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
Ingredients
Components for one serving:
- drizzle of chocolate syrup
- 3 scoops whiskey ice cream
- 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
- 1 ½ oz bourbon of choice
- 6 oz stout beer, chilled
Chocolate Syrup:
- ¾ cup water
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, or pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup, or glucose syrup
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
Whiskey Ice Cream:
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 6 large egg yolks
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 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.
Notes
This will be a huge hit on Game Day Sunday!
Awesome! :)
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.
Thank you Karishma! I think it’s because I like bitter flavors. Like when it comes to chocolate- the darker, the better!
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!!!!!
Thanks Carmen! Can’t wait for you to try it out :)
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!!!
Thanks Alice! You are so sweet! :)
These floats are likely the best I’ve ever seen: beautiful presentation and perfect recipe, I absolutely gotta try them!
Have a nice weekend :)
Thank you so much Ines! Hope you have a great weekend!
Love the styling on this – looks yummy!
Thanks Millie! It’s very yummy! ;)
You are so incredibly creative and talented! I am in love with these floats! Can not wait to try them. Pinned!
Thank you, Jen! That means a lot :) I can’t wait for you to try them, too!
Oh, this looks INCREDIBLE! I can’t wait to try it this!
Thanks Carla! Cheers, enjoy!
OMG boozy float?? Yes please, sign me up! I’m making these this weekend!
Yes! I can’t wait for you to try the whiskey ice cream!
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.
Biscotti flavored Irish cream?! YUM! I have to look for that!
Thank you, Thalia! :)
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 ;)
Thanks Ashley! Homemade chocolate syrup is super easy to make and tastes amazing! I hope you make it :)
Holy crap, you just blew my mind. So much deliciousness! I cannot wait to make this. Thanks!!
Thanks Raquel! I can’t wait for you to make it, too! :)