Remember those Friday nights spent cruising the local Sonic drive-in, sipping on a perfectly creamy root beer freeze? This nostalgic treat combines the fizzy sweetness of root beer with rich vanilla ice cream to create something magical. Unlike a traditional root beer float where ingredients stay separate, a freeze blends everything together for a smooth, indulgent experience that’s part milkshake, part soda fountain classic.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to a perfect root beer freeze lies in the carbonation from the soda, which creates a lighter texture than traditional milkshakes. The vanilla ice cream mellows the intense sweetness of root beer while adding a richness that makes this drink feel like a dessert. Blending at low speed preserves just enough fizz to maintain that signature Sonic experience.
Ingredients
- Vanilla ice cream – Creates creamy texture and balances the root beer’s sweetness with rich dairy notes
- Root beer – Provides the signature flavor and carbonation that makes this a freeze rather than a shake
How to Make a Root Beer Freeze
- Prepare your ingredients by ensuring the root beer is well-chilled, and the ice cream is slightly softened (not melted, just easier to scoop).
- Add ingredients to blender, starting with 12 ounces of cold root beer, followed by 1-2 cups of vanilla ice cream, depending on your desired thickness.
- Blend on low speed for 15-20 seconds. The carbonation will cause more bubbling than a regular milkshake, so start slowly to prevent overflow.
- Check consistency and blend for another 10-15 seconds if needed. The mixture should be smooth but still maintain some carbonation.
- Serve immediately in tall glasses with long spoons or straws.
Chef’s Notes
The key to authentic Sonic-style freezes is maintaining the perfect balance between creamy and fizzy. Too much blending eliminates the carbonation that makes this drink special, while too little leaves you with chunks of ice cream floating in soda.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Different Soda Flavors:
- Coca-Cola Freeze: Substitute root beer with Coke
- Dr. Pepper Cherry Freeze: Use Dr. Pepper for a unique twist
- Orange Cream Freeze: Try Orange Crush with vanilla ice cream
Ice Cream Alternatives:
- Use chocolate ice cream with cherry soda for a chocolate cherry freeze
- French vanilla ice cream adds extra richness
- Sugar-free ice cream works for reduced-calorie versions
Love frozen drinks? Try these recipes
- Orange Julius
- McDonald’s Smoothies – Strawberry Banana
- Starbucks S’mores Frappuccino
- Starbucks Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
- Starbucks Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino
- Frosted Lemonade
- How to Make a Caramel Frappe
- Vanilla Bean Coolatta
- Jack in the Box Milkshakes – Eggnog
- Burger King Lucky Charms Milkshake
More Sonic Copycat Recipes
Check out my easy drink recipes and copycat restaurant food.
Sonic Root Beer Freeze – Easy Homemade Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups ice cream
- 1/2 cup root beer
Root beer freezers were my favorite at Dairy Queen in the ’60s. They were a nickel cheaper than other freezes and shakes because their root beer was made in the store it was cheaper than the other flavors and sodas. That’s how it became my favorite.
This is not a Sonic invention. I’ve been making these since 1976, but we called it a rootbeer shake. I had previously always mashed the ice cream into the soda when I had a float. So when I was waitressing at a truckstop, I decided to try blending my root beer float. My coworkers thought it was wierd until they tried it! I had never heard of a sonic until about 10 years ago. I have since made them with several flavors of soda.
Orange Crush or Nehi Orange and vanilla ice cream tastes like a “dreamsicle ice cream bar.”
Green River and vanilla ice cream is really good too.
You can also use fruit nectar juices like Libby. My Mom made shakes and freezes with Peach or Pear nectar. She’d sometimes use Pineapple juice too.
So many options if one just uses their imagination.
We use a good French Vanilla ice cream with A & W Cream Soda. You can use other cream sodas but we find A & W is best. We call A & W Cream Soda the ADULT Cream Soda. Packs a lot of flavor.
Chocolate ice cream can also be used for some of the sodas.
RI use 1 to 2 cups Dutch chocolate ice cream and 12 oz. Cherry Pepsi or Cherry
Dr. Pepper. Delicious.
DELISH !!!!
smokin dubbies drinkin freezes u crazy
Wow! This tastes just like Sonic! Do you have their recipe for their onion rings?
The most delicious freeze of them all? Dr. Pepper and Coffee Ice Cream. Bryers.
Mmmm good! You have seriously inspired me to head tot he store. Grab some root beer and make some root beer freezes. Who am I kidding I might end up passing a Sonic and have to drop in for a minute. Thanks.
LOVE these! This would be great to serve to out of town guests staying over Thanksgiving or Christmas… on a night when you want a quick/easy dessert or treat. Have a great day!!!