The temperature is heating up, so why not combine two favorite summer treats – ice cream and cocktails?
Summer heat is no joke. When the sun is high, the air is heavy, and the temperature climbs above 90°F, we instinctively reach for something cold. Well, ice cream and booze make for a cool treat? What better way to cool down than with a scoop of ice cream—or better yet, a scoop stirred into a cocktail? Whether you’re relaxing on the patio or hosting a backyard soirée, these grown-up frozen drinks bring the flavor and the chill.
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While it might seem like a temporary treat, eating ice cream can actually help the body feel cooler, thanks to its temperature and texture. According to Dr. Michael Farrell, a neuroscientist at Monash University in Australia, cold foods like ice cream activate thermoreceptors in the mouth that send signals to the brain, telling it you’re cooling down—even if your core temperature hasn’t changed.
It’s this sensory response, combined with the pleasure of sweet, creamy flavors, that makes ice cream so satisfying on a hot day.
Champagne Float
This drink is effervescent, elegant, and endlessly easy. Bubbles aren’t just for New Year’s—it’s the perfect companion to ice cream when you need a refreshing lift on a sweltering afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled Champagne
- 1 quart vanilla ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt
- Fresh strawberries for garnish
Create
- Chill Champagne flutes in advance
- Add 3–4 small scoops of ice cream or sorbet to each glass
- Top with Champagne and garnish with a whole strawberry
- Serve immediately with a spoon or straw
Margarita Ice Cream Float
The vibe is tangy, creamy, and totally summer-ready. The classic margarita gets a frozen upgrade with creamy vanilla ice cream and citrusy lime.
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream (softened)
- 4 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 2 cups lemon-lime soda
- 2 shots 100% agave tequila
- Lime wheel & salt for garnish
Create
- Rim glasses with lime juice and dip into coarse salt
- Add two scoops of vanilla ice cream
- Combine lime juice, soda, and tequila, then pour over ice cream
- Garnish with a lime wheel and enjoy immediately
Martini à la Ice Cream
Want to have something chic, smooth, and full of summer flavor? Turn your cocktail hour into dessert with this pink-hued martini that looks as good as it tastes.
Ingredients
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz white chocolate liqueur
- 1 oz strawberry liqueur
- 2 scoops strawberry ice cream
- Sugar for rimming
Create
- Rim a martini glass with sugar
- Shake vodka, strawberry liqueur, and white chocolate liqueur with ice.
- Place two scoops of strawberry ice cream in the glass
- Pour shaken mixture over the ice cream and garnish with a strawberry
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Tropical Sunset Float
This has a Tiki vibes in every icy sip. The fruity float blends pineapple, mango, coconut, and rum—transporting your tastebuds to a tropical beach without leaving the backyard.
Ingredients
- 2 scoops mango or coconut ice cream
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz coconut cream
- Club soda
- Toasted coconut for garnish
Create
- Scoop ice cream into a chilled hurricane glass
- Shake rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream with ice, then pour over
- Add a splash of club soda and sprinkle with toasted coconut
- Serve with a paper umbrella for full effect
Boozy Chocolate Shake
Indulge with this decadent and comforting goodness with a bourbon twist. This thick shake delivers rich flavor with a hint of warmth—perfect for those evenings when the AC just isn’t enough.
Ingredients
- 6 oz bourbon
- 3 cups premium vanilla ice cream
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 6 tbsp chocolate syrup
Create
- Chill four pint glasses in the freezer for 30 minutes
- Blend bourbon, milk, ice cream, and 4 tbsp of chocolate syrup with ice
- Pour into glasses and top each with remaining chocolate syrup
- Serve with a straw or spoon
