Ice Cream Float with Limoncello

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A bubbly limoncello cocktail is a refreshing summer drink all on its own. Add a little bubbly and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and your Limoncello Ice Cream Float may get you rethinking root beer’s greatness.

Tart, tangy, sweet, cold, and eye-catching – this drink has it all.

head-on view of a limoncello float in a tall glass with ice cream on the rim, served with a spoon and paper straw
These super easy limoncello ice cream floats also contain champagne and tasty orange liqueur for super sippable and refreshing cocktails with a sweet vanilla ice cream finish!

Why You’ll Love this Limoncello Ice Cream Float

I’ve always been a fan of ice cream floats. The many decisions involved (ice cream first, soda first, or everything together; use the spoon or the straw; mix the ice cream up to make it melt or let big chunks float on top) make ice cream floats an event, not just another liquid in a glass.

As a kid, my favorite ice cream floats were made with a combination of vanilla cream soda with a scoop of chocolate ice cream. If you’ve never tried it, you must!

Why don’t we see adult floats more often? Bar menus often feature boozy shakes and frozen drinks, but floats are few and far between. That’s why I decided to make this one myself.

How to Make a Limoncello Float

I based the bubbly limoncello drink on the recipe for a Limoncello Sparkle Cocktail originally found on the now-defunct FabFood. The only major change that I made to the drink portion was to switch out the Cointreau for Grand Marnier.

  1. Combine limoncello and Grand Marnier in a tall glass.
  2. Fill the rest of the glass with champagne.
  3. Top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy. It’s that simple!

Products Used for This Recipe

  • I used a tiny measuring cup from OXO [paid link] to measure the alcohol in this recipe. It made it so easy! A friend left the measuring cup at my house and I haven’t had a chance to return it. I figured that since it’s already here, I may as well put it to use. :)
  • It’s helpful to have some tall ice cream spoons [paid link] to use for floats. This is not an item that most people own, but they’re cheap and fun! Splurge!
  • Of course you’ll want some fun straws [paid link], too!

FAQs

What is the best soda for floats?

Root beer and cola are the classic, go-to options when it comes to making soda floats. This float with limoncello is a boozy, adult version of the ice cream float that replaces soda with tangy lemon liqueur and bubbly champagne!

What can I use instead of Grand Marnier?

Any kind of orange liqueur can be substituted for Grand Marnier. Try Cointreau, Triple Sec, or even use Blue Curaçao for a fun and tropical presentation!

What can I use instead of champagne?

If you want to use another kind of sparkling wine, Prosecco and Cava are other great options and may also be slightly less expensive! But any sparkling white wine or even a sparkling rosé will be delicious for this limoncello ice cream float.

What goes in first in ice cream floats?

For the best presentation, I recommend adding the beverage part of the float first, then topping with ice cream.

Do I have to use vanilla ice cream?

Definitely not! You could use use a lemon ice cream to really emphasize the citrus flavor of these ice cream floats. Another great option would be some kind of fruity sherbet or gelato.

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head-on view of a limoncello float in a tall glass with ice cream on the rim, served with a spoon and paper straw
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5 from 1 vote

Limoncello Ice Cream Floats

Why we don’t see adult floats more often?  Bar menus often feature boozy shakes and frozen drinks, but floats are few and far between. I decided to make one myself: a limoncello float.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 limoncello float
Calories 146kcal
Author Stefani

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce chilled limoncello You can purchase it or make homemade limoncello.
  • 1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
  • enough Champagne to fill the rest of the glass
  • As much vanilla bean ice cream as you’d like I used Häagen-Dazs® five ice cream

Instructions

  • Pour limoncello and Grand Marnier into a tall glass.
  • Add as much champagne as you need to fill the rest of the glass.
  • Perch a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the edge of the glass.
  • Enjoy

Notes

  • I used a tiny measuring cup from OXO [paid link] to measure the alcohol in this recipe. It made it so easy! A friend left the measuring cup at my house and I haven’t had a chance to return it. I figured that since it’s already here, I may as well put it to use. :)
  • It’s helpful to have some tall ice cream spoons [paid link] to use for floats. This is not an item that most people own, but it’s cheap and fun! Splurge!

Nutrition

Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 15g
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