Strawberry Floats

If you love strawberry shortcake, strawberry icebox cake or any other creamy strawberry desserts, these strawberry floats are going to be the dessert drink of your dreams. Strawberry soda is poured over scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream and topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream for a drink that’s equal parts creamy, fruity and sweet.

My favorite feature of this strawberry dessert recipe is the homemade strawberry soda. By pureeing fresh strawberries with lime juice and sugar, we create a not-too-sweet fruit puree with an authentic berry flavor and a beautiful pinkish red hue. The strawberry puree is then stirred into carbonated water for an all-natural soda.

Whether you’re looking for a refreshing treat on a warm day or want to showcase a pretty pink drink at a shower or birthday party, strawberry floats are a simple treat the whole family will love.

Ingredients for Strawberry Floats

• Whipped cream: This recipe calls for heavy whipping cream and confectioners’ sugar to make homemade whipped cream for topping the strawberry floats. In a pinch, you can use store-bought whipped topping or serve the floats without whipped cream—they’ll still be plenty creamy as the vanilla ice cream melts into the soda.
• Frozen strawberries: You’ll need two 14-ounce packages of frozen strawberries or about 6 cups of fresh strawberries to make enough fruit puree for the strawberry soda. If using store-bought frozen berries, look for unsweetened since some frozen fruit may contain added sugar or be packed in syrup. Thaw the berries at room temperature or overnight in the fridge for easier blending.
• Sugar: Since we’re making homemade strawberry soda for these floats, you can control the sweetness level. Granulated sugar will dissolve into the strawberry puree and sweeten the soda. You can adjust the amount of sugar depending on your taste and the ripeness of your berries.
• Lime juice: Tart lime juice balances the sweetness of the strawberry soda. For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed juice. This recipe calls for 1/3 cup of lime juice, which equates to approximately two to three limes.
• Carbonated water: Unflavored bubbly water provides our strawberry-lime soda’s fizzy, effervescent base. You’ll need 2 cups of prechilled carbonated water. Depending on your preference, you can use bottled seltzer or club soda, or make a batch of sparkling water with a soda maker.
• Vanilla ice cream: Old-fashioned vanilla ice cream delivers a classic, creamy taste and sweetness. If you prefer a dairy-free float, substitute a vegan ice cream made with nondairy milk, such as coconut or oat milk.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the whipped cream

In a small bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until it thickens. Add 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and continue beating until soft peaks form. Refrigerate the whipped cream until you’re ready to serve the strawberry floats.

Editor’s Tip: Prechilling the mixing bowl and beaters will help the cream thicken more quickly. Just pop the kitchen tools in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes before you make the whipped cream.

Step 2: Make the strawberry puree

Place the strawberries, sugar and lime juice in a blender. Cover and process until pureed. Press the strawberry puree through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, discarding the seeds.

Editor’s Tip: You can make the strawberry puree ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to three days.

Step 3: Make the strawberry soda

Pour the chilled carbonated water over the strawberry puree. Stir to combine.

Editor’s Tip: Add the carbonated water to the puree just before assembling the floats for maximum fizziness.

Step 4: Assemble the strawberry floats

Add a 1/2-cup scoop of vanilla ice cream to each glass. Pour the strawberry soda over the ice cream. Top each glass with a dollop of whipped cream and, if desired, garnish with fresh strawberries. Serve the floats immediately.

Editor’s Tip: Serve the strawberry floats with a spoon and a straw so you can scoop spoonfuls of ice cream and take sips of soda simultaneously.

Christine Ma for Taste Recipes

Recipe Variations

• Try a different citrus twist: Not a fan of lime? Swap in freshly squeezed lemon juice for a strawberry-lemonade float, or use orange juice for a creamsicle vibe.
• Make mixed berry floats: Replace some strawberries with blueberries, blackberries or raspberries to create a mixed berry soda float.
• Swap in another ice cream flavor: Punch up the strawberry flavor with strawberry ice cream, or add a tropical flair with creamy coconut ice cream. For a chocolate-covered strawberry float, use chocolate ice cream.
• Delight dairy-free: Fill glasses with scoops of sorbet or ice cream made from an alternative milk for a dairy-free treat.
• Spike the strawberry floats: Replace the carbonated water with sparkling wine, such as Prosecco, for an adult-only libation.

How to Store Strawberry Floats

Strawberry floats should be enjoyed immediately for the best taste and texture. If you can’t finish your float, the freezer is the best place to stash it since the ice cream will melt in the fridge.

Ensure your glass is freezer-safe and cover your float with storage wrap. When ready to enjoy it again, let it soften at room temperature for 10 minutes, then eat it with a spoon. The ice cream may develop some ice crystals and the soda will lose its carbonation in the freezer, but you can still enjoy the strawberry flavor.

Can you make strawberry floats ahead of time?

You can prep some components of this strawberry float recipe beforehand, but we don’t recommend assembling the floats until you’re ready to serve them. You can blend the strawberry puree with the strawberry soda in advance and store it covered in the fridge for up to three days. Wait to combine the puree with the carbonated water until serving so you don’t end up with flat floats.

Strawberry Float Tips

Christine Ma for Taste Recipes

What’s the difference between an old-fashioned soda and a float?

Both are classic soda fountain drinks, but they contain different ingredients. A float, also called an ice cream soda, is a dessert drink containing a scoop of ice cream floating in a carbonated beverage. Old-fashioned sodas, also called egg creams, don’t contain any ice cream; they’re made with carbonated water, flavored syrup and sometimes a splash of milk for creaminess.

What other fruit can you use?

Strawberry floats taste like summer in a glass, but you can make other fruit-flavored floats using the same steps in this recipe. For endless float variations, try thawed frozen cherries, peach slices, pineapple chunks or mixed berries.

Can I make strawberry floats without a blender?

If you don’t want to use the blender, you can make the strawberry puree using an immersion blender or food processor. You could also mash the strawberries by hand if you don’t mind bits of fruit in your float.

How can you serve strawberry floats for a crowd?

The best (and most fun) way to serve these floats to a crowd is with a build-your-own-float station! For these strawberry floats, prep a batch of strawberry puree and store it in a pitcher. Set out cans of chilled seltzer and a selection of ice cream flavors so guests can customize the flavor of their float.

Store the ice cream in an insulated container or with dry ice in a cooler. You could also pre-scoop the ice cream and keep the scoops stashed on trays or in storage bags in the freezer to make assembling a big batch of floats a breeze.