This rich and creamy Strawberry Ice Cream Float combines sweet strawberry juice and rich vanilla iced cream for a delicious treat that tastes just like a malt shop drink! We nicknamed it Cupid’s Float because it makes a lovely Valentine’s Day punch, but you can enjoy this any time of year!

Strawberry Ice Cream Float

One of my favorite things to whip up for a party or special occasion is a themed punch that the kids and adults alike can enjoy.

It takes very little effort, ends up being cheaper than serving soda, and there’s no denying that a fresh glass of punch adds to the festive atmosphere you’re trying to create. (You can crack open a diet soda anytime, enjoying a themed punch feels a lot more special.)

This strawberry banana float reminds me of those old-fashioned soda floats you can sometimes get at ice cream shoppes and diners, only instead of using soda we opted for a fruit juice to make it a bit more kid-friendly.

The vanilla ice cream slowly melts into the juice to make a creamy, rich drink with a satisfying and sweet vanilla-strawberry flavor with just a hint of banana.

More Party Punch Recipes for Kids

— Jennifer

Ingredients

Strawberry Syrup (sundae-style not the kind you add to milk)
Vanilla Ice Cream
Fruit Juice — We love strawberry or strawberry-banana juice

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: our recipe below makes 2 servings but you can double or triple this recipe as needed.

Kitchen Tools We Used

Mason jars
Ice Cream Scoop
Measuring Cups and Spoons

How to Make a Strawberry Float

Holding the glass diagonally, squeeze the strawberry syrup along the inside of the glass.

Wait a couple minutes for the strawberry syrup to drip down the sides of the mason jar, for dramatic effect.

Place a large scoop of vanilla ice cream in the bottom of each jar or glass.

Pour strawberry-banana fruit juice into the jar about halfway full. The ice cream will start to melt and combine with the juice for a luscious treat!

Feel free to top your floats with extra drizzle of strawberry syrup, or even a skewer of fresh strawberry and banana slices! Whipped cream also makes a fabulous addition!

Can You Prep Any of This Recipe Ahead of Time?

Because of the ice cream, this punch is best enjoyed immediately after preparing, but you can do a few things ahead of time to make your punch-serving experience a bit easier and faster:

pre-scoop the ice cream into a muffin tin and place in the fridge, each scoop will be ready to pop into the glasses quickly
drizzle the strawberry syrup into the serving glasses beforehand and chill the glasses until ready to serve

More Fun Valentine’s Day Recipes

Pin this Easy Valentine’s Day Punch recipe:

Strawberry Ice Cream Float Recipe (Printable Copy)

Yield: 2 servings

Cupid's Float

Name: Cupid's Float
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoon strawberry syrup; 2 scoops vanilla ice cream; 2 cups Strawberry-banana fruit juice, as needed

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

2 Tablespoon strawberry syrup
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
2 cups Strawberry-banana fruit juice, as needed

Instructions

Holding the glass diagonally, squeeze the strawberry syrup along the inside of the glass.
Place down and allow the strawberry syrup to drip down dramatically as you scoop some vanilla ice cream into the glass.
Top with strawberry-banana fruit juice until the glass is full.
Enjoy immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 361Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 71gFiber: 6gSugar: 57gProtein: 4g