Classic Coke Float
Learn how to make a Classic Coke Float with vanilla ice cream, Coca-Cola, and loads of fun. Serve these easy-to-make drinks with a straw and a long handled spoon.
Once when our grandchildren were visiting us, I discovered that they had never had Coke in the little glass bottles like we used to have as a child. What?! I knew I had to fix that right away so I went straight to the store and picked up a six-pack.
Of course, those little bottles were more of a novelty, but they enjoyed them anyway. And at the end of the week, there was just one little bottle left. Hard to split that between two, so I came up with another childhood favorite for them to try – coke floats! According to them, they’d never enjoyed this particular treat either but were willing to give it a go since it involved ice cream.
A Classic Coke Float is much like a root beer float if you’ve had one of those…just with Coca-Cola. It’s an oldie but a classic: ice cream with soda poured over it and your choice of toppings. You’ll definitely enjoy it as much as my grandkids (and I) do!
❤ Why We Love This Recipe
- Family-friendly: Coke floats are a delicious treat for kids but they’re perfect for adults, too.
- Cheap to make: You only need ice cream and Coca-Cola for this.
- Easy and quick: This is a 3-step, 5-minute recipe! Can’t beat that for such an amazing treat.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING …
“I love this old-fashioned treat and it’s seriously been soooo long since I’ve had Coke, too. This hot weather definitely calls for a Coke float!“
— Sues
⭐ About The Ingredients
- Vanilla Ice Cream – Choose any brand that you like. You can also use dairy-free, low fat, or reduced sugar.
- Coca-Cola – The real thing. I’ve tried this with diet Coke and don’t think it’s nearly as good. This is a very infrequent treat, so go ahead and splurge.
- Whipped Cream and Cherries – The toppings are optional but really finish off your float in a fun way! I’ve listed other ideas for toppings below.
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
🥄 How To Make A Coke Float
It’s as simple as pie!
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass.
Slowly pour over the Coke.
Add whipped cream, a cherry, and any other toppings you enjoy.
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🍨 Recipe Variations
- Other dark sodas such as root beer, cream soda, and Dr. Pepper all make great ice cream floats.
- Try a fruit-flavored soda like orange soda, 7-Up, or Sprite.
- Make a float using orange sherbet and Sprite! So good!
- Chocolate ice cream and coke are an unusual but scrumptious combination.
🥤 Recipe Tips
- Serve the float with a small plate underneath to catch any drips.
- Chill the glass and the soda. Place the glass in the freezer for up to a half hour before making your float and use cold soda. This will keep all the ingredients nice and cold and slow down the melting!
- Pour the soda slowly to keep the foam to a minimum.
🍫 Serving Suggestions
- Toppings are optional but make for a more interesting presentation.
- Add syrup on top of the whipped cream. Use caramel, strawberry, or chocolate.
- Add nuts on top of the whipped cream. Chopped peanuts are especially good in a Coke float.
❓ Questions About Classic Coke Floats
An ice cream soda and a float are similar. An ice cream soda contains soda water, syrup, and ice cream. A float, however, is ice cream combined with a soft drink such as Coca-Cola or root beer.
A float is served with both a long spoon (such as an old-fashioned iced tea spoon) and a straw. You usually enjoy the ice cream with the spoon until things are melted down and then finish with the straw.
Um, no. Sorry. This is one of those things that must be enjoyed immediately after making it.
🧾 More Recipes You’ll Like
- Watermelon Cherry Limeade
- Strawberry Lemon Limeade
- A Summer Refresher – Infused Water (Agua Fresca)
- Southern Sweet Tea
HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?
I’d LOVE to know what you thought!
Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked it!
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📖 Recipe
Classic Coke Float
Ingredients
For each serving use:
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 4 ounces Coca-Cola
- Whipped Cream
- Cherry
Instructions
- Scoop the ice cream into tall glasses.
- Slowly pour over the Coca-Cola.
- Top with whipped cream and a cherry.
Notes
- Serve the float with a small plate underneath to catch any drips.
- Chill the glass and the soda. Place the glass in the freezer for up to a half hour before making your float and use cold soda. This will keep all the ingredients nice and cold and slow the melting!
- Pour the soda slowly to create less foam.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was originally published on June 18, 2012. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
Oh my, I can taste it from memory! I have barely had a Coke in 40 years, but when I have, it’s the small bottles ice cold. Cans or plastic are not the same. Another float from my childhood that I loved: pineapple sherbet and ginger ale. Yum
Ohhh… the pineapple sherbet float sounds delicious!
Such a great post, my kids gonna love this <3
I love this old-fashioned treat and it’s seriously been soooo long since I’ve had Coke, too. This hot weather definitely calls for a Coke float!
Thank you, as always!! I knew something was missing from the July 4th menu. I’m going to stick a little paper flag in the cherry.
Have to try these. Jayden is gonna love them. Cola is a rare treat for him :)
I never actually made floats… such a terrible gap in my culinary education. Now that I found your recipe I can finally fill it :-). These floats look absolutely delicious!
I found this post though Pinterest. The photo was so beautiful that I just had to come here to read the recipe! And I am so glad I stopped by – love your site!
I would like to invite you to share your recipes on a new photo based recipe sharing site that launched in May. The idea is simple: all photographs are published within minutes of submission. And, of course, the images link back to the author’s site. It’s called RecipeNewZ (with Z) – http://recipenewz.com
Hundreds of bloggers have already joined. I hope you too get a chance to visit and try it out. It would be a pleasure to have you on board :-)
Yay, so much fun!! I want one. :)
Do I recall that Mama frowned upon us when we put peanuts in our co-cola’s? That it was somehow not exactly ladylike? Hummmmm….
Side note – I was always of the impression that the Coca Cola bottlers used the same amount of syrup in the 6 ounce bottles as the 10 ounce bottles. Thus, the smaller bottles had more of a jolt and were preferred. Wonder if there is any truth to that.
Looks like ya’ll had a great time.
Miss P
I’ve only had root beer floats… these coke floats look amazing.
Co-cola and peanuts was one of my favorite treats, and I still enjoy it when I can! Thanks for sharing this!
Great photos and great recipe – my girls are going to love these!
Mary x
I hope they enjoy them!
What fun to read your post today, especially since I’ve just enjoyed a week with my grandson and felt the love! Absolutely had many a Coke with peanuts….I will remember to do this and the Coke floats with him next time. We talked about the old TV but I was able to share the time BEFORE my family ha TV and we small children would peek in the neighbors’ window to see it! I appreciate the day brightener, thank you!
That’s so funny, Eileen! We always had television, but there were only three channels :-)
It sounds like you had such a wonderful visit with your grandchildren. My kids are always enthralled with stories about the “old days”, too. They still have a hard time comprehending what black & white TV was all about. These coke floats are such a fun treat.
Ha! Mine don’t have any idea what a rotary dial phone is!
So glad to hear you had a great time with the grandkids. I think having one of these would make me feel like a grandkid…so I think it’s a must don’t you Lana? :)
Definitely a must, Barbara. What’s life if you can’t indulge in a treat once in a while, right?
Oh my goodness!! My one son would love the Coke and peanuts – definitely going to have to “surprise” him with that one! I haven’t made Coke floats for them in ages so I guess I am gonna have to do that too :-)!
Sounds like you had a fabulous two weeks!!
Nancy, we did have a fabulous time with them.
Can’t wait to hear your son’s reaction to the Coke and peanuts. That’s a real oldie and one that little southern country girls (and boys) know very well.