Home · Recipes · Cocktails Boozy Whiskey Ice Cream Float Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Oct 3, 2014Updated: Mar 15, 2021 View Recipe24 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. This boozy ice cream float is made with homemade whiskey ice cream, dark chocolate syrup, a shot of bourbon, a splash of Irish cream, and chilled stout. Boozy ice cream floats. That’s what’s up this Halloween. No trick-or-treating. No costume party (because I’m too lazy to figure out what to wear). This Halloween, you’re all invited to come over to my place. We’ll have a happy hour/dessert night and watch all my favorite spooky movies: Hocus Pocus, Teen Witch, and Casper. (Eeek, I hope my age isn’t showing.) Okay, so they’re not the scariest movies, but they remain my favorites from childhood. Go ahead, make fun of me. I prefer my happy, feel good movies over any gory, blood-filled, scream-fest movies that are so popular during this time of the year. And if you can’t stand my movie choices, don’t you worry. I’ll keep you entertained with bottomless boozy whiskey and stout ice cream floats. If that’s not enough, I’ll also have apple pie, baked pumpkin donuts, and Alex will be making his famous chipotle braised pork tacos. Chocolate Whiskey Ice Cream Float Once upon a time in college, Guinness was my beer of choice. I had taken a health class and one of the few things I remembered from that course was that dark beer is better for you than light beer. It has something to do with natural antioxidants and flavonoids, similar to red wine. Oh, and the fact that dark beer has fewer calories than light beer. That’s plenty enough reason for an undergrad. Good thing for me, I actually preferred the taste of dark beers. My roommates and I would concoct all sorts of mixtures using dark beer. For a while, I loved stout beer with a shot of amaretto. And then we tried stout beer with Irish cream. It opened up a whole new world of flavors and is the inspiration for this boozy ice cream float. I can’t think of Halloween without being reminded about all the fun times from college. Assembly: Homemade whiskey ice cream, dark chocolate syrup, a shot of bourbon, a splash of Irish cream, and enough chilled stout to fill the glass. YES to all, please! Of all the components that make up this decadent dessert drink, I think the rich chocolate syrup ultimates unifies all the flavors together. The chocolate brings out the sweetness of the whiskey and stout. Plus, drizzling the chocolate syrup in the serving glasses is so fun! It makes me feel like Jackson Pollack. Homemade syrup is unbelievably easy to make and it tastes a heck of a lot better than any store bought stuff. The recipe makes about 2 cups. Asides from using it for these boozy ice cream floats, you can use the syrup to make the ultimate chocolate milk! (It’s super delicious, ask Alex.) Halloween night, once the sun has set (because I can’t drink until it’s dark) come on over. My house is the one that smells like fresh baked apple pie. No costumes, please. It will only scare Charlie. And speaking of Charlie, be sure to bring doggie treats. He won’t let you pass the door unless you have a present for him. Boozy Whiskey Ice Cream Float Homemade whiskey ice cream, dark chocolate syrup, a shot of bourbon, a splash of Irish cream, and enough chilled stout to fill the glass.Yield: about 1 quart ice cream Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe IngredientsComponents for one serving:drizzle of chocolate syrup3 scoops whiskey ice cream1 oz Irish cream liqueur1 ½ oz bourbon of choice6 oz stout beer, chilledChocolate Syrup:¾ cup water1 ¼ cup granulated sugar¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted1 teaspoon vanilla paste, or pure vanilla extract½ teaspoon kosher salt1 Tablespoon light corn syrup, or glucose syrup1 teaspoon instant espresso powderWhiskey Ice Cream:1 ½ cups whole milk1 ½ cups heavy cream¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed6 large egg yolks¼ teaspoon kosher salt3 Tablespoon whiskey of choice Instructions Ice Cream Float:Drizzle chocolate syrup inside serving glass. Add 3 scoops of whiskey ice cream. Follow with Irish cream and bourbon. Top with chilled stout beer. Stir contents and enjoy immediately. Drizzle top of drink with additional chocolate syrup, if desired.Chocolate Syrup:In a medium sauce pot, combine water, sugar, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla, salt, corn syrup, and espresso powder. Cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container and keep stored in the fridge. Keeps for 2 weeks.Whiskey Ice Cream:In a medium sauce pot, combine milk and cream. Set over medium heat and bring to a boil.In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, egg yolks, and salt. Once milk begins to boil, lower heat. Temper hot milk into yolk mixture about ¼ cup at a time, whisking to distribute heat. Once all the milk has been added, transfer everything back into the pot.Stir over medium-low heat until mixture reaches nappe consistency, or 180°F on a kitchen thermometer. Let sit at 180-185 degrees F for 3-5 minutes to pasteurize eggs.Transfer to an airtight container and let mature in the fridge overnight.Freeze mixture in ice cream maker according to your unit’s instructions. Once the volume has increased and mixture has reached a soft-serve consistency, add whiskey. Transfer mixture to a freezer safe container. Let rest in the freezer for at least one hour before serving. NotesCHOCOLATE SYRUP ADAPTED FROM ALTON BROWN, FOOD NETWORK Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: Dessert, DrinksCuisine: AmericanKeyword: whiskey ice cream, whiskey ice cream float, boozy float, chocolate whiskey drink Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Karishma says: October 3, 2014 Oh my gosh, this looks sooo good! I am definitely suggesting this to my friends for halloween. I am surprised you liked dark beer! I feel like most people do not like Guinness at my age, haha. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: October 4, 2014 Thank you Karishma! I think it’s because I like bitter flavors. Like when it comes to chocolate- the darker, the better!
Carmen says: October 3, 2014 I can imagine what delicious this recipe is!!!!!! thank you for your recipe, I ll be doing for the week end because I love ice cream!!!!! Reply
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says: October 3, 2014 Boozy ice cream floats and apple pie sounds like my kinda night. . and why just reserve this for Halloween?! These floats look so good!! you made whiskey ice cream. you are fabulous!!! Reply
ines oliveira says: October 4, 2014 These floats are likely the best I’ve ever seen: beautiful presentation and perfect recipe, I absolutely gotta try them! Have a nice weekend :) Reply
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says: October 4, 2014 You are so incredibly creative and talented! I am in love with these floats! Can not wait to try them. Pinned! Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: October 4, 2014 Thank you, Jen! That means a lot :) I can’t wait for you to try them, too!
Carla (@charliesue) says: October 6, 2014 Oh, this looks INCREDIBLE! I can’t wait to try it this! Reply
Trang says: October 6, 2014 OMG boozy float?? Yes please, sign me up! I’m making these this weekend! Reply
Thalia @ butter and brioche says: October 7, 2014 I just bought the perfect Bailey’s biscotti flavoured Irish cream duty free.. so you can definitely consider that I will be using it to make these incredible boozy floats. They look SO wickedly delicious. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: October 9, 2014 Biscotti flavored Irish cream?! YUM! I have to look for that! Thank you, Thalia! :)
Ashley says: October 7, 2014 These pictures…! I really need to make my own chocolate syrup. I’m sure that I could find plenty of ways to use it, including these floats ;) Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: October 9, 2014 Thanks Ashley! Homemade chocolate syrup is super easy to make and tastes amazing! I hope you make it :)
Raquel @ My California Roots says: October 7, 2014 Holy crap, you just blew my mind. So much deliciousness! I cannot wait to make this. Thanks!! Reply