As the weather gets warmer and the days become longer, there’s nothing more satisfying than winding down and cooling off with some ice cream. And a popular way to revel in this dessert is by making ice cream floats.

Switch up your ice cream floats this summer.

Ice cream floats have been many people’s favourite dessert for decades. They’re often the go-to for satisfying any sweet cravings. This might mean that you probably have your own versions and recipes developed after years of experimenting, but we want to present you new ingredients and new combinations that you may not have tried. Here are our grown-up twists on this parlour classic.

1. Cold Brew

Coffee floats are wondrous in the summer–coffee and ice cream, it doesn’t get better than that. Cold brew is surprisingly easy to make at home, but you can also opt for ready-made ones. We recommend trying Califia’s almond-based cold brew with espresso for a strong kick, and the mocha cold brew as the based for a creamy, chocolatey dessert.

2. Natural Soda

There’s nothing wrong with reliving your childhood with soda floats, the ultimate classic. But we all know how terrible those sodas are for your body, and if we’re really enjoying something, we should be able to do so guilt-free! Skip the big conventional names, and try Blue Sky Soda’s natural sodas. From cola, root beer, cherry vanilla cream soda, to ginger ale, there’s a flavour for every ice cream pairing.

3. Yerba Mate

There is a debate out there claiming that yerba mate is better than coffee. In fact, the Guayaki website states that yerba mate has the “strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate.” But regardless of its long list of health benefits, it is a delicious beverage and surprisingly good as a float base.

4. Spritzer

For a fizzy, fruit-forward flair, pick a spritzer as your base. Grape, lime, apple, cherry, grapefruit, blackberry, lemon–the list goes on. Spritzers as incredibly refreshing on a sweltering summer day, and there’s nothing better to top it off with your favourite ice cream.

Last-minute Tips

1. If the base you have chosen isn’t carbonated, and use an unflavoured San Pellegrino or any club soda to give it the right amount of fizz.
2. Pairing is crucial. If you want the right balance of flavours from your combination, make sure they’re of equal strength. You don’t want your base to completely overpower your favourite ice cream.

What are your favourite ways to make floats? Share with us in the comments!