Our Favorite Herbal Ice Cream Float Recipes

Ice cream floats are the quintessential American summertime treat, perfect for anyone looking to cool down or satisfy their sweet tooth. Here on the farm, everyone loves ice cream, and what better way than to make memories with ice cream floats as a family, from trying out new flavor combinations together to putting our favorites on repeat all the time. They are truly a treat for all ages.

In today’s post, I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to make an ice cream float using God's herbal goodness with you. We will also discuss the downsides of consuming regular floats made with sugary soda and why herbal floats are an all-around better choice. Made with healthier ingredients and natural sweeteners, these float recipes are just as tasty as the classics and with the same — if not more — flavor. 

Each of these herbal ice cream float recipes is like an old-fashioned soda fountain dream with a homestead twist. Whether you are making a Dr Pepper float or a classic vanilla ice cream root beer float, these herbal float recipes allow you to enjoy the flavors you love, but with ingredients that are better for you and that will boost your health too.

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What’s an Ice Cream Float?

An ice cream float is a delicious treat made by combining ice cream with soda! The fizziness of the soda plus the creaminess of the ice cream come together to make the perfect pairing. Floats are typically served in a tall glass, like a crossover between a drink and a dessert. 

You might be wondering: Why is this creamy, fizzy treat called a float? 

When you pour soda over a scoop of ice cream, the ice cream will rise to the top and “float” above the soda. While a vanilla ice cream root beer float is one of the most popular floats out there, you can actually make this treat with any ice cream and soda combination of your choice. In addition to vanilla, some other common ice cream flavors used in floats include chocolate, strawberry, and Neapolitan (if you like a little bit of everything).

Regular ice cream is the common choice, but we prefer coconut ice cream when it comes to floats! This dairy-free alternative is just as creamy and delicious as the real stuff, but I find that it is a bit easier on the stomach. It also tends to be made with more natural ingredients, which is always a plus too.

We love serving up ice cream floats at the end of the long summer day or when we have company. They are tasty and easy to make with just a few ingredients, and the kids have so much fun making them too. 

Herbal Ice Cream Floats: Better-for-You Versions

Ice cream floats sure are delicious, but when your root beer is full of anything but sarsaparilla and your cola is full of chemical junk, what are you to do? Most floats found at restaurants and ice cream shops are made with highly processed, sugar-filled sodas. 

These beverages are also jam-packed with harmful additives and GMOs that can negatively affect your body and overall health. Studies have shown that sugary sodas have been linked to poor heart health and issues with blood sugar control (Source).

I had to say goodbye to regular soda after developing a “sugar allergy.” Processed sugars would cause my endometriosis to flare up and would just make me feel so icky. That said, anyone who knows me knows that I love a good sweet treat, so setting out to make my own herbal ice cream float recipe was a no-brainer. 

Did you know that you can use herbs and plants to create similar flavors to the ones in your favorite ice cream floats? Recreating these recipes with natural ingredients is actually much easier than you might think. Plants and herbs are incredibly versatile, and it has been so much fun experimenting in the kitchen and whipping up old and new flavors our family loves.

Why herbal floats are the best choice

Once I swapped out traditional floats for my healthier, homemade recipes, I never looked back! For starters, they taste so good that I don’t even miss the original. Herbal floats are just as sweet and satisfying as regular ice cream floats.

When you make your own herbal float recipes, you also get to reap the health benefits of the wholesome, natural ingredients that are used to make them. You can trust that they are safe for you to consume worry-free.

On top of that, ditching processed ingredients is one way to say goodbye to conglomerate companies and show some love to local companies instead. Shopping small allows small family businesses like ours to thrive while also giving you access to high-quality ingredients that won’t harm your health.

Our Favorite Floats to Try

These easy float recipes are made with some of our favorite Farmhouse Teas products, including our soda mixes, kombucha flavorings, and loose-leaf teas. From old-fashioned kola and root beer floats to our copycat Dr Pepper float, and even our lemon-lime and cream soda concoctions, this list is sure to have something for everyone to enjoy!

Old-Fashioned Kola Float

This classic recipe is just like an old-timey Coca-Cola float, but handcrafted, herbal, and naturally sweetened. Our Farmhouse Kola Syrup Mix brings those spicy cola notes, and the ice cream turns it into a creamy, delicious treat. Kola nut is the key ingredient in this mix and is known to have many health benefits, including antioxidant properties, improved digestion, and boosted metabolism.

Copycat Dr Pepper Float

Calling all Dr Pepper lovers! Our Cherry Almond Kombucha Float replicates the rich and unique cherry cola flavor of the popular Dr Pepper soda. The red rooibos in our Farmhouse Cherry Almond Kombucha Flavoring is known to support heart health and help with blood sugar regulation. Additionally, the kombucha flavoring contains organic cherries, which are rich in important vitamins and nutrients and also high in antioxidants.

Farmhouse Ice Cream Root Beer Float

Here is our take on the classic root beer float that everyone loves! Our Farmhouse Teas Root Beer Kombucha Flavoring is the star of the show in this recipe — an old favorite flavor with a modern twist. One of the key ingredients in this kombucha flavoring blend is sarsaparilla root, which is known to have detoxifying effects and anti-inflammatory properties and may also help boost overall hormone health.

Cream Soda Float Copycat

Our homemade cream soda copycat float is made with our Farmhouse Teas Birthday Cake Tea, which gives it a smooth vanilla flavor with hints of nuts, honey, and caramel. The red rooibos in this tea blend can support blood sugar regulation and also boost your heart health. This tea blend also includes licorice root, which has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the ability to provide adrenal support to the body.

Herbal Sprite-inspired Float

This refreshing lemon-lime ice cream float is made with simple citrus fruit straight from the garden. It is light, fizzy, citrusy goodness just like a Sprite float — but this version is fresh and naturally sweet. Both lemon and lime have tons of health benefits. They are rich in vitamin C, which helps boost immunity, they help the body stay hydrated, and they also support digestive functions and heart health. You can add a mint leaf as a garnish to make this float complete!

Ice Cream Float Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best toppings for ice cream floats?

Adding toppings to your float will take it to the next level. Whipped cream, sprinkles, and chopped nuts are just a few ideas for what you could add, but you can customize your float with any toppings of your choice.

Do you pour the ice cream or soda first when making an ice cream float?

You should always scoop the ice cream into the glass first, then pour the soda over and let it fizz. This will help prevent any accidental spilling or overflow. To control the amount of foam that forms, we recommend pouring the soda down the side of the glass and not pouring from too high over the glass.

Can I make ice cream floats in advance?

No, ice cream floats are meant to be served fresh and should not be made in advance. If you wait too long after preparing your float, the fizziness of the soda will start to fade away, and your ice cream will be melted too.

Creamy, Yummy, Fizzy Goodness

Homemade herbal ice cream floats are a healthier alternative to classic recipes, but they sure don’t skip on the flavor! We can still enjoy these delicious treats using the herbs that God has provided for us, and with the added benefit of being so much better for us and our health needs. We hope that these recipes are a blessing to you too, and that you have a blast assembling and enjoying your favorite herbal floats. 

If you love the fizzy kombucha flavorings that are used in some of these recipes and want to learn more, be sure to sign up for our FREE Kombucha Workshop!

Which float are you most excited to try? 

Enjoy More Herbal Recipes

• Herbal Italian Soda Recipes
  
• Copy Cat Brown Sugar Boba Recipe
• Herbal Simple Syrup Recipes for Coffee Drinks and More!
• Homemade Rice Krispies Treats with Marshmallow Root
• DIY Rose Water Recipe
• How to Make Homemade Jello with Cranberry Tea