A kid-friendly recipe that's fun for everyone! This ice cream soda is red, white, and blue - perfect for the 4th of July! And it has a little fireworks action from a sprinkle of Pop Rocks!
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How long has it been since you've had Pop Rocks? (It has not been that long for me... I have no self-control.)
What's your favorite kind of float? A classic root beer float? A scoop of orange sherbet in bubbly 7-Up? Creamy, cold and carbonated: such bliss. Ice cream sodas are a summertime joy!
Well, let me introduce you to your new favorite: the 4th of July Fireworks Ice Cream Soda! With red, white and blue hues and a cherry soda base, it's a must-have for the holiday!
The delectable flavor combo here is rich vanilla ice cream and sweet cherry soda, plus a swirl of candy flavor!
Why you'll love it
This recipe calls for only one do-ahead step: swirling Pop Rocks into softened ice cream to add a ribbon of blue color and then chilling the mixture to firm up the ice cream. This is very easy to do in advance or even the night before!
The actual ice cream sodas are fun and convenient because they're quick to assemble - perfect to make with kids. The last step of adding the Pop Rocks is the most exciting and entertaining one!
🔪 How to make this recipe
Step 1: Combine candy and ice cream
Stir Pop Rocks into softened ice cream. Put the ice cream back into the freezer to firm up.
Step 2: Pour soda
Pour cherry soda into two tall glasses.
Step 3: Add ice cream
Add ice cream to the glasses.
Step 4: Make the fireworks happen!
Add Pop Rocks to the top of each ice cream soda, and watch the "fireworks" fly!
Tips
- To get the blue for your red, white and blue drink look for the Tropical Fruit Punch flavor of Pop Rocks.
- If you are really pressed for time, you can skip the step of swirling Pop Rocks into the ice cream - there's no chilling time necessary this way.
- There are lots of brands of cherry soda, with colors ranging from neon pink to garnet! Pick your favorite - my family preferred the flavor of the IBC Dark Cherry Soda.
- To keep the sodas looking, tasting and popping their best, serve them immediately after assembling.
FAQs
Can I use a different flavor of soda? Or ice cream?
Of course! The combination of cherry soda and vanilla ice cream here is for the delectable flavor (of course) and for the red-white-blue theme. Feel free to experiment with other sodas and ice creams, ices, or sorbets.
Can any steps be done ahead of time?
Stirring the Pop Rocks into the ice cream. Other steps you can do in advance: chill the sodas and glasses, have everything laid out and ready to make the drinks (straws, Pop Rocks, spoons), and you can scoop the ice cream ahead of time. Just place the scoops of ice cream on a small baking sheet, cover them with plastic and hold them in the freezer.
Is that urban myth about Pop Rocks and soda really true?
No 🙂 You will get lots of fizzing and bubbles when Pop Rocks meet soda but the combo will not hurt you. (Phew!)
The recipe is below! Need more festive recipe ideas? Here are a few!
This recipe is featured in the collection, Celebrate The 4th With Red, White & Blue Desserts.
💬 How do you like these poppin' drinks? Leave a comment below!
📖 Recipe
4th of July Fireworks Ice Cream Soda
Ingredients
- 2 .33-ounce envelopes of blue Pop Rocks: look for Tropical Fruit Punch flavor
- 2 cups vanilla bean ice cream, softened
- 24 ounces (two 12-ounce bottles) red cherry soda (I used IBC brand), chilled
- 4 tall chilled glasses plus straws & spoons
Instructions
Prepare the ice cream:
- Open one package of Pop Rocks and pour them over the softened vanilla ice cream.
- Stir them together just until the Pop Rocks leave streaks of blue through the ice cream. You want the streaks to be bright and visible.
- Cover the ice cream with plastic wrap, pressing it to the surface of the ice cream and place it in the freezer. Freeze the ice cream for 1-2 hours until it has firmed up.
Assemble the sodas:
- Divide the cherry sodas between the four chilled glasses, half a bottle into each glass.
- Use a ¼-cup scoop and gently place two scoops of the Pop Rocks ice cream into each glass.
- Open the second envelope of Pop Rocks and sprinkle them over the top of the ice cream sodas - and watch them pop!
- Place straws into each glass and serve them immediately, along with a spoon for each. Makes 4 servings.
Notes
- To get the blue for your red, white and blue drink look for the Tropical Fruit Punch flavor of Pop Rocks.
- If you are really pressed for time, you can skip the step of swirling Pop Rocks into the ice cream - there's no chilling time necessary this way.
- There are lots of brands of cherry soda, with colors ranging from neon pink to garnet! Pick your favorite - my family preferred the flavor of the IBC Dark Cherry Soda.
- To keep the sodas looking, tasting and popping their best, serve them immediately after assembling.
- The combination of cherry soda and vanilla ice cream here is for the delectable flavor (of course) and for the red-white-blue theme. Feel free to experiment with other sodas and ice creams, ices or sorbets.
- Steps you can do in advance: stir the Pop Rocks into the ice cream, chill the sodas and glasses, have everything laid out and ready to make the drinks (straws, Pop Rocks, spoons), and you can scoop the ice cream ahead of time. Just place the scoops of ice cream on a small baking sheet, cover them with plastic and hold them in the freezer.
Nutrition
This post first published in June 25, 2016.
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