I have a new favorite word: FLOATSICLE.
It just sounds so summery and fun. FLOATSICLE conjures images of lazy afternoons, floating in a pool with a bright inflatable and a cold drink in hand. These root beer floatsicles capture that relaxed, nostalgic summer feeling—without the gross stuff and without the heavy perfume of early-2000s poolside memories.
I’m a little obsessed with root beer floats. I didn’t grow up with them as a constant, but when the craving hits I want one immediately. My favorite version includes hot fudge—rich, warm chocolate over fizzy root beer and cold vanilla. I once wrote about root beer floats with homemade hot fudge and declared them one of my all-time treats. They’re worth making whenever you can.
Root beer vodka is another reckless discovery: it tastes like root beer when mixed, which can be dangerously convincing. My brother once drank an entire bottle because it blended so seamlessly with the soda. Also: the foam from a root beer float? I love it.
I’ve made root beer float cupcakes years ago and still obsess over them. Using root beer concentrate in baked goods sounds odd, but it works like magic with sugar and butter—and yes, there’s more hot fudge involved. Root beer and chocolate are a fantastic pairing; try chocolate ice cream in these floatsicles if you want to experiment. Add a splash of vodka if you’re feeling cheeky.
You can top floatsicles with whipped cream and a cherry. If you want something better than a bright-red maraschino, choose high-quality bing cherries—there’s a real difference in flavor and texture. Vanilla bean gelato works beautifully here; other creamy flavors like marshmallow birch also play nicely.
When you serve these, make a couple of actual root beer floats too. It doubles the fun and completes the nostalgic experience.
Root Beer Floatsicles
Yield:
6
popsicles
6 hours
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Ingredients
-
2 12-
ounce
bottles of root beer,
you probably won’t need all of it -
1
cup
of vanilla bean gelato - cherries for serving
Instructions
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Spoon a few portions of gelato into the tops of popsicle molds so they are about one-quarter full. Slowly pour root beer into each mold. If the root beer foams up too much, skim the foam off with a spoon and continue pouring. Insert sticks and freeze for 4 to 6 hours, until solid.
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Tip: these are best served alongside classic root beer floats for a double dose of nostalgia and fizz.
Drinks
American
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Dip it and enjoy!