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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes » Apple Cider Floats

    Published: Aug 27, 2023 by Linda Warren

    Apple Cider Floats

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Delicious apple cider floats bring the tart sweetness of apple cider together with the creamy richness of vanilla ice cream and the effervescence of ginger ale. Finish with a swirl of caramel for the perfect beverage for crisp autumn days and cozy nights in.

    Caramel apple cider float in mug on plate with spoon.

    FYI - This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All links are products I use when making my recipes.

    Table of Contents

    • Delicious Caramel Apple Recipes
    • Why You'll Love This Apple Cider Float Recipe
    • What is an ice cream float?
      • Ice Cream Soda vs Float
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment Needed
    • How to Make an Ice Cream Float
    • Garnishes
    • Recipe Variations
    • More Apple Recipes

    Delicious Caramel Apple Recipes

    Fall is the perfect time to indulge in sweet caramel apple recipes. And let's face it, apples and caramel are an unbeatable combination.  With apple season in full swing, what better way to enjoy their crisp juiciness than to mix them with the sweet buttery flavor of caramel?

    And there are so many caramel apple recipes to choose from. Recipes like Caramel Apple Bundt Cake and Caramel Apple Cupcakes for desserts, Caramel Apple Cider Floats like this one for sipping, or something unique like Caramel Apple Jello Shots for party time, you’ll find this classic pairing is both irresistibly tasty and fun to eat.

    Overhead of soda float on plate with spoon.

    Why You'll Love This Apple Cider Float Recipe

    • Easy to Make: Only 4 ingredients!
    • Super simple: all you need is a glass, an ice cream scoop, and a straw
    • Deliciously creamy: with fresh apple taste and a bit of bubbly
    • Plenty of fall flavor: perfect for sunny days in September and October

    What is an ice cream float?

    An ice cream float is a popular dessert beverage that consists of one or more scoops of ice cream placed in a glass with a carbonated beverage. The carbonated beverage is usually a soft drink such as root beer or cola, which gives the dessert its characteristic bubbles and froth.

    The result is a sweet, creamy, and fizzy concoction that is both drinkable and spoonable.

    Ice Cream Soda vs Float

    While both desserts involve ice cream and a carbonated element, the primary difference is in the other ingredients. Ice cream sodas utilize flavored syrup and soda water (carbonated water), while ice cream floats use carbonated soft drinks.

    The result is two distinct flavor profiles: ice cream sodas are typically more customizable and can have a wide range of flavors depending on the syrup used, while ice cream floats usually have the characteristic flavor of the soda or other beverage used.

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need for making caramel apple cider floats:

    Apple Cider ice cream float ingredients.
    • Apple Cider - not apple juice should be used for the fullest flavor.
    • Ginger Ale - Canada Dry, Schweppes, and Vernors are great choices.
    • Vanilla Ice Cream
    • Caramel Sauce

    Equipment Needed

    • Ice Cream Float Glasses - Highball glass, Mason Jar, Milkshake glass, or large mug
    • Ice Cream Scoop
    • Ice Cream Float Spoons - Long handle ice tea spoons
    • Straws - Smoothie straws

    How to Make an Ice Cream Float

    Steps to make ice cream float.
    1. Scoop ice cream (I like to use at least two scoops) into a tall ice cream float glass or mug. Pour in apple cider and top with ginger ale.
    2. Finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce.
    Digging into ice cream float with spoon.

    Now dig in! This ice cream float has it all - cool, creamy, and sweet with just the right amount of our favorite fall flavor - caramel apples!

    Garnishes

    In addition to topping the apple cider float with caramel sauce, you can garnish the dessert with:

    • Apple Slices
    • Cinnamon Stick
    • Cinnamon Sugar
    • Ground Cinnamon
    • Sprinkles
    • Whipped Cream

    Recipe Variations

    Here are some apple cider ice cream float ideas:

    • Boozy Ice Cream Float - Add a shot of bourbon, rum, vodka, or whiskey. Or substitute apple cider with hard cider.
    • Ice Cream - Substitute vanilla with apple pie, caramel, cinnamon roll, or French vanilla ice cream.
    • Ginger Beer Float - Swap the ginger ale with ginger beer
    • Hot Apple Cider Float - Heat the apple cider before pouring it over the ice cream and omit the ginger ale.
    • Pear Cider Float - Substitute apple cider with pear cider because ginger pear is an extraordinary flavor combination.
    • Sparkling Apple Cider Float - Substitute apple cider with sparkling apple cider.
    • Spiced Apple Cider Float - Use spiced apple cider.
    • Salted Caramel Apple Cider Float - Use salted caramel sauce.

    More Apple Recipes

    • Apple Cider Margarita
    • Apple Cinnamon French Toast
    • Apple Oatmeal Cookies
    • Caramel Apple Crisp Bars
    • Apple Streusel Bread

    Find lots of delicious and easy dessert recipes and more on 2CM!

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    Ice Cream float with apple cider and caramel topping.

    Apple Cider Floats

    Apple cider floats bring together apple cider, creamy vanilla ice cream, a bit of bubbly ginger ale and a swirl of caramel. It's the perfect fall treat!
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    Print Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 427kcal
    Author: Linda Warren

    Equipment

    • Ice Cream Float Glasses
    • Ice Cream Scoop
    • Ice Cream Float Spoons
    • Smoothie Straws

    Ingredients

    • 2-3 scoops vanilla Ice Cream
    • ¼ cup apple cider
    • ½ cup ginger ale
    • 2-3 Tablespoons caramel sauce

    Instructions

    • Place a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream into a tall ice cream float glass, mason jar, or large mug,
    • Pour apple cider over the ice cream.
    • Top the mixture with ginger ale.
    • To finish, drizzle caramel sauce over the top.

    Notes

    VARIATIONS
    • Boozy Ice Cream Float - Add a shot of bourbon, rum, vodka, or whiskey. Or substitute apple cider with hard cider.
    • Ice Cream - Substitute vanilla with apple pie, caramel, cinnamon roll, or French vanilla ice cream.
    • Ginger Beer Float - Swap the ginger ale with ginger beer

    Nutrition

    Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 350mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 67g | Vitamin A: 592IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 197mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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    Hey, I’m Linda, the recipe creator, photographer and cocktail lover at 2 Cookin Mamas. Here you’ll find easy recipes that are not only delicious but can get you out of the kitchen ASAP. Come and join me and let me take you on a tasty trip through your kitchen. Thanks for stopping by! Learn more about me

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