Boozy Rhubarb Elderflower Ice Cream Floats

These ice cream floats are simple and wonderfully satisfying on a hot summer's day. If you're not in a boozy mood, omit the elderflower liqueur.

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Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: drinks. cocktails, floats, ice cream, rhubarb

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 35

Servings: cups rhubarb syrup | 1 float

Calories: 3910kcal

Author: Food Plus Words

Equipment

Ingredients

FOR THE RHUBARB SYRUP

2 cups fresh rhubarb diced
1 cup natural cane sugar
1/2 vanilla bean split, seeds scraped
pinch of kosher salt
1 1/2 cups orange juice try blood orange juice, or substitute another juice if you like. You can also use water!

FOR THE RHUBARB ELDERFLOWER ICE CREAM FLOAT

2 tablespoons rhubarb syrup
8 ounces sparkling water chilled
1 ounce elderflower liqueur
1 scoop good quality vanilla ice cream

Instructions

FOR THE RHUBARB SYRUP
Combine the diced rhubarb, sugar, vanilla bean, kosher salt, and orange juice in a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat.
Using a silicone spatula, stir often and allow the mixture to simmer and come to a boil, about 3-4 minutes.
Once the mixture reaches a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rhubarb has broken down and the liquid has reduced by about 1/3. The consistency should be slightly thick and syrupy.
Strain the syrup into a clean jar through a fine-mesh sieve, and allow to come to room temperature before covering and transferring to the fridge.
The syrup will keep, stored in an airtight container in the fridge for over a month.
FOR THE RHUBARB ELDERFLOWER ICE CREAM FLOAT
Pour the syrup in the bottom of a glass, and add the sparkling water.
Using a spoon, stir gently to combine.
Add the elderflower liqueur, and stir to combine.
Add a scoop (or two!) of good quality vanilla ice cream to the glass, and serve with a tall spoon and straw.
The rhubarb elderflower soda recipe can be doubled, tripled, quadrupled, and so forth quite easily. If serving the floats for a crowd, you can make the soda a few hours ahead of time and store it in the fridge prior to serving.

The syrup may settle a bit at the bottom of the bottle or bowl when you store it in the fridge. So give it a gentle stir or shake before pouring into glasses, topping with ice cream, and serving.

Notes

You can replace elderflower liqueur with elderflower extract or syrup, which you can find in some specialty stores or online.

Also, the rhubarb syrup can be used for more than just making crazy good ice cream floats! Drizzle some atop a banana split or strawberry shortcake.

This syrup also plays nicely with savory dishes as well--brush some onto grilled fish or chicken, or stir some into your favorite basic vinaigrette for a kiss of sweet-tart summery flavor!

The rhubarb elderflower soda recipe can be doubled, tripled, quadrupled, and so forth quite easily. If serving the floats for a crowd, you can make the soda a few hours ahead of time and store it in the fridge prior to serving.

The syrup may settle a bit at the bottom of the bottle or bowl you store it in the fridge, so give it a gentle stir or shake before pouring into glasses, topping with ice cream, and serving.

* This recipe was originally published on 07/2012 by Jaclyn. Notes and photos updated on 09/2020.

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