- An infused ice cream float is the easiest Summer Freeze recipe yet: pour an infused soda over ice cream and you are done.
- Story carries infused sodas in flavors like cola, root beer, orange, and cream soda, so the dose is measured for you in the can. Selection varies by location and state.
- The three crowd favorites are a Cola Float, a Root Beer Float, and an Orange Creamsicle Float, with a Cream Soda Float as a bonus.
- No infused soda on hand? Use regular soda and fold a measured amount of distillate into softened ice cream instead.
- A 10 milligram soda makes one gentle float, while a 100 milligram can is best split across several servings. Label anything infused and keep it away from children and pets.
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Some desserts call for a long list of ingredients or hours in a hot kitchen. An ice cream float is the opposite. All you need is a glass, a few simple ingredients, and an ice cream scoop or spoon. No baking required.
This post is the third stop in our Summer Freeze series, following our strawberry popsicles and watermelon slushie. And it may be the easiest recipe yet. These infused ice cream floats are cool, creamy, and made for unwinding after a long day.
Making an infused ice cream float is super simple. Story has already done the hard part. Our drink menu carries infused sodas in a range of flavors, so you pour one over a scoop of ice cream and you have a dosed dessert in under a minute. For more on cannabis drinks in general, our THC cocktails guide is a fun companion read.
Below are three floats worth making tonight (or anytime), a bonus fourth, and all the swaps you need to make them your own.
What Is an Infused Ice Cream Float?
An infused ice cream float is a classic soda-and-ice-cream float made with an infused soda, so dessert and dose come in one glass.
An ice cream float is one of the oldest treats in the soda-fountain playbook. To make one, simply pour fizzy soda or seltzer over a scoop of ice cream. Then, watch it foam into a creamy, bubbly dessert. The root beer float, sometimes called a black cow, is the best known, but the same idea works with almost any soda.
For an infused version, simply swap the regular soda for an infused one. That cannabis twist combines dessert and your dose in one glass. Better still, dispensary sodas are dosed and lab-tested. That way you know exactly how many milligrams you’re getting in each serving.
That takes the guesswork out of dosing and makes an infused ice cream float one of the easiest cannabis desserts to prepare.
The Easy Way: Start with an Infused Soda
An infused soda gives you a pre-measured base, so there is no cooking, infusing, or guesswork. Simply pour it over a scoop of ice cream, and dessert is almost done.
Story stocks infused sodas from brands like Keef Classic Soda in flavors that are practically made for floats. Since the drink is already prepared and dosed, all that’s left to do is pour, scoop, and enjoy.
Just keep in mind that infused drink selections vary by location and state, so check your local Story menu before planning around a specific flavor. If ready-to-drink cannabis beverages are new to you, our low dose cannabis drinks guide is a great place to start things off right.
How to Build the Perfect Float
Chill the glass, add ice cream first, then pour the soda slowly to control the foam.
You’ll need:
- 1 infused soda, chilled (see the dosing section)
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- Optional: whipped cream and a maraschino cherry
- A tall, chilled glass, a straw, and a long spoon
Directions:
- Chill the glass. A cold glass keeps the float frosty and tames the foam. A few minutes in the freezer does the job.
- Add the ice cream. Drop two scoops of ice cream into the glass.
- Pour slowly. Tilt the glass and pour the infused soda down the side, a little at a time, so the foam does not overflow.
- Top it off. Add whipped cream and a cherry if you like, then serve right away with a straw and a long spoon.
Three Floats to Make Tonight
Start with these three favorites, then branch out. Each one uses the method above. Simply swap the soda to create a different float.
Cola Float
The classic. Vanilla ice cream and an infused cola make a creamy, caramel-sweet float that tastes like a roadside diner in the best way.
Root Beer Float
The original black cow. Root beer poured over vanilla ice cream is the classic float most people picture. If you want a single, gentle serving, a 10-milligram infused root beer is perfect for one glass. No dividing required.
Orange Creamsicle Float
Infused orange soda plus vanilla ice cream tastes exactly like the creamsicle from the ice cream truck: bright, citrusy, and nostalgic. Swap in orange sherbet for the vanilla to make it even more citrus-forward.
Bonus: Cream Soda Float
For something a little different, pour a cream soda over vanilla ice cream. It leans rich, smooth, and old-fashioned, a vanilla-on-vanilla treat.
No Infused Soda on Hand? Make Your Own
No infused soda? Use regular soda and fold a measured dose of distillate into softened ice cream, so the dose rides in the scoop instead of the can.
If your local Story doesn’t carry infused drinks, or you’d rather use what’s already in your freezer, this is an easy alternative. Let a pint of ice cream soften for a few minutes. Stir in a measured amount of distillate or a few drops of cannabis tincture until evenly mixed, then refreeze until firm. If concentrates are new to you, our guide to concentrates covers the basics.
Once the ice cream has firmed up, scoop it into a glass and top it with your favorite soda. You’ll get the same classic float with the dose already mixed into the ice cream. It’s also an easy way to adjust the strength one scoop at a time.
Swaps and Substitutions
Almost all ingredients in these recipes are swappable. That includes the soda flavor, the ice cream, and the strength.
In other words, ice cream floats are a forgiving recipe. Swap the soda to suit your taste. A purple soda over vanilla becomes a purple cow, a berry soda creates a fruitier float, and any citrus soda leans toward creamsicle territory.
Change the ice cream just as easily. Orange sherbet, chocolate, or a dairy-free oat or coconut ice cream all work. These options make it easy to accommodate lactose-intolerant guests and anyone looking for a vegan option.
Strength is a swap as well. A 10 milligram soda makes one easygoing float, while a 100 milligram can is better split across several servings or stretched with plain soda. Whatever you choose, an infused soda and a scoop of ice cream is the whole recipe.
How Do You Dose an Infused Float?
Read the label before you pour. The milligrams on the can tell you how much THC is in each serving.
- Start with the label. A 10-milligram infused soda makes one gentle serving and is a comfortable place to start, especially if you’re newer to cannabis. (our first-time buyer’s guide is a helpful primer).
- Divide larger cans. A 100-milligram soda is meant to be shared. Split it across four or more floats, or pour a splash into each glass and top off with plain soda.
- Measure homemade infusions. If you’re infusing the ice cream yourself, divide the total milligrams you add by the number of scoops so each serving contains the same amount
Note: Drinks can take a while to take effect, so enjoy one float and wait before pouring another. Anything infused should be labeled clearly and kept away from children and pets. For adults 21 and older where legal; infused beverage availability and strengths vary by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest infused ice cream float to make?
Pour a single 10 milligram infused root beer or cola over two scoops of vanilla ice cream. The soda is already dosed, so there is nothing to measure or cook. So, one can creates one float with no measuring required.
Can I make an infused float without an infused soda?
Yes. Soften a pint of ice cream, stir in a measured amount of distillate or cannabis tincture, refreeze, then scoop it into a glass and top with any regular soda. Here, the dose is in the ice cream instead of the drink.
How much should one float contain?
For most people, a single serving of about 5 to 10 milligrams is comfortable. A 10 milligram soda makes one gentle float, while a 100 milligram can should be divided across several servings so no glass is too strong.
What ice cream works best in a float?
Vanilla is the classic because it lets the soda flavor shine, but different-flavored ice creams, citrus sherbets, and dairy-free options all work. Match the ice cream to the soda for combinations. For instance match orange soda with vanilla ice cream for a creamsicle float. Switch out the vanilla ice cream for orange sherbet for a more citrus-forward flavor.
Which infused sodas does Story carry?
Selection varies by location, but Story’s Arizona menu has included flavors like Original Cola, Bubba Kush Root Beer, Orange Kush, and a C.R.E.A.M. cream soda. Check your local Story menu, since infused drink availability differs by store and state.
Do infused floats keep well?
Floats are best made and enjoyed fresh, since the ice cream melts and the soda goes flat. If you infuse your own ice cream ahead of time, keep it frozen and clearly labeled until you are ready to build each float.
