Caramel Apple Cider Floats
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It’s never too cold for ice cream, especially if it comes in the form of Apple Cider Floats! With apple cider, fizzy ginger ale, and salty caramel sauce, these cider floats are the perfect excuse to eat ice cream in any season.
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Apple Cider Ginger Ale Floats
Last year, the Mr. and I discovered apple cider and ginger ale taste really great together. I don’t know why it took us 27 years to make this connection. It seems rather obvious in retrospect.
Apples and ginger ale are always a winning combo. We learned that from our Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings.
And what could be better than plain apple cider than apple cider with a fizzy ginger pop?
Well, as it turns out, there is something better than apple cider and ginger ale. It’s Apple Cider and Ice Cream. And Ginger Ale. And Salted Caramel Sauce. My gosh, this is frothy, creamy, apple spiced gold.
I can hardly call this a recipe. It’s more of a suggestion, and that suggestion is: Make these as soon as possible.
These cider floats only take five minutes to make, and they are creamy, bubbly Autumn magic.
Ingredients:
You’ll only need four ingredients to make these floats:
- Ice cream– Your favorite vanilla works great, whether it’s vanilla bean or French vanilla or old fashioned. If you want to get fancy, a caramel or butter pecan ice cream would also be divine.
- Ginger ale– We’re fans of Vernor’s around here. If you want a spicier drink, go for a ginger beer.
- Apple cider– If you can, pick up a fresh cider from your local orchard. If not, grocery store cider is still wonderful.
- Caramel sauce– You can absolutely buy it from the store. We often do this. But nothing from the store is quite as good as this homemade salty caramel sauce. It is the best, and not terribly hard to make, either.
How to Make Apple Cider Floats
Y’all know what to do:
- Grab a big tall glass and put two scoops of ice cream in it. Drizzle with a little caramel sauce.
- Fill it halfway with apple cider.
- Top it off with ginger ale.
- Add irresponsible amounts of caramel sauce to the top. Licking the glass is 100% recommended here.
I hope you’ll get a chance to enjoy these while it’s still semi-warm outside, but if you’re like me and ice cream makes up 20% of your diet on a year-round basis, you can enjoy these for months to come.
More Ways to Use Apple Cider
If you’re looking for more Autumn inspired beverages, try our Fall Sangria or our Apple Cider Cocktails.
We also use apple cider in our Baked Cinnamon Apples and Braised Apple Cider Turkey.
And of course, don’t forget about our incredible Apple Cider Syrup, served on top of a big stack of Cinnamon Apple Pancakes.
Caramel Apple Cider Ginger Ale Floats
Ingredients
For each float you will need:
- 2 – 3 scoops vanilla or caramel ice cream
- Apple Cider
- Ginger Ale
- Caramel sauce (storebought or homemade)
Instructions
- Scoop 2-3 scoops of ice cream into each glass. Fill them halfway with apple cider.
- Fill the rest up with ginger ale. Drizzle with caramel sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use any combo of soda/drink you prefer. They will all have a slightly different taste.
Boy oh boy, this looks AMAZING.
Courtney, I just read through this recipe today and it looks absolutely amazing, but I can’t neglect to tell you that your commentary is even more amazing! ” I made these with plain ol’ vanilla ice cream, but after the fact I realized I could have used Jeni’s Salted Caramel Ice Cream. It’s actually probably better I didn’t think of this beforehand. That combo might have made my brain explode. Or maybe it would have made unicorns real. I guess we’ll never know. Unless you try it. Which you should. Report back…that is, if you’re still able to form words at that point.” I laughed so HARD!!! You crack me up!
Ha! Thank you! I’m glad my silliness gave someone a laugh. 🙂
I’m interested in trying it with hard cider.
THAT is a fabulous idea!
I almost stopped and got the stuff for it last night, but it’s probably a good idea I restrained myself! Need to use the buddy system with these, I think.
What mouthwatering pictures! Wow – I’m drooling right now – speechless- these look almost sinful —
Thanks so much Jennifer! The amount of caramel sauce I put on mine was rather sinful. 😉
This looks amazing, your pictures are stunning! I would be all over this. 🙂
Thanks so much Julie. 🙂
Being that I’m currently Obsessed with a capital O with Angry Orchard’s ginger apple cider…I’m pretty sure i need a BIG mug full of this float in my life.
Ginger apple cider?? I So need that in my life!
Holy goodness and mercy, this sounds amazing. Buying and making ASAP!
This looks so delicious. Your pictures and food styling here is incredible!
Interesting combination. I love each on its own but together this float sounds really good!
Aw man, I gotta go out and buy apple cider now! This looks fantastic!
My daughter loves root beer floats, but these trump any and all floats I’ve ever seen!!!
Ahhh I cannot get over this! I pinned it yesterday and now I’m staring at it, dying for a sip!
Sues
Grrrrreat photos, Courtney! Pinning! Yes, Jen’s Splendid ice cream is great but how fantabulous to add your own caramel sauce =)
This looks sooo good! Like I wouldn’t mind licking the caramel off the glass, good. What a great idea, and combo.
Licking caramel off the glass is 100% approved.
Oh my gosh this looks wonderful! My mom and I used to have floats on Sunday afternoons and they were one of my faves. And I can absolutely imagine how well ginger ale and apple cider go together. Genius!! Totally trying this!
What a fantastic tradition Susan! I think we may have to start a Sunday afternoon float tradition as well.
My husband would LOVE this…he’s a fiend for apples. With my love of ice cream, it’s a dessert that BOTH of us will enjoy!!! It’s warm enough here in TX to enjoy ice cream pretty much year-round, so this is going in my “must try soon” file!!
I hope you and your husband both FLIP for these. You can even share a glass and get two straws, just like the movies! On second thought, you’ll probably each want your own. 🙂