10 Best Ice Cream Drinks That Have Been Liquored Up
Updated: Apr. 17, 2024
Treat yourself to a taste of "the good ol' days" with these iconic boozy ice cream drinks.
We’re cooling down on hot summer days with a nice, creamy beverage. These fun cocktails add your favorite liquors to classic ice cream drinks like floats and milkshakes. Pour a bubbly mimosa topped with vanilla ice cream, or end the night with a blended thin mint milkshake spiked with creme de menthe. And if you’re leaning more on the mocktail side, these recipes can easily be turned nonalcoholic by swapping in your favorite soda or carbonated drink.
Thin Mint Milk Shake
Save a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that’s fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
Grasshopper Shakes
Minty, chocolaty and cool, this ice cream drink spiked with creme de menthe makes for a wonderful way to toast family and friends at holiday gatherings. A little shaved chocolate on top adds an extra-festive touch. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Irish Creme Drink
We top off holiday celebrations with this creamy beverage. With sweetened condensed milk and ice cream, it’s like a liquid dessert! —Fred Schneider, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Golden Cadillac
Made from equal parts Galliano (an Italian liqueur), white creme de cacao and heavy cream, the Golden Cadillac makes for the perfect after-dinner drink. If you’re feeling indulgent, substitute one to two scoops of vanilla ice cream for the heavy cream. —Susan Bronson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Guinness Float
That very first sip of a Guinness is what inspired this quick and easy dessert. The rich, creamy foam that gathers on the top of a freshly poured draft made me think of vanilla ice cream. At that point, I knew I had to combine the two in a Guinness float. —James Schend, Dairy Freed
Pineapple Colada Shake
This frothy, refreshing coconut and pineapple shake is sinfully delicious! Cool and creamy, it just begs to be your poolside companion. —Melissa Jelinek, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Hot Buttered Rum
Buttery smooth, you’ll get a flavor profile with notes of nutmeg and cinnamon, rich rum and a hint of sweetness from brown sugar in this hot, comforting drink. It keeps well in the freezer, so feel free to make it ahead of time. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota
Chilly Coffee Punch
For a twist on the usual fruit punch, try a flavored coffee with ice cream. It needs to chill before serving, so prepare these drinks beforehand. —Judy Wilson, Sun City West, Arizona
Mimosa Floats
Everyone needs a little treat at brunch! I wanted to kick things up a notch, so I added a scoop of ice cream to my mimosas. Sometimes, I add chocolate, too. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Margarita Floats
What could be better than a cold margarita float on a hot afternoon? Adding creamy ice cream really takes this treat to the next level. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, MichiganIce Cream Drink FAQ
What liquor is best for ice cream drinks?
Much like making a mixer, certain ice cream flavors thrive best with certain liquors. For fruitier flavors of ice cream like sorbets, strawberry or mango, stick with a clear liquor like vodka or tequila. If you’re going for a more decadent, indulgent drink with ice cream flavors like chocolate, salted caramel or coffee, pair it with dark liquor like rum, whiskey or bourbon. And if you’re using the tried and true vanilla ice cream as your base, this is where creme de menthe and creme de cacao can really shine.
What soda goes with ice cream?
Looking to make a mocktail instead of a cocktail? Switch the alcohol in these drinks with a classic soda flavor. Try lemon-lime soda, ginger ale or cream soda for recipes that call for vodka or tequila. For those that call for rum, whiskey or bourbon, replace it with Coke—and don’t forget about root beer for that classic float. On those warm days when you want something sweet and tropical, switch those mimosa and margarita floats with a fruit-flavored soda like Fanta.
Originally Published: September 27, 2019
