Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (2024)

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Katerina

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This Root Beer Float recipe is made with root beer and vanilla frozen yogurt. A classic American Summer dessert that’s easy to make and creates an amazing mix of flavors!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of A&W®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (2)

    AN EASY AND DELICIOUS SUMMER DESSERT

    Ain’t that just a big glass of Summer? It shore is!Hey Hey, Summer! Hey Hey, friends! Welcome back! SO happy to see you!

    I’m popping in today to talk to you aboutRoot Beer Floats!

    I don’t think I’ve had aRoot Beer Float since I was like, 12! But, here I am nowand my next go at them waswith a scoop of frozen yogurt. Ha! So refreshing and sweet!Please come over so I can feed you an A&W® Float, like, right now.

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (3)

    So back in the day, like waaaay back, we used to have an open campus lunch at school. Jealous?! You should be.
    Thus, during lunch, we would all scatter around; some would go to McD’s, others to B. King, and me? My friends and I would go to Papa’s Deli for ice cream, root beer floats, and feta cheese. 😀 Life was dang awesome!

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (4)

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (5)

    Papa would bust out the 1960s ice creamglassesand fill ’em to the rim with vanilla ice cream andA&W® Root Beer, in the dead of Winter, mid of Spring, and all throughout the Summer.Think: the most gigantic Root BeerFloats in frosty glasses.I KNOW. I can’t deal either.

    Fast forward to many years later – I’m not telling you how many – and now I get to do the same for my kids!

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (6)

    I mean, don’t these look so necessary, especially when you’re a little kid?

    They are so necessary.

    It’s a simple and small indulgence, but it creates a fun family experience, and it’s always something my kids look forward to. Whenever we go down the pop/soda aisle at Meijer, they reach for the A&W bottles almost instantly. Couple aisles down, we grab some vanilla frozen yogurt and off we go! It keeps us all happy and entertained and it’s all in the name of Summer FUN.

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (7)

    The only difference in mine is that I use frozen yogurt; trying to cut down just a bit on the cream and sugar, you know? Doesn’t matter, though. You can’t taste the difference.A Root Beer Floatwith whipped cream and maraschino cherries on top is just the perfect summer drink. Try it!

    In the meantime, hop over to your Meijer mPerks and start clipping and saving. In addition, you can buy 1 A&W® 2-liter, Get 1 Free using mPerks digital coupon at your local Meijer.

    ENJOY!

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (8)

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    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (9)

    Root Beer Float Recipe

    Katerina | Diethood

    This Root Beer Float recipe is made with root beer and vanilla frozen yogurt. A classic American Summer dessert that's easy to make and creates an amazing mix of flavors!

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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins

    Total Time 5 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, or you can also use Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
    • 1/2 cup A&W® Root Beer
    • whipped cream
    • marachino cherries

    Instructions

    • Add 2 scoops of ice cream in a tall glass.

    • Slowly pour A&W Root Beer over ice cream.

    • Garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

    • Serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 g | Calories: 200 kcal | Carbohydrates: 40.9 g | Protein: 2.9 g | Fat: 4 g | Saturated Fat: 2.5 g | Cholesterol: 1.4 mg | Sodium: 102.6 mg | Sugar: 22.5 g

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Dessert, Drinks, Drinks/Dessert

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: easy summer desserts, how to make a root beer float, root beer float recipe

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Sponsored

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (10)

    This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of A&W®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

    Buy 1 A&W® 2-liter, Get 1 Free using mPerks digital coupon at your local Meijer

    This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of A&W®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

    Classic Root Beer Float Recipe | Healthy Summer Desserts (2024)

    FAQs

    What is an old fashioned float? ›

    Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Float

    4 scoops vanilla ice cream. 1 (12 oz) bottle Coca-Cola or root beer. Alternately used any flavored carbonated beverage — sprite, grape or apple-flavored carbonated drink. Reddi Whip Topping, optional, for decoration. Maraschino cherries, optional, for decoration.

    What kind of ice cream for root beer float? ›

    This classic root beer float, also known as a 'black cow' or 'brown cow', starts with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Then, the ice cream is topped with root beer, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry.

    Is a root beer float a drink or dessert? ›

    The root beer float, also known as a "black cow" or "brown cow," is a classic American dessert that has been enjoyed for over a century. This delicious treat is made by combining root beer and vanilla ice cream, creating a sweet and frothy beverage.

    Do you put the ice cream first in a float? ›

    That's up to you. Some people like to let the ice cream melt and then swirl up the soda and ice cream for a milkshake-style drink. Others prefer to drink the soda immediately and then scoop up the ice cream for a treat. Whatever you do, it's not wrong.

    What is a carnival float? ›

    A float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle like a truck or towed behind one, which is a component of many festive parades, such as those of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the Carnival in São Paulo, the Carnival of Viareggio, the Maltese Carnival, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mardi Gras in New ...

    What are the three types of float? ›

    Types of Float- Free Float, Total Float, Project Float.

    What goes first in a rootbeer float? ›

    Editor's Tip: There's a lot of debate around what goes in the mug first: the root beer or the ice cream. Well, in order to prevent overflowing and get the perfect creamy texture, add the ice cream and then pour over the fizzy root beer.

    How to spice up root beer float? ›

    Add a pinch of smoked sea salt into the glass. Pour the root beer over top just before serving. Sprinkle on the graham crackers and add a charred marshmallow on to finish.

    What is the best vanilla bean ice cream for root beer floats? ›

    As for Ice cream, we love Breyers Natural Vanilla. They make a few other vanillas but Natural is the best, with tiny flecks of vanilla bean throughout. Then, assemble. My favorite part of the float is when the ice cream becomes so root beer-saturated that it's like a slush (or mini milkshake).

    What is the slang for root beer float? ›

    Also known as a "black cow" or "brown cow", the root beer float is traditionally made with vanilla ice cream and root beer, but it can also be made with other ice cream flavors. Frank J. Wisner, owner of Colorado's Cripple Creek Brewing, is credited with creating the first root beer float on August 19, 1893.

    How much ice cream per person for root beer floats? ›

    Spoon a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass. Slowly pour root beer into the glass, allowing the foam to rise and then recede before adding more root beer. Serve with straws and spoons.

    What pop is best for a float? ›

    Go for ginger ale, cola or cream soda for an old-school feel or try fizzy lemonade, orangeade or even Irn Bru. Anything goes as long as it's carbonated (you could even try Prosecco or a mix of Champagne and orange juice for a Mimosa style float).

    How to make root beer floats not foam? ›

    To avoid to much foam when pouring the root beer, tilt the glass on an angle and pour it slow.

    What is the most popular ice cream float? ›

    The root beer float may be the most popular ice cream float in America. First known as a black cow, it's believed that Frank J. Wisner of Colorado created it in 1893. His inspiration for the combination came from seeing the dark Rocky Mountains capped with white snow in the moonlight.

    What was the original soda float? ›

    The 'ice cream soda', as it is known in the US, was believed to have been conjured up by Robert McCay Green in Philadelphia, in 1874. According to the story, Green ran out of the flavoured sodas he was selling, so decided to mix conventional soda with some ice cream borrowed from a neighbour.

    What makes a drink a float? ›

    A float generally means a layer of alcohol placed on top of an already-mixed glass of ingredients, as with red wine in a New York Sour. Whichever your drink calls for, the process is the same.

    Are floats outdated? ›

    Floats aren't deprecated at all, although there may be better alternatives given the law of the instrument.

    What's the difference between a cooler and a float? ›

    A Boston cooler is made to be comparable to a milkshake rather than a runny float mix. Whether it is a classic root beer float, Boston cooler or Vernors float, the addition of ice cream makes these drinks the perfect summer treat on a hot summer day.

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