Festive Peppermint Christmas Float

This festive peppermint Christmas float is the easiest holiday treat you will make all season. Creamy scoops of vanilla ice cream are softened with a splash of peppermint milk, then topped with cold, fizzy lemon-lime soda that foams up into a frothy, minty crown. A sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy on top makes every glass look like a little celebration. It takes five minutes, needs only five ingredients and is just as fun for kids at a cookie-decorating party as it is for grown-ups after a holiday dinner. If you are planning a party menu, serve it next to a bowl of candy cane Christmas punch for a red and white drink table.

Why You’ll Love This Peppermint Christmas Float

• Five minutes: no cooking, no blender and no special tools.
• Five ingredients: milk, peppermint extract, vanilla ice cream, lemon-lime soda and peppermint candy.
• Fizzy and creamy: the soda foams around the ice cream for a soft, frothy texture.
• Easy to scale: make two floats or a whole tray for a crowd.
• Kid friendly: children love crushing the candy and scooping the ice cream.

Ingredients for Peppermint Christmas Float

• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 pound (about 15 oz) vanilla ice cream
• 1.5 liters lemon-lime soda, well chilled
• Crushed peppermint candy, for garnish

Ingredient Notes

Milk: Whole milk gives the creamiest result, but any milk you have will carry the peppermint flavor through the ice cream.

Peppermint extract: It is very strong, so measure carefully. A quarter teaspoon is enough for the whole batch; you can always add a drop more after tasting.

Vanilla ice cream: A rich, full-fat vanilla ice cream makes the thickest foam. Peppermint ice cream also works if you want an even mintier float.

Lemon-lime soda: Keep it very cold and open it right before serving so it has plenty of fizz. Diet lemon-lime soda or a clear sparkling water with a little sweetener can be used instead.

Peppermint candy: Crush round peppermints or candy canes in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Larger pieces add crunch; finer pieces dissolve into pretty pink streaks.

How to Make a Peppermint Christmas Float

Chill your glasses in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before you start. Cold glasses keep the ice cream from melting too fast.

Step by Step

1. Mix the peppermint milk: In a small bowl or cup, stir the milk and peppermint extract together.
2. Soften the ice cream: Let the ice cream sit for 3 to 5 minutes, then scoop it into a bowl and gently stir in the peppermint milk until just swirled through.
3. Scoop: Divide the peppermint ice cream among 4 to 6 chilled glasses, about two scoops each.
4. Pour the soda: Tilt each glass and slowly pour the cold lemon-lime soda down the side until it almost reaches the top. Pause and let the foam settle, then top off.
5. Garnish: Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy and serve right away with a spoon and a straw.

Tips for the Best Peppermint Christmas Float

• Pour slowly: soda foams quickly when it hits ice cream, so a slow pour down the side prevents overflowing.
• Use very cold soda: warm soda goes flat and melts the ice cream faster.
• Garnish at the last second: peppermint candy softens and bleeds color once it sits on the foam.
• Rim the glasses: dip the rims in a little corn syrup and then in crushed candy for a festive edge.
• Keep the ice cream frozen: keep tubs in the freezer until you need them and do not leave dairy desserts out for long on a party table. The FDA safe food handling guide has simple rules for keeping cold foods cold.
• Allergy note: this float contains milk. Check labels if guests have food allergies; the FDA food allergy page lists the major allergens.

Variations

• Chocolate mint float: use chocolate ice cream and add a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
• Green Grinch float: tint the peppermint milk with a drop of green food coloring, a fun match for this Grinch punch recipe.
• Creamy topping: finish each glass with whipped cream and a few chocolate shavings.
• Candy pairing: serve with homemade soft Christmas peppermints on the side.

Serving for a Crowd

For a party, set up a float bar: a cooler of chilled soda bottles, a tub of peppermint ice cream kept in an ice-filled bowl, small cups of crushed candy and plenty of straws and spoons. Guests can build their own float in seconds. For a warm drink alongside, a slow cooker of crockpot hot chocolate keeps everyone happy, and a slice of white chocolate peppermint cream pie makes the perfect dessert pairing.

Storage

A peppermint Christmas float is best enjoyed right away, while the soda is fizzy and the ice cream is still frozen. It does not store well once assembled. You can mix the peppermint ice cream ahead of time: stir in the peppermint milk, return it to a lidded container and freeze for up to 1 week. Keep opened soda tightly capped in the fridge, and store crushed peppermint candy in an airtight jar at room temperature so it does not get sticky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make peppermint floats ahead?

Prepare the peppermint ice cream and crush the candy ahead, but pour the soda only when serving.

Can I use another soda?

Yes. Cream soda, ginger ale or a clear sparkling water all work. Lemon-lime soda keeps the float bright and lets the peppermint shine.

How do I stop the float from overflowing?

Use cold glasses, pour slowly down the side and add the soda in two stages, letting the foam settle in between.

How many floats does this make?

About 4 large or 6 small floats, depending on the size of your glasses.

Can I make it dairy-free?

Use a dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert and a plant-based milk; the method stays the same.

Peppermint Christmas Float Recipe Card

Servings: 4 to 6 | Prep time: 5 minutes | Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: 3 tbsp milk, 1/4 tsp peppermint extract, 1 lb (about 15 oz) vanilla ice cream, 1.5 liters lemon-lime soda (chilled), crushed peppermint candy for garnish.

1. Chill the glasses 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Stir the milk and peppermint extract together.
3. Soften the ice cream slightly and swirl in the peppermint milk.
4. Scoop into glasses and slowly pour the soda down the side.
5. Top with crushed peppermint candy and serve right away.