Root Beer Float Jello Recipe • Pint Sized Baker (2024)

FAQs

What ice cream is good for root beer float? ›

While vanilla is a great base for the root beer, since its flavor elevates and complements the oaky, sasparilla notes in the soda, blueberry or huckleberry ice cream is also a viable option for this upgraded classic.

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.

In a root beer float, you combine the liquid root beer with the solid ice cream, which creates bubbles. These bubbles are trapped CO₂ gas being released outside of the pressurized environment in which they were forced into the water.

How the foam happens: When the carbonated root beer comes into contact with the ice cream, carbon dioxide bubbles release. Likewise, the soda frees air bubbles trapped in the ice cream. What's more, the fat in the ice cream coats these bubbles.

Vanilla: Vanilla bean paste and homemade vanilla sugar added a better dimension of flavor and more sweetness to the soda. Using vanilla extract will NOT be enough flavor. However, you could scrape the seeds out of a vanilla bean pod and combine it with the extract to achieve rich vanilla flavor.

Try making your root beer floats by first filling clear plastic cold cups a little more than half with soda. Then scooping in your desired amount of ice cream and topping it with a lid. Finish by adding the last little bit of soda to fill the cup.

Best for Root Beer Floats

For many, the only way to enjoy root beer is in a root beer float. Once you grab the best vanilla ice cream from the freezer, our Test Kitchen recommends pouring Frostie Root Beer over the top to finish this soda fountain classic. This root beer has a deep, dark color with bold flavor.

Method. 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.

There are so many ways to change up this recipe! Try changing up the alcohol by swapping in whipped cream-flavored vodka, dark rum, Bailey's, or Kahlua. You could even swap the root beer for a hard root beer! Swap the vanilla ice cream for your favorite flavor, like butter pecan, chocolate, or cherry!

Also known as the “Black Cow,” the root beer float got its start in Colorado in a mining camp. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, gets the credit for inventing the “Black Cow” way back in August of 1893.

What is another name for a 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.

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.

Matter is everywhere, even in a root beer float! You can find solids, liquids and gasses in a root beer float. > Solid: ice cream > Liquid: root beer > Gas: The ice cream and root beer mix and create bubbles called carbonation.

Everything must be chilled

I put the glass mugs in the freezer a few hours before I plan on serving the root beer floats. I think it is a given that the ice cream is stored in the freezer but you might not think of putting the root beer in the freezer and that is an important step.

Vanilla ice cream is a failsafe option that works with every carbonated drink but feel free to go wild with your combinations – chocolate ice cream is delish with cola, mint-choc chip is gorgeous with refreshing ginger ale and strawberry ice cream is scrumptious with lemonade.

You can drizzle some salted caramel or chocolate sauce inside the glass before you add your ice cream and root beer for a little extra flavor! Or, you can add some mix-ins on top such as mini pretzels, chocolate straw cookies, or root beer candies! What is this? I also made some Brownies with Root Beer Float icing!

If you are using hard ice cream you put that in first and then add root beer. if you are using soft serve you put the soft serve in after filling the glass with root beer.

Here are a few ideas: Vanilla ice cream is the classic root beer float floater, but you can also use chocolate ice cream, mint chocolate chip ice cream, or even coffee ice cream for a different flavor profile.