s available in your area). The finishing touch to this candy cane float is to top with whipped cream and a full sized candy cane.

Easter Bunny Float

Sugary sweet and a tad bit sour, this Easter bunny ice cream float is sure to have your little one ‘hopping’ for more. This Easter bunny float is refreshing and fun. A springy treat to welcome the season.

You’ll need:

strawberry ice cream-freeze this ahead of time for best results
lime flavored soda
plastic colored straws
marshmallow bunnies

I recently discovered that if you scoop the ice cream first, place in a wax paper lined cake pan and freeze for a few hours prior to assembling your ice cream float, the ice cream does not melt as fast. Fun fact.

The Easter bunny float is simple. Fill your glass with scoops of frozen strawberry ice cream and pour in lime soda. I use lime Jarritos. The flavor is just like other lime sodas, but the bright green color makes the float more vibrant. The Easter fun in this float comes from adding a marshmallow bunny to a plastic colored straw. My kids love this ice cream float.

Sweet Heart Float

Creating a valentine ice cream float requires a few simple ingredients to get your kiddos slurping up creamy, sweetness.

You’ll need:

vanilla ice cream
cherry flavored soda
whipped cream
Red Vines licorice
valentine sprinkles

To create the sweet heart float, fill a glass with vanilla ice cream. Then pour in cherry flavored soda. I use Cherry 7-Up, but any cherry soda will work. With the glass full of soda, top the float with whipped cream. Finish the float with sprinkles. I had hot pink sugar and heart shaped sprinkles on hand. Lastly, cut both ends off a piece of Red Vines licorice and use it as a straw. Easy. Cute. Delish.

Hot Chocolate Float

The combination of hot, chocolatey cocoa and frozen ice cream makes for a great winter dessert. These floats make for a fun treat after sledding, ice skating or skiing . To create this hot chocolate float you’ll need:

vanilla ice cream
hot cocoa mix
whipped cream
chocolate syrup

To create the hot chocolate float, start by making a large batch of hot cocoa. I use Nestle Nesquik and make it on the stove top using whole milk. It makes for a very creamy cocoa with just the right amount of chocolatey goodness. Before scooping the vanilla ice cream, I like to rim the glass with chocolate syrup and drizzle a bit of chocolate inside the glass.

I suggest scooping a little bit more ice cream in the glass than usual as the ice cream will melt quickly after adding the cocoa. Once you have the ice cream scooped, fill the glass with hot chocolate and top with whipped cream. Garnish with more chocolate drizzle.

If your interested in a more traditional hot cocoa party, click here.

Caramel Apple Float

A trip to the apple orchard is top of list each fall for our family. In fact, we often come home and enjoy our apples with our caramel apple bar party. This year we added to our fall fun by turning our favorite fall snack; caramel apples, into a float. To create this caramel apple float you’ll need:

caramel ice cream
apple soda-we got ours at Northern Soda Company
sliced apple ring
whipped cream
caramel drizzle

Before you begin scooping ice cream, heat up your caramel sauce for easy drizzling. You’ll also need to slice and remove the seeds from an apple for an apple ring. After filling your mug with ice cream, add the apple soda and top with whipped cream. To garnish, add the apple ring, caramel drizzle and a red striped paper straw. Enjoy.

Vampire Float

Spooky season is a favorite in this household. Of course, this means a spooky float is necessary. The vampire float is a hit with the kids because of the name and because the vampire teeth with a few squirts of icing are irresistible. To create this gory float you’ll need the following:

vanilla ice cream
red/strawberry soda-we chose Big Red
strawberry syrup
fake vampire teeth-bonus points if they are edible
red icing
whipped cream

Before you begin scooping ice cream, take a bit of red icing and give your fake vampire teeth a touch of blood. I also used the strawberry syrup to line the mug before dropping in the ice cream. After filling the mug with ice cream, add the red soda and top with whipped cream. To garnish, add the vampire teeth and a red striped paper straw. Enjoy.