Dairy-free Chocolate Float Recipe

I do love a good dairy-free root beer float, but sometimes you need to mix things up. And this dairy-free chocolate float is a perfectly indulgent way to do it. This simple recipe stays true to the concept of the ice cream float or ice cream soda – a scoop of frozen dessert atop a fizzy drink. But the drink flavor is rich, creamy, and chocolaty!

Indulge in a Dairy-Free Chocolate Float made Just for You

This dairy-free chocolate float recipe was originally shared with us by Susan Mason, as an entry in a recipe contest that we cohosted with So Delicious about eight years ago! I’ve updated her recipe with more details, and have tips in the FAQs below.

Doesn’t Chocolate Syrup Contain Milk?

Some brands do, but many don’t! In fact, the most popular brand, Hershey’s Syrup, is made without any top allergens at all.

Is there a Natural Dairy-Free Chocolate Syrup Available?

Hershey’s also makes a Simply 5 Syrup that has a cleaner ingredient label, but it can be hard to find. If you shun refined sugars, Wildly Organic Chocolate Syrup or Holy Kakow Chocolate Sauce could be good options.

Can’t I Just Use Dairy-Free Chocolate Milk Alternative?

You’re only using 1/2 cup of milk alternative, with the rest as soda. So it won’t be chocolaty enough with just chocolate milk alternative. But if you do use chocolate milk alternative, you can reduce the chocolate syrup to 1 to 2 tablespoons.

How Can I Make a Sugar-Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Float?

Believe it or not, there are a few sugar-free dairy-free chocolate syrups and sauces out there! You can use NuNaturals, Enlightened, or Hershey’s Sugar-Free. For the frozen dessert, So Delicious also makes a No Sugar Added line of coconut milk ice cream. It does include a vanilla bean flavor.

Where Can I Get Dairy-Free Whipped Topping?

Susan uses CocoWhip, but there are quite a few brands and even homemade options available! See our Dairy-Free Whipped Cream Guide for options.

Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Chocolate Float

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Just be sure to select the chocolate syrup, milk alternative, and frozen dessert that meet your dietary needs.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Float

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

Move over root beer! This fizzy float is also rich, creamy, and chocolaty!

Author: Susan Mason

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Serves: 1 16-ounce serving

Ingredients

3 tablespoons dairy-free chocolate syrup (like Hershey's)
½ cup unsweetened dairy-free milk alternative
Seltzer water or soda water, as needed
1 scoop dairy-free vanilla ice cream
Dairy-free whipped topping (optional; homemade or dairy-free)

Instructions

Add the chocolate syrup to a 16 ounce glass.
Whisk in the milk alternative.
Fill the glass ¾ full with the seltzer or soda water.
Top with a generous scoop of the dairy-free ice cream.
If desired, top with dairy-free whipped cream and more chocolate syrupTop with a dollop of whipped coconut cream, if you so desire. Drink, stir, drink and totally enjoy.

Notes

Mounds Bar / Chocolate Macaroon Variation: Susan uses So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage and their Coconut Vanilla Bean Ice Cream to give this float a chocolate coconut vibe that tastes like a chocolate macaroon or candy bar. For an extra special touch, crumble a little OCHO or Unreal chocolate coconut candy bar on top. They make tasty vegan copycats of Mounds bars.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 float Calories: 237 Fat: 5.4g Saturated fat: 3.4g Carbohydrates: 47.6g Sugar: 34.4g Sodium: 136mg Fiber: 5.5g Protein: 2.2g