Strawberries and cream is a favorite flavor combination and the star of this easy two ingredient Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Floats dessert recipe. They are an irresistible taste of summer great all year long!
I think strawberry ice cream gets the short end of the stick. I don’t know exactly what percentage of milkshakes ordered at fast food restaurants are strawberry over the mainstays of vanilla and chocolate, but I’d guess not a ton.
Having said this, I will confess I’m a vanilla milkshake girl myself, and that has been a favorite flavor of the ‘primary’, non-exotic varieties of ice cream since I was a child. So maybe that makes me an ice cream hypocrite.
Strawberry ice cream however offers something unique. The fruity flavor, the sublime pink color and it seems to make me less thirsty than other flavors of ice cream (but maybe that’s all in my head). I find the color pink in a dessert is a happy-making affair. The same goes for strawberry ice cream; it feels more like a party than mere ice cream.
Similar to strawberry ice cream, ice cream floats are shortchanged in the ice cream treat arena. Root beer floats are king and yet they only dominate in summer. Where do all the ice cream floats go in the off months?
Shakes, sundaes, ‘I’ll have a bowl of ice cream, please’ are all year round mainstays. I’d wager that ice cream floats are thirst-quenching in the winter too when, at least in my location, it is as dry as a bone.
We are in the dead of winter, yes, but what better time to pull out the happy pink ice cream, flavored from summer fruit for gosh sakes? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner too, a fun Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Float Recipe seemed just the ticket.
Two ingredients: strawberry ice cream and cream soda. That’s it. Cream soda comes in a variety of colors besides the usual drab brown and I chose red cream soda for these floats. Cream soda is vanilla flavored so it’s a flavor match made in heaven.
The PERFECT Ice Cream for Making Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Floats
The flavors of strawberries and cream are quintessential and a homey summery combination. This ice cream float is perfect in any season and easy to make with only two ingredients. For this recipe a softer style ice cream works best to allow easy scooping into balls.
Special TIP for Making Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Floats!
I have a little trick when making ice cream floats, especially if I want to make them for a group. I line a baking sheet with wax paper, parchment paper or plastic wrap (the type that sticks is perfect) and use an ice cream scoop to pre-scoop the ice cream into balls about 2 inches in diameter.
The pan is quickly put into the freezer for the ice cream balls to harden. It makes constructing the floats effortless as well as the ice cream does not melt quite as fast.
I found approximately 27 2-inch diameter ice cream balls will yield from a 1 1/2 pint container of ice cream. This equates to about 3 ice cream floats worth of ice cream from each 1/2 pint of ice cream (3 ice cream balls per float).
Scale your preparation of ice cream balls according to the number of ice cream floats you plan to make. The total time noted in the recipe reflects the freezing time for the ice cream balls of minimum 2 hours.
More Ice Cream Float Recipes You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Ice Cream Lime Soda Floats
- Root Beer Float Popsicles
- Search float American Apple Pie Ice Cream Floats
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How to make Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Floats:
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Floats
Ingredients
- Strawberry Ice Cream (3 pre-frozen balls per float) (see the notes above for a quantity guide), softer style
- 12 ounces Cream Soda per float
Instructions
Pre-Freezing Strawberry Ice Cream Balls:
- Line a baking sheet (or multiple sheets depending on the quantity you are making) with wax paper, parchment paper or sticking plastic wrap. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop balls of ice cream (2-inches in diameter) onto the prepared baking sheet. Place in the freezer immediately and leave until the ice cream balls are firmly frozen 2 hours minimum (can leave them overnight).
Making Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Floats:
- Place three ice cream balls in a 12-14 ounce Collins glass and fill with cream soda. Tip: pour some cream soda and wait for the foam to subside before pouring more. Fill the glass in this manner to avoid overfilling.
Tracey says
Now that is my kind of float! It sounds delicious and also refreshing.
Christie says
I love the photos for this drink, so bubbly and fun! I haven’t had a cream float in a long time, what a treat
Rosey says
Oh boy, that looks so tasty good delicious. I’d love to make those this weekend!
Toni says
Oh that looks so good. These would be great for a summer day!
Kiwi says
Love the angles of these shots! Wow this is one way to one up your regular ice cream float! This would be tasty for a Vday treat!
Jeanine says
I’ve only ever had a root beer float before. I think this looks really delicious and refreshing. I will have to give it a try!