This Root Beer Freeze is only 2 ingredients and takes no longer than 2 minutes to make! It tastes just like a root beer float, but is blended into a shake!

Can’t take the heat?! Try these other frozen drinks: Frosted Lemonade, Orange Julius Recipe, or Virgin Pina Colada Recipe.

Mason jar mug full of root beer freeze and a straw.

Why You’ll love this Root Beer Freeze

If you’re like me, you LOVE root beer floats, but just can’t seem to get the proper proportion of root beer to ice cream in each bite. SOLUTION: a Root Beer Freeze.

What is a root beer freeze? It’s basically a milkshake of ice cream with root beer, instead of milk. The two ingredients are perfectly blended together so there’s root beer and ice cream in each bite — or sip. That’s right! You can use a spoon or straw to enjoy this root beer shake.

Mason jar mug full of root beer shake and a straw.

What’s the difference between a root beer float and a root beer freeze?

In a float you don’t mix the ice cream and soda together, but in a freeze you will blend the two like a milkshake.

  • For a soda float, simply spoon ice cream into a cup, and then pour the soda on top.
    • TIP: Pour the soda into the cup first, and then add the ice cream. There’s less foaming that way. Like in my Dirty Coke Floats.
  • For a soda freeze, blend the soda and ice cream together with a blender until smooth.
    • TIP: Blend slowly with just enough soda until smooth, then stir in additional soda for a fizzier and foamier soda shake.

Use any soda you like! Vanilla ice cream blends well with many flavors of soda like: Orange Soda, Grape Soda, Coke, etc. But it never hurts to start with a classic like this root beer milkshake.

Mason jar mug full of root beer milkshake and a straw.

Root Beer Freeze Ingredients

If you have ever been to A&W, Culver’s or Sonic and had their root beer freezes, then you are going to love making them at home! It’s so easy!!! You only need 2 ingredients for this copycat recipe:

  • Root Beer Soda
  • Vanilla Ice Cream
Cans of A&W Root Beer and a tub of Vanilla Ice Cream.

I used A&W Root Beer because it’s my favorite, but you can use any brand (even the cheap stuff like Shasta) and it will all work out the same.

My husband wants me to keep those two ingredients on hand at all times now because he could not get enough of this shake! My kids loved it as well.

Mason jar mug full of root beer freeze and a straw.

Recipe Tips

  • Use chilled root beer. This will help the ice cream and soda blend together with a thicker consistency and keep some of the carbonation (fizz).
  • Serve the root beer freeze in a chilled glass to keep the blended drink frozen longer.
  • Blend slowly to avoid making the root beer milkshake too slushy.

More Root Beer Recipes

If You Make This Recipe, Please Rate and Review it in the Comments Below. THANKS!

Mason jar mug full of root beer milkshake and a straw.

Root Beer Freeze

Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 Servings
A Root Beer Freeze is a blended version of a classic Root Beer Float. Like a root beer shake, only bubblier.
4.84 from 6 ratings
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (264 g) vanilla ice cream
  • 12 ounces (340 ml) root beer, chilled; 12 ounces = 1.5 fluid cups

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Place both ingredients in a blender.
  • Blend on low until smooth.
  • Serve immediately in chilled glasses.

Notes

  • Tip: Use just enough root beer to blend smooth, and then stir in additional root beer for a fizzier and foamier shake.
  • Too runny? Add more ice cream.
  • Too thick? Add more soda.
Serving: 0.5 recipe, Calories: 349kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 58mg, Sodium: 130mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 48g
Author: Amber Brady
Course: Ice Cream and Frozen Treats
Cuisine: American

*Originally published 6/27/2013. Post updated July 2023.