The classic root beer float gets a make-over as a Root Beer Float Granita, topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with root beer syrup. Still a super easy and delicious summertime treat!
Don’t miss our Root Beer Float Popsicles and root beer float cupcakes, too!
Easy Root Beer Float Granita Recipe
We go through popsicles and watermelon like wildfire in the summertime. Sometimes I’ll actually take a popsicle, mash it up with a fork and eat it like granita. And then I thought how fun it would be to make a Root Beer Float Granita. (Because somehow allowing my kids to eat frozen pieces of soda seems healthier than drinking it. Lol.)
This Root Beer Float Granita is a great dessert for a casual dinner party or barbecue, but also super simple and kid-friendly, too. It’s a wonderful way to end a meal on a hot sweltering summer day!
What is Granita?
Granita is a frozen Italian dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavoring. Possibly the best thing about granitas, other than their versatility and deliciousness, is that they’re so easy and anyone can make them! You don’t need any special equipment – just a casserole dish and a fork.
What is the difference between a sorbet and a granita? Their texture is more crystallized than Italian ice and sorbet, but finer than snow cones.
Granitas are most commonly flavored with fruit, coffee, or wine, but soda works too. And bonus with the root beer – you don’t even need to make a separate simple syrup because it’s built right in.
Ingredients Needed
You only need 2 ingredients to make this granita recipe!
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Root beer soda
- Vanilla ice cream
How to Make Granita
This root beer granita is super simple to make in just a couple steps.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Use a shallow pan – pour the root beer into a flat-bottomed, shallow 9×13 pan for freezing. It tends to freeze faster in a metal pan, but glass is fine, too. Use what you have. Freeze the soda for about 45 minutes, until it just starts to harden on the top and sides of the pan.
- Scrape with a fork – scrape the partially frozen soda with a fork (including the sides), breaking up any large pieces. Repeat this process every 30-45 minutes over the course of 3 hours. Granita can be coarse or fine, so keep raking until the desired texture is reached.
- Freeze one last time before serving – return the granita pan to the freezer for 1 more hour, then briefly run the fork through it again before serving.
- Low and slow for the root beer syrup – bring your soda to a boil over high, but then take it down to a very low gentle simmer until it’s reduced by half and syrupy, about 30 minutes. If you boil it too high or too fast, it will be like rock hard candy. Transfer it to a spouted measuring cup (for easy pouring) and let it cool completely before drizzling, otherwise it will melt your granita.
More No Bake Recipes:
- Frozen Chocolate Banana Pops
- Banana Split Lush
- Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
- Dole Whip
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Root Beer Float Granita
Ingredients
- 8 cups root beer soda ,divided
- 1 pint vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Pour 4 cups root beer into a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; freeze the soda for about 45 minutes, until it just starts to harden on the top and sides of the pan.
- Scrape the partially frozen soda with the tines of a fork (including the sides), breaking up any large pieces. Repeat this process every 30-45 minutes over the course of a 3 hours.
- Return the granita pan to the freezer for 1 more hour, then briefly run the fork through it again before serving.
- In the meantime, bring the remaining 4 cups of root beer to a boil over high, then take it down to a very low gentle simmer until it’s reduced by half and syrupy, about 30 minutes. Transfer it to a spouted measuring cup (for easy pouring) and let it cool completely.
- Spoon 3/4 cup root beer granita into each of 6 clear tumbler glasses or dessert cups. Top granita with scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle each with 4 teaspoons root beer syrup.
- Serve and enjoy!
