Tori Avey’s Berry Vanilla Float: Cream Soda with Berries

What is the best way to celebrate fresh berry season? A classic ice cream float with berry and vanilla! Made with raspberry syrup or strawberry syrup, they are a delicious twist on the old fashioned cream soda float. A colorful and creamy batch of berry vanilla floats would make a sweet addition to any warm-weather celebration. Above all, they are very easy to make!

History of the Ice Cream Float

Ice cream floats, along with milkshakes and malts, became popular during the 19^th century. During that time, soda shops known as “soda fountains” began popping up all over the United States. These shops were popular hangouts for people of all ages until the 1960s, when they fell out of fashion.

One of the first creators of the soda water system was a New Yorker by the name of John Matthews. Matthews likened that first bubbly sip of soda to the feeling of falling in love. The stars of American soda shops were known as “soda jerks.” These soda “bartenders” whipped up delicious soda-based beverages in lots of tasty flavors. They also entertained customers with special shorthand lingo they used to speed up orders.

Soda jerks took their jobs very seriously. In fact, many boosted their skills by attending “Sundae School” seminars held by the International Association of Ice Cream Makers. These seminars served as the perfect gathering for swapping recipes and ideas for new soda shop treats and cream soda floats. Over the years, soda jerks have become beloved figures of American nostalgia.

Ice cream floats, known as brown or black cows, were usually made with a base of root beer or coca cola with a few inches left at the top of the glass to make room for the scoops of ice cream.

Adding Berries to Old Fashioned Ice Cream Floats

Here, I’ve provided a twist on this already fabulous concept. I made a fruity Italian-style berry soda using homemade berry syrup. After that, I topped it off with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a fresh berry garnish.

This treat is summery, sweet and decadent enough to be a dessert. It brings back wonderful memories of the root beer floats of my childhood. To make your ice cream float more “grown up,” try adding 1 ounce of rum to the soda water.

I make these ice cream float recipes with berry simple syrup. You can find tutorials for making homemade raspberry syrup or strawberry syrup on my site. Of course, if you’re in a hurry, feel free to use store-bought berry simple syrup – and store-bought whipped cream (fresh is best, of course). Enjoy!

Recommended Products:

Electric Mixer

Ice Cream Scoop

Soda Fountain Glasses

Berry Vanilla Ice Cream Float

Treat yourself to this tasty old fashioned ice cream float made with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream.

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COURSE: Drinks

Kosher Key: Dairy

Servings: 8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (see notes for dairy-free substitute)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 cups homemade berry syrup (or use store-bought - see notes below)
• 6 cups soda water or seltzer
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream (see notes for dairy substitute)
• Fresh berries for garnish

NOTES

You will also need: Electric hand mixer (for whipping cream), 8 tall chilled glasses

Notes: You can make this recipe using store-bought berry syrup or homemade fresh berry syrup. If you want to make berry syrup from scratch, here are some tutorials on my site:

Raspberry Syrup Recipe

Strawberry Syrup Recipe

You can even make this with a combination of berry syrup and rhubarb syrup, for a fun twist:

Rhubarb Syrup Recipe

Calories calculated using simple syrup (made without berries), and berry garnish is not included in the calculation. Prep time does not include making berry syrup from scratch.

To Make Dairy Free: Substitute coconut whipped cream for the whipping cream (you can often find pre-whipped varieties in the freezer section, or whip your own). If your coconut cream is already sweetened, omit the added sugar. Substitute a dairy-free ice cream or sorbet. 

Instructions

Instructions

• If you're making homemade berry syrup for this recipe, check out my tutorials for homemade raspberry syrup and homemade strawberry syrup. Have it fully cooled (chilled is best) and ready to go before making your ice cream floats. You can also use store-bought berry syrup if you prefer.
  
• Before you assemble your float, combine heavy whipping cream and sugar in a mixing bowl and whip until soft peaks form. Set aside.
  
• For each ice cream float, in a tall chilled glass, combine 1/4 cup berry syrup with 3/4 cup soda water or seltzer. Gently stir to combine. Add 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream. Garnish with freshly whipped cream and fresh berries and a fun decorative straw. Serve.
  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Berry Vanilla Ice Cream Float

Amount Per Serving

Calories 356 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 37mg12%

Sodium 101mg4%

Potassium 101mg3%

Carbohydrates 67g22%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 67g74%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 472IU9%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 50mg5%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

tried this recipe?
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