How To DIY A Fun Ice Cream Float Bar
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Summer celebrations are all about being interactive and fun while not suffering under the heat, and this ice cream float bar is one of the best solutions. It provides food and an interactive element that can add to any event you host.
This ice cream float bar works indoors and outdoors and for all ages. Even better, it’s completely customizable. If you want to create your own ice cream float bar, stick around for essential tips and tricks that keep you, and your ice cream, cool.
Table of Contents
What Is An Ice Cream Float
At its core, the ice cream float, sometimes called a soda float or ice cream soda, is a simple creation; all you need is ice cream and soda. Sometimes the soda is switched for flavored syrup and carbonated water.
The most well-known variation of an ice cream float in the US is the root beer float. It traditionally combines vanilla ice cream and root beer. Vanilla ice cream is the usual go-to base for ice cream floats because it allows for a range of flavors, but you don’t have to stick to it.
Make The Ultimate Ice Cream Float
What’s A DIY Ice Cream Float Bar?
An ice cream float bar is a fun and interactive way to allow people to create a variety of ice cream floats to their liking. You provide the supplies, ingredients, and fun extras, and allow people to create custom treats!
An ice cream float bar can be as simple as a few types of ice cream and a couple of sodas, or you can go all out with toppings, unique options, and fun serveware.
Gather Your Supplies!
The first order of business is to determine what you will need. This will be based on how involved you want your bar to be. The basics include cups, straws, and spoons. These can be decorated to fit a theme or a classic style to play up the vintage diner vibe.
You will also want supplies that make serving easier, like a heated ice cream scoop, a cooler to keep drinks chilled and ice cream cold, and garnish and topping dispensers.
You will need supplies such as serving trays, containers to hold garnishes, and cute decorative additions! Try to think of anything you or a guest could want to add to, or eat with, their float. Then think about what supplies are needed for those reasons.
If you’d like to curate your float bar and customize it to your liking, consider decanting your ice cream into uniform ice cream containers and your syrups and toppings into matching containers as well.
The Ice Cream Float Options
The best part about creating custom and interactive attractions is the creativity you can show. While an ice cream float usually consists of soda and ice cream, you can start there and build your ice cream float bar to your liking.
You can include fun soda flavors like banana cream or sour apple. You can also go for off-beat soda options like prebiotic sodas or ginger beer.
And your bases are not the only place you can have fun. You can add tons of ice cream options to your float bar and a wide variety of toppings that fit both your theme and your guests.
Ice Cream Float Bases
- Conventional Soda
- Ginger Beer/Ginger Ale
- Funky Flavored Sodas
- Prebiotic Soda
- Lemonade
- Beer
Float Ice Creams & Alternatives
- Traditional Ice Cream
- Non-Dairy Ice Cream
- Popsicles
- Sherbert
- Gelato
You can add alcohol to the bar so people can create their own spiked floats. Good options to consider are vanilla vodka and Irish cream.
The elevated elements on a float bar will be delicious garnishes and add-ins. Here are some items that work well with a variety of ice cream and soda combinations.
shop Fourth of Ice Cream Float Bar
Ice Cream Float Add-Ins and Toppings
- Flavored Syrups
- Whipped Cream
- Cherries
- Fresh Fruit
- Sprinkles
- Cookies
- Cereal
- Marshmallow Fluff/ Mini Marshmallows
- M&M’s, Chocolate Bits, Etc.
- Powder Candy
- Popping Candy
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
- Sea Salt
Finishing Touches!
To put the finishing touches on your ice cream float bar, think about decor, last-minute supplies, and anything you can use to further the look or theme! If you’re celebrating a holiday, consider supplies in the holiday color scheme, garlands, or small nods in the serveware.
If you are putting the bar together for a summer gathering, you can use materials and decorations that are super summery!
Consider the mechanics of your bar by walking through the steps guests would have to take to engage with the bar. This is the time to consider whether your bar is easy to use and flows well. Consider the tools you use, such as scoops or sugar dusters, for things like cocoa powder.
The best part about these types of bars is that they are completely customizable! Ultimately, you can make it as involved as you would like. If you have ice cream and soda, people will be happy!
Recommended Ice Cream Float Bar Items
ALL AMAZON PRODUCTS CAN BE FOUND HERE AND BELOW
Tools
- Heated Ice Cream Scoop
- Cooler/Ice Bucket
- Float Cups
- Can-Style Cups
- Napkins
- Large Straws
- Long Spoons
- Mini Tongs
- Ice Cream Containers
- Sugar Dusters
- Garnish Holders
- Themed Garnish Picks
Add-Ins
- Flavored Syrups
- Whipped Cream
- Cherries
- Fresh Fruit
- Sprinkles
- Cookies
- Cereal
- Marshmallow Fluff/ Mini Marshmallows
- M&M’s, Chocolate Bits, Etc.
- Powder Candy
- Popping Candy
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
- Sea Salt
Decor
- Serving Trays
- Food Display Stands
- Table Cloth
- Float Bar Signs
- Summery Flowers
- Mini Pool Floats
shop Fourth of July Float Bar
Any Amazon products for the Float bar can be found here, and the Fourth of July-themed bar items can be found here!
Courtnee is a historian turned recipe developer and food blogger passionate about all things eating and entertaining!
A Place To Bake was created out of the desire to have a place that simplifies cooking, baking, and hosting; I do the heavy lifting, you don't have to to lift a finger!
