This boozy root beer float can be made 2 different ways. One using Root liqueur and one using root beer and vodka. I’ve also included a low carb version of each. They make a delicious summer drink or even a boozy dessert!
I tasted Root Liqueur while visiting my stepdaughter in Philly a few years ago. I was half in love with the look of the bottle (see below) and with the taste of this delicious liqueur. It’s a little spicier than root beer and quite good on it’s own. However today since we are making simple cocktails at Sunday Supper I thought I’d make this boozy root beer float. I’ve been wanting to make this for years and finally did. It’s just as good as I thought it would be!
I have made two versions for you in case you can’t find Root Liqueur in your local stores. It’s made from scratch by a company called Art in the Age and bottled in Philadelphia. We can get it here in Pittsburgh but I’m not sure it’s available everywhere. That’s why I made the other version using root beer and vodka. It too is very good. And because I am trying to keep carbs low, I have low carb versions for both types also.
It’s All In The Ice Cubes
You want to start by figuring out what version you plan on making and then make your ice cubes the night before. Here are your options and corresponding ice cubes:
- Root Liqueur Root Beer Float: In a blender add 1 cup vanilla ice cream and 1/2 cup of milk. Blend until combined and then pour into an ice cube tray. You need the water of the milk to make the ice cream get hard. Straight ice cream didn’t work for me.
- Root Liqueur Root Beer Float (low carb): Add heavy whipping cream to a blender along with a few drops of vanilla stevia (or vanilla extract and stevia). Blend until creamy and then spoon into ice cube trays.
- Regular Root Beer and Vodka Float: Pour regular root beer into ice cube trays and freeze over night.
- Regular Root Beer and Vodka Float (low carb): Pour diet root beer into ice cube trays and freeze over night.
Using Root Liqueur
Isn’t it a cool bottle! I like the back that shows you all the different herbs and spices they use. They were trying to replicate early American root tea using ingredients such as birch bark, wintergreen, black tea, sugar cane, citrus peels, baking spices and essence of sassafras. This company makes small batches of spirits and some other flavors I know they have made are Snap, Sage and Rhubarb. But they may have moved on to different flavors so if you see any of these, grab them while you can!
Below is my favorite. It is the low carb version using whipped cream ice cubes and Root liqueur. If you don’t care about low carb, just use the vanilla ice cream/milk cubes and the Root Liqueur.
Root Beer & Vodka Versions
I include these version in case you can’t find the Root Liqueur. This is my other low carb version using diet root beer ice cubes, vodka and heavy cream. It reminded me of a white Russian cocktail with root beer instead of kaluha.
The regular version would of course be using regular root beer ice cubes, vodka and a scoop of ice cream. By the way I used these silicone ice cube trays. They hold 1 oz of liquids and it’s great for freezing broth, coconut milk, and many other things because they all come out so easily and you know each block is 1 oz.
Boozy Root Beer Float
I hope I didn’t thoroughly confuse you with all these options. I had intended to simply freeze ice cream and use the Root liqueur but found that ice cream didn’t freeze hard enough unless you added the milk. And then I worried you couldn’t find Root liqueur. So I made all of these versions! Enjoy this simple (even though I made it complicated) boozy float that could be dessert as well as a drink. Just picture a hot day and the ice cubes quickly melting into your drinks…. yum! Check out some more great drink recipes from my friends below.
Boozy Root Beer Float 2 ways
Ingredients
Root Liqueur Version
- 3-4 ice cubes made form vanilla ice cream and milk
- 2-3 oz of Root liqueur
Low Carb Root Liqueur Version
- 3-4 ice cubes made heavy cream whipped with vanilla stevia
- 2-3 oz of Root liqueur
Regular Root Beer Version
- 3 ice cubes made from regular root beer
- 2-3 oz vodka
- 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream
Low Carb Root Beer Version
- 3 ice cubes made from diet root beer
- 2-3 oz of vodka
- 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream
Instructions
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To prepare the ice cream and milk ice cubes, blend 1 cup of vanilla ice cream with 1/2 cup milk in a blender and then pour into molds and freeze over night.
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To prepare the vanilla whipped cream ice cubes, add heavy whipping cream to a blender along with a couple drops of vanilla stevia. Blend until it resembles whipped cream and then spoon into ice cube trays and freeze over night.
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To prepare the root beer cubes, pour either regular or diet root beer in to molds and freeze over night.
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For whatever drink you wish to make, grab a glass and add the appropriate ingredients above.
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Enjoy!
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Debbie
I can’t tell you the last time I had a Root Beer float. I need to go shopping today to get the ingredients to make your Boozy Root Beer Floats!
Denise
Hope you like them Debbie!
Sam @ Bites of Wellness
Now I am craving a watermelon float!!!
Denise
A watermelon float sounds great!
Cindy
These look so good, my guy will love these! He’s the biggest root beer fan!
Lauren
I have GOT to find root liquor! And I love the idea of freezing the soda. I want to try both versions!
Denise
Great I hope you like them!
Amanda | Chew Town
What a deliciously boozy drink, dessert, treat – I love the idea of this. Might be hard to track down root beer liquour in Australia… but I’m going to give it a red hot crack!
Denise
Yes I doubt they are in Australia….sorry about that. That’s why I made the regular root beer version with vodka. Its’ very good too!
Mary // Chattavore.com
Ooooohhhh, this sounds soooooo delicious! I love floats, and I love the ice cube idea!
Denise
Thanks Mary! I’m having fun with the ice cubes. Today I used one of the whipped cream ones in my coffee. Yum!
Anita
I love root beer floats since forever! And your version sounds super lovely, and now that I am an adult (has been for decades LOL), I can totally see me making plenty of the boozy version.
Denise
Thanks for stopping by Anita!
Deanna
I love ice cube ice cream idea!! YUM!!! This what I need!!!
Denise
Thanks Deanna!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
Oh my GAWD! I don’t even like rootbeer, but I am literally crawling through this screen! Your photos are amazing and I just want to curl up on the couch with the alcoholic version (why not) and slurp!
Denise
Ha! It was a nice treat!
Stacey Daprile
I love root beer floats, so this is right up my alley! thanks for all of the different versions. I think I should try all of them 🙂
Denise
Well let me know which one you liked.
Kristen M Chidsey
I have never heard of root liquer but I can’t wait to try it now 🙂
Denise
I was new to it too, but it’s very good!
Wendy Klik
My son in law loves root beer, I can’t wait to make this for him.
Denise
I confess that I am not a huge root beer fan but I do really like this drink. I hope your son in law likes it too!
Eileen
I live in the Philly area so I will definitely seek out the Root Liqueur. I imagine the state store carries it. Can’t wait to try this treat.
Denise
Yes Eileen that is where we got it. I hope you like it!
Hezzi-D
Yum! I want all of these version of a grown up root beer float!
Denise
Thanks for stopping by!
Christie
These look delicious!! I definitely have to look for that liquor.
Denise
I hope they have it near you!
Laura Dembowski
These look so sophisticated – certainly not the root beer floats of my youth. You have no idea how long I have been DYING to try Root. We’re talking years here. The rhubarb one too!
Denise
So glad you know of them! I want to try the rhubarb one too!
marye
Root beer floats have always been one of my favorite treats so I know I’d love this! Thanks for the low carb version, too!
Denise
You are welcome!
Liz
Wow, this brings back memories of one of my favorite childhood treats! LOVE the options….I have all summer to try them all!
Denise
I hope you get a chance Liz!
Nikki
Denise, this one is so much yum and fun! I love all the choices and ways to make a classic!
Denise
Thanks, hopefully it wasn’t too confusing lol!