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Monday, April 20, 2009

Root Beer Floats

Root Beer floats were something I loved as a kid. Sometimes we went to the A&W Drive-In to get one...those were the best! But, making them at home was fun, too...my son loves the IBC root beer bottles (so do I). Not long ago, while searching for fun "flavorings" for a science project at school, we came across Root Beer concentrate. How cool would it be to make our own root beer!? And from that, make root beer floats! We don't get soda that often in our house...just time to time (that way it's just a treat, not an addiction). If you like root beer, give this a try; it's fun with or without the kids.
This is (basically) the process, on the back of the McCormick Root Beer Concentrate box:
Easy Homemade Root Beer
makes 6 c.

1 1/2 c. water

3/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. Root Beer Concentrate

1 bottle (1 liter) cold soda water, seltzer or club soda

Bring water to boil in medium saucepan. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Add concentrate; stir until well mixed. Pour into a container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, pour reserved root beer mixture into a pitcher and slowly pour in the soda. Stir slightly to blend. Serve immediately! Yup, it is as easy as that. Now, for double the fun, turn it into Root Beer Floats!!!! I do recommend making it when you're ready to use it all, because it loses it's fizz pretty quickly. I ended up pouring the remainder of what we made back into the club soda bottle and twisting the cap tightly. It lasted until the next day like this. Scoop some vanilla (or whichever kind you like to use) ice cream into a glass. Slowly pour root beer over the ice cream...look at the size of that head! Pop in a straw, and go to town...beware of brain freeze! I also love the way little root beer ice crystals form around the edges of the ice cream and get that little crunch! I'm betting there is probably a way to do this a little more "naturally". Maybe sarsaparilla root or something like that? Has anybody ever made it from scratch-scratch? I would love to know how to do it! Doesn't this make you feel like eating a chili-cheese dog w/ fries, too? Must be the drive-in memories.
32 Comments
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  1. Coleens RecipesApril 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    This sounds like so much fun!!! My hubby is a rootbeer addict, so this sounds great!!!

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  2. ManjuApril 20, 2009 at 4:27 PM

    im not a great fan of root bear, but making this sounds like so much fun!!

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  3. Gloria ChadwickApril 20, 2009 at 4:28 PM

    I'm so ready to run right out the door now to find the nearest A & W drive-in! LOL. Come by my blog tomorrow for tacos. :)

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  4. GingerApril 20, 2009 at 4:28 PM

    Dar my nieces and nephews would love this!! I am pretty sure there are more than a few adults at the family get together on Sundays that would enjoy a sip also!! Where do you get the concentrate?

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  5. AnonymousApril 20, 2009 at 4:29 PM

    I love root beer floats too! I'll have to get the root beer extract for sure!

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  6. Donna-FFWApril 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM

    Love the fizz on the float,love it. Oh, I loved them as a kid and also as an adult. I am sooo craving one now. They look fantastic.

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  7. JustinApril 20, 2009 at 5:30 PM

    how did I not know root beer concentrate even exists?

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  8. NKPApril 20, 2009 at 6:32 PM

    That is so cool! I want some root beer concentrate - I wonder why it isn't more readily available?

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  9. ReeniApril 20, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    How cool! I always wanted to make my own soda. During the summer I drink floats like there's no tomorrow. These are such a special treat because you made your own soda! How super-yummy!

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  10. Mary BergfeldApril 20, 2009 at 8:19 PM

    I'm a big fan of root beer floats. I'm also a big fan of your poetry!!!

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  11. Jaime and Jen DISHApril 20, 2009 at 8:47 PM

    OMG, I have to try this. We LOVE, WUV, really WUV rootbeer floats!! Thanks for sharing. You made me think of how awesome my childhood was!!!

    Your foodie friend,

    Jenifer

    J&J DISH

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  12. LindaApril 20, 2009 at 9:21 PM

    I love root beer... I know this sounds crazy... but a root beer and a hot dog and I'm a happy camper.... and I love root beer floats...

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  13. ClaudiaApril 20, 2009 at 9:52 PM

    I love the idea of making root beer - did it awhile ago when my kids were young - great fun! What memories you invoke! There was a great lady who lived in the Boundary Waters (not for the feint of heart) and made homemade root beer for the weary backpackers and canoe-ers- it's a great story. Thanks for the blog.

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  14. theUngourmetApril 20, 2009 at 11:07 PM

    My kids would love to make these! I bet they taste so great!

    I used to have one of the glass A&W root beer mugs from when I was a kid. I wish I still had it!

    Thanks for the comments on my blog today!

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  15. Heather S-GApril 20, 2009 at 11:09 PM

    ...love it when a post invokes memories (esp good ones)! I think I found this Root Beer Concentrate at Walmart, of all places. I think I also noticed it at Martin's (which is a local Spartan store...are these everywhere? Spartan Stores? Just a regular old supermarket.)

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  16. Frieda Loves BreadApril 20, 2009 at 11:10 PM

    Great job on the root beer! We have made it with dry ice and extract and never thought to use club soda! My hubby got the grand idea to make it from scratch...internet recipe, hops, and such and it did NOT turn out!

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  17. SelbaApril 21, 2009 at 5:09 AM

    How great to make your own root beer floats.. I always have to go to A&W when I want to have root beer floats :)

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  18. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina KitchenApril 21, 2009 at 6:08 AM

    This sounds like a lot of fun. I've never made my own root beer but I have made ginger ale. Thanks for this great idea.
    Sam

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  19. AnonymousApril 21, 2009 at 6:27 AM

    root bear floats reminisce such memories of my childhood for me, too, back when I used to frequent A&W!!
    my brother once bought a whole gallon of this homemade root beer when we visited the amish one time! I think I'll pass this recipe to him since he loves root beer so much!

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  20. moderate SherriApril 21, 2009 at 8:42 AM

    Wow! I never even thought of making my own root beer! I will definitely be trying this one.

    We also had an A & W here in SO. Illinois, but when it changed hands, the new owners kept the root beer recipe and still serve them in frosty mugs. Delicious!

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  21. LynnApril 21, 2009 at 11:31 AM

    I've made root beer, too, but from the concentrate like you did. Isn't it fun? Makes you feel kind of Little-House-on-the-Prairie-ish :) I've always found the concentrate at the regular old grocery store, in the spices section.

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  22. The Food LibrarianApril 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM

    I love going to A&W as a kid. These bring back good memories!

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  23. MirandaApril 21, 2009 at 2:13 PM

    OMG I'm silly I had NO IDEA you could make Root Beer at home..next time I'm down the spice aisle I'm looking for the concentrate.

    I think I stumbled across your blog from an apron blog. Anyway, I'm off to read more.

    Have a good day.

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  24. teresaApril 21, 2009 at 2:58 PM

    I haven't had a good old fashioned root beer float in a long time, this looks amazing. It's like a big frosty glass of summer!

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  25. SpryteApril 21, 2009 at 4:23 PM

    FUN!!! We love root beer floats too!

    My son LOVES root beer. I was thinking of making some kind of root beer flavored cookie. Maybe spritz cookies. =)

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  26. HornsfanApril 22, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    What a fun project, I've never notice root beer concentrate but now I'll have to check it out!

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  27. gizApril 22, 2009 at 9:19 AM

    I've never seen this product. I'm going to have to take a trip to the U.S. and soon.
    There's an award for you on our blog

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  28. ThistlemoonApril 22, 2009 at 5:47 PM

    That sounds like so much fun and such a great kitchen project to do with kids (or kids at heart...) ;)

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  29. KristenApril 22, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    Hi, First time visiting your blog (found you via Colleen's blog), the rootbeer recipe reminded me of the first time my husband made rootbeer, we were awoken one night to the sound of 'gunshots?', nope, just the rootbeer exploding - he got much better at making it as time went on :o). Your recipes look great!

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  30. Tangled NoodleApril 23, 2009 at 12:06 AM

    Mr. Noodle would love this! Root beer floats are one of his faves but as far as I know, he hasn't had one in ages. I didn't realize root beer was pretty easy to make at home! Great!

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  31. AnonymousAugust 6, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  32. SEO ServicesDecember 22, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    My boyfriend's mom loves soda... can't wait to show her this recipe.

    ReplyDelete

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