St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Floats

St. Patrick’s Day has always been one of my favorite little holidays to celebrate—it’s all about the fun!

And nothing says festive quite like a Leprechaun Float.

This recipe is quick, easy, and guaranteed to bring a pop of green (and sweetness) to your celebration.

Whether you’re hosting a party or just looking for a treat to enjoy with the family, these floats are always a hit.

Ingredients

Prepare the glasses: Start by decorating the rim of your glass. Pour a small amount of corn syrup or honey onto a shallow plate. On a separate plate, spread out your green or rainbow sprinkles. Dip the rim of the glass into the corn syrup, then immediately press it into the sprinkles, gently twisting to coat the entire rim. Set the glass aside to let the sprinkles set for a minute.
Scoop the ice cream – Add two generous scoops of vanilla ice cream into each glass. Don’t worry if it’s a little messy—that’s part of the charm!
Add the soda – Slowly pour the lemon-lime soda over the ice cream. Go slow to avoid overflow because it will fizz a lot!
Mix in the food coloring – If you want your float to have that extra pop of green, add 2–3 drops of food coloring to the soda and stir gently until it’s evenly mixed.
Top it off – Add a swirl of whipped cream on top and sprinkle some extra green sprinkles or pop a cherry on top for a little leprechaun flair.
Serve immediately – These are best enjoyed right away while they’re cold and fizzy.

If you want to make an adult version, swap out half of the soda for a splash of Irish cream or vanilla vodka.
For a dairy-free option, use coconut milk ice cream or sorbet and pair it with sparkling water.
Pre-scoop the ice cream and keep it on a tray in the freezer if you’re making floats for a group. It’ll make assembly much quicker!
Try adding green sherbet instead of food coloring for an extra tangy flavor.