At Fiorello’s, we’re all about enjoying the summer to the fullest. Over our 40+ years of doing business here in Marin County, we’ve stirred up some delicious dessert beverages out of our beloved Italian ice cream.
It’s only natural that we want to share these ideas with the Fio’s eatership.
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What Is An Ice Cream Drink?
As you might guess, Ice cream drinks refer to any beverage that’s made with ice cream, whether blended or scooped. Some of the following ideas call for either, or both.
One thing’s for sure — if you’re an ice cream lover, there’s certainly something for you on this list of summertime favorites. The best part is that while all of these dessert beverages are booze-infused, similar nonalcoholic ice cream drinks can be made in place of each.
Our 12 Refreshing & Boozy Ice cream Drinks to Make at Home
Ready? Let’s discover together the 12 boozy Ice Cream drinks we came up with that will keep you fresh & relax for the summer. Yah Sure!
Root Beer Floatorello
Who can’t appreciate a classic Root Beer Float? Smooth and creamy with a flavorful fizz, this nostalgic favorite is a simple mix of the root beer of your choice, and 2-3 scoops of Fiorello’s Tahitian Vanilla (topped with some whipped cream, if that’s your thing).
Use a tall, chilled glass for your Root Beer Fiorello’s and enjoy it with a straw. Done with work for the day? Add a splash of vodka, bourbon or rum!
Don’t dig root beer? We get it. Why not try a Kahlua Cola Float instead? Cola and Kahlua join forces in this alcoholic ice cream drink made for the Coca-Cola loyalists out there.
Just add a splash or two of Cola to two scoops of Fiorello’s Espresso Gelato, and 2 oz. of Kahlua. Truth be told — you can pour any coke-based cocktail (rum and coke, etc.) over a scoop of Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato and it’ll taste amazing!
Kahlua Dutch Almond Slide
We offer two ideas for our own rendition of a Mudslide — one boozy option, and one nonalcoholic dessert drink for the kiddos.
Traditionally, Mudslides call for about 1 oz. each of Kahlua, Baileys Irish Cream, and vodka.
We slightly revisited the original recipe by adding two scoops of Fiorello’s Kahlua Dutch Almond (instead of the traditional Kahlua liquor), 1 oz. of Vodka, 1 oz. of Baileys Irish Cream, and a handful of ice cubes, blending it all together to make a delightful afternoon treat. To share between friends or for a personal treat!
For the youngsters, we substitute the booze (and the Fiorello’s Kahlua Dutch Almond, since it’s made with real Kahlua!), with Fiorello’s Espresso Gelato; add 1 tbsp of maple syrup, a pinch of cinnamon, blend with some ice cubes, and enjoy.
Drip some chocolate syrup, chocolate flakes, or whipped cream to either version and make it extra sweet!
Fio’s Frozen Grasshopper
Fans of Fiorello’s Mint Chip Gelato rejoice — our next beverage is just for you.
This after-dinner favorite is typically made with green crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, and heavy cream — shaken with ice and then strained.
For the Fio’s Frozen version, we’ll add the traditional ingredients into to blender, along with generous scoops of Fiorello’s Mint Chip Gelato, and blend until the mixture is nice and smooth. Serve in a tall, chilled glass and enjoy.
Too early to start the party? Substitute the crème de menthe and crème de cacao liqueurs with a dash of both white chocolate cocoa powder and peppermint extract.
Note: A natural-looking color for Mint Chip should be off-white creamy color, NOT flashy green which usually comes from artificial food coloring.
Blood Orange Creamsicle
For this vanilla-citrusy twist, we’ll blend some orange soda with one scoop of Fiorello’s Vanilla Bean and another of our Blood Orange Sorbet. Add a shot of vodka to the mix to make things interesting.
You’ll hardly notice it in this sweet and light summer drink!
Pumpkin Gelato Float
We know it’s not fall yet, but with September fast approaching and the kids going back to school, we’re officially in the second half of summer. There’s no better way to usher in autumn than with an occasional pumpkin boozy ice cream drink!
Some hard apple cider and a generous splash of bourbon over two scoops of Fiorello’s Pumpkin Gelato will set the tone for the changing of the seasons. A dash of chocolate bitters rounds off this earthy, sweet ice cream cocktail. Blend instead for a milkshake consistency.
Piña Gelato Shake
We added a scoop (or two) of our decadent Italian ice cream to this beachside favorite drink, making it into a boozy, fun milkshake best enjoyed wearing a smile under the sun.
Blend a ¼ cup of coconut rum with your preferred amount of Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato, some chopped pineapple, and a dash of cinnamon.
For the ice cream component, we use either Fiorello’s Vanilla Bean or Tahitian Vanilla.
To make it extra-summery, try Fiorello’s Pineapple Gelato.
Affogato al Caffe
Italian Cuisine aficionados probably are already familiar with what an Affogato is — a scoop of Fiorello’s Tahitian Vanilla Gelato drowned in a shot of Espresso.
Add a splash of Amaretto liqueur and you’ve got yourself the start of an after-dinner party. Some folks prefer their own variations of this famous Italian dessert drink, here are our recommendations:
Die-hard coffee lover? Substitute the vanilla with Espresso Gelato for an extra kick of caffeine.
For a “Hazelnut Affogato” employ our Nocciola Gelato.
The “Islander Affogato” calls for Coconut Almost Chip Gelato.
If you chose to use our Old Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Gelato, you’d be making what we called an “Upper Affogato”.
The Inevitable Raspberry Champagne Float
Grab a champagne glass, add a scoop of raspberry sorbet and sprinkle it with champagne to enjoy this light, boozy beverage that’s perfect for celebrating anything, whether it’s a wedding or just the end of the work week.
While Raspberry is the typical go-to flavor for dunking sorbet into champagne, many fruity flavors you like will do the trick!
Oh, wait… but it sounds like we got many fruit-flavored champagne sorbets! Have you ever tried them? Let us know in comments…
Chocolate Stout float
Beer and gelato aren’t often paired together, but the right combinations of flavors, notes, and textures do exist.
For this intriguing chocolatey anytime-treat, we pour a pint of stout beer over 2 scoops of Fiorello’s Valrhona Chocolate Gelato and top it off with unsweetened whipped cream for good measure.
The resulting brew is tasty and fun and works well with Vanilla too.
Fio's London Fog
The original London Fog verion is made out of two types of liquors, gin and pastis – anis-flavored drink, with crushed ice. According to Thrillist it is also known as the cocktail that will help you cure your hangover.
We decided to revisit the original version to come up with a softer & sweeter version…
To make the Fio’s London Fog you will need to mix in a large cup:
- 2oz of gin
- 6oz of tonic
- Lime wedge (squeezed)
- Add crushed ice and with a tbsp (or more!) of our key lime sorbet
Stir everything up and serve it in your favorite glass, Delicious!
Tony's Mai-tini (Tony Special)
This Special one is inspired by the Mai-tai. The origin of the Mai-tai is blurred and subject to debate. From what we know, it was first introduced in Hawaii in 1953, even though some people claim to have invented it earlier in California.
Its name was reportedly taken from the Tahitian word “maita’i” which stands for “excellence”. Its formula is also used by the Tahitian community as a salutation to a person about to enjoy their meal “Tama’a maita’i”.
To realize our Tony’s Mai-tini, you will need:
- 2oz of Dark Rum
- ½ tsp of Almond syrup
- 1 Tsp of freshly squezzed lime juice
- 1 Tbsp of our Passionfruit sorbet
Once you got all the ingredients gathered, carefully pour them into your mixing cup and shake it up well & finally strain it into a short martini glass and appreciate.
Fiorello's Margarita (Tony Special)
We saved Tony’s own secret summer ice cream drink recipe for last.
A host to many, his favorite boozy ice cream drink to whip up on breezy summer evenings (or afternoons!) is his take on a Margarita — a combo of the tequila of your choice, and Fiorello’s signature Meyer Lemon Sorbet.
Always a crowd pleaser, Tony’s recipe for our Lemon Sorbet makes adding it to a cocktail a no-brainer. What makes this ice cream drink sizzle with sophistication is a little Thai basil or mint leaf for good measure.
Here's How We Keep Ourselves Fresh During Summer
We hope this list of refreshing & boozy ice cream drinks helps you get creative in exploring new beverage ideas this summer.
Whether an old-time classic like a Root Beer Float, to a more elaborated drink like the Rasperry Champagne float, or even something more adventurous like a Fio’s Frozen Grasshopper, there’s no better time than summertime to enjoy these fun ice cream drinks with friends and family.
Just make sure you’re using Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato for an elevated experience and tastiest results!
