Pick your favorite soda, make an easy homemade ice cream, and let’s make ice cream floats!

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The best

It has been such a fun summer. We have a good month left, but I can truthfully say we have done every summer thing we usually set out to enjoy! From berry picking to endless beach days, our skin is sun kissed, our toes are sandy, and the kids have had a good balance of lazy summer days and ones that left them completely exhausted from summer fun.

A new summer treat experience

Earlier this summer, I noticed that Costco was carrying Olipop, and I grabbed a case to have as a special treat at some point during the summer. Since one of the flavors was root beer and one was cream soda, I just decided to introduce the concept of an ice cream float to my girls! It was a fun, once a summer treat, that I was so excited to enjoy with them!

Let’s talk about the soda

One of the coolest things about this real food thing catching on with food companies, is that some of them are creating the neatest “better choice” options for treats like soda. Soda is still soda, but this option has less sugar, and better ingredients, so for a fun treat, it is a neat experience to have once or twice a summer! If you want to make your ice cream floats with homemade soda or a fermented drink that you make or buy, that will work too! (My friend, Jenny, at Nourished Kitchen, has the *best* traditionally made root beer recipe that is such a fun project for kids to experience! I highly recommend trying to make your own at least once! The kids will love it!)

Ice cream choices!

Classic floats boast of the creamiest vanilla ice cream to make for a foamy, creamy frozen drink. We made my date sweetened vanilla ice cream for our floats since it only takes a few minutes to blend up for the freezer! Just be sure to make it with enough time to allow it to churn (30 minutes), and freeze (4 hours). The ice cream is a good idea to make the day before. Of course, store bought vanilla ice cream will work too, just watch the ingredients.

Let’s make the ice cream floats!

To make your ice cream floats, be sure your soda is chilled. I also like to chill/freeze the cups that we will be using for the floats. We used pint mason jars. Scoop the ice cream into the cups, and pour the soda! It’s that easy! If you have little guys in the house, use the little mason jelly jars. That way they aren’t getting an over the top serving, and they can still enjoy having a fun treat with you!

Ice cream float party?

I really think these floats would make such a fun birthday or summer party idea! A build your own ice cream float table set up would look incredible, and the kids can have fun picking out their own soda flavor for their floats!