Root Beer Float

Root Beer Float

August 6: National Root Beer Float Day

Highlander’s first job as a teenager was working at an A&W Root Beer restaurant in Southern California. He remembers using fountain taps to produce the popular root beer floats for customers. But these fizzy treats can be easily prepared at home without all the fancy food contraptions. Highlander now makes a special version of this ice cream soda for his favorite and most appreciative customer, Islander, using a simple scoop and a frosty mug. He combines lactose-free vanilla ice cream and a Hawaiian-made root beer and they slurp up the sweetness together! Now there’s no need to go to the restaurant when a recipe is provided below for a basic root beer float on National Root Beer Float Day!

Recipe

Ingredients

Directions

In a cold mug or tall glass, place three scoops of vanilla ice cream. Slowly pour root beer over the ice cream and allow the foam to float to the top.  As it fizzles out, feel free to add another scoop of ice cream and pour more root beer on top. Insert drinking straw(s) and enjoy immediately.

Root Beer Float

Notes

Ice Cream Soda

Ice Cream Soda

June 30: National Ice Cream Soda Day

Cool off during the hot summer season with something fun, frosty and fizzy—an old-fashioned ice cream soda (also called an ice cream float). Highlander ate it as a youngster and wanted Islander to try this traditional summertime treat. Until recently, because of her lactose intolerance, she was unable to enjoy desserts with dairy. But after discovering a lactose-free ice cream at the grocery store, Highlander now can prepare an ice cream soda for his wife. Making it at home is just as sweet and simple and quicker and cheaper than going to an ice cream parlor or shop.

Try this retro recipe for an old-fashioned ice cream soda for summertime and on National Ice Cream Soda Day.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2-3 scoops vanilla ice cream (we used Breyer’s brand)
  • 7Up (or carbonated/soda water)
  • whipped cream (we used Cool Whip brand)
  • maraschino cherry

Directions

In a tall chilled glass, scoop some vanilla ice cream. Fill with 7Up until foam floats to the top of the glass. Alternatively, add another scoop of ice cream on top of the foam. Swirl whipped cream on top and add a maraschino cherry (optional). Insert a straw and enjoy immediately.

Ice Cream Soda

Notes

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice Cream Sandwiches

August 2: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

When South Texas is sizzling and simmering in the summertime, we cool off with popsicles and paletas, shaved ice and sundaes, frozen yogurt, gelato, halo-halo or ice cream! The latter is always a popular choice, whether it is simply scooped into a cup or cone or pressed between cookies as a sweet sandwich.

As it is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, we are posting a simple recipe for this frozen food. Typical ice cream sandwiches are comprised of chocolate wafer cookies and vanilla ice cream. But the cookies can be chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal, peanut butter, graham crackers, waffle pizzelles or macarons, and the ice cream can be any favorite flavor. The combinations are endless and the creative process is fun and easy for kids (and kids-at-heart)!

Recipe

For the chocolate wafer cookies

For the filling

  • Ice cream, frozen yet slightly softened for spreading (we used lactose-free vanilla, coffee, strawberry, chocolate chip mint, ube/taro and dulce de leche/caramel flavors)

Directions

Generously spread ice cream on the bottom side of one cookie. Press another cookie down on the ice cream. Use a spatula to smooth the sides evenly if necessary. Cover each sandwich in plastic wrap. Freeze until firm. Unwrap and enjoy immediately.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Notes

  • For a creative alternative to ice cream sandwiches, try the ice cream macaron version, like our Neapolitan Ice Cream Macarons, which we blogged about in July (National Ice Cream Month).
  • For a textured finish on the ice cream sandwiches, roll the sides with chopped nuts, crushed peppermints, colorful non-pareils, chocolate chips or jimmies, shredded coconut or minced dried fruits.