Vegan vanilla bean ice cream forms the base for a boozy float topped with homemade cherry bourbon cacao nib soda. A collaboration with Snixy Kitchen and HonestlyYUM, plus a video!
I've been a great admirer of Todd's quaffable concoctions since discovering HonestlyYUM two years ago. I'm sure that like me, most of you have whiled away the hours ogling his ridiculously pretty drinks. So when Sarah and I kidnapped him invited him to collaborate on our next video, something boozy, cold and liquid seemed the obvious choice. Thus we present to you our newest video: Trio of Floats. Please enjoy our creation (and make sure you have the sound turned up!).
(You can watch our other videos here. [Also, Sarah playing her cat like a bagpipe – not to be missed].)We each made a different soda which we poured over Sarah's vegan vanilla bean ice cream, a super creamy version made with coconut milk and cream, loads of vanilla, and a touch of coconut oil and corn syrup to keep it pliable.
Hilarity ensued.
We ingested insane amounts of ice cream.
This float starts with fresh cherries simmered with cacao nibs, vanilla bean and a judicious amount of sugar. When cooled and strained, I mix it with bourbon and a squeeze of lime juice to make the flavors pop. It makes a tasty soda simply mixed with sparkling water and ice. But poured over Sarah's ice cream, the flavors jump to life.
Earthy cacao nibs whisper of chocolate against sweet cherry juice and tangy bourbon. Vanilla smoothes the flavors which are sharpened with lime. And ice cream makes everything better.
Cherries are peaking in California right now, with several varieties available at the markets. Look for a deep red variety such as Bing or Chelan, and reserve some doubles for garnishing the glasses. This makes a smallish batch, but feel free to double or triple the soda should you find yourself with a glut of cherries – the syrup will keep, refrigerated, for at least a couple of weeks.
The only thing better than a cherry bourbon cacao nib float? A trio of floats! See Sarah and Todd's sites for their insanely tasty recipes.
All images and video shot in collaboration with Todd and Sarah.
More Cherry And Berry Recipes:
- Cherry Vanilla Maple Shrub
- Chocolate Cherry Skillet Blondie + Vanilla Bourbon Frozen Yogurt
- Roasted Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream with Bourbon and Chocolate
- Gluten-Free Cherry Pie with Bourbon & Spice
- Lemon Verbena and Red Berry Shakes
*Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this cherry bourbon cacao nib ice cream recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.*
Cherry Bourbon Cacao Nib Ice Cream Floats {vegan option}
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Cherry Cacao Nib Syrup:
- 2 cups sweet, dark cherries (~230 g)
- 1/2 cup organic blonde cane sugar (100 g)
- 6 tablespoons cacao nibs (25 g)
- 1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 1 cup water (235 ml)
Per soda:
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Cherry Cacao Nib Syrup (90 ml)
- 1/4 cup bourbon (60 ml)
- squeeze lime juice
- 1/2 cup sparkling water (120 ml)
Instructions
Cherry Cacao Nib Syrup:
- Place the cherries in a smallish saucepan and add the sugar, cacao nibs, and vanilla pod and scrapings. Use a muddle stick to mash the cherries to a rough pulp; it's fine to leave the pits in. Add the water and bring the mixture to a boil over a medium flame, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat, cover, and steep until cool, 1 hour and up to several hours. Strain through a mesh sieve and into a bowl, pressing on the solids firmly to extract all the good liquid. Discard the solids (or nom the cherry bits if you like.) Chill until cold. The syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.
- Combine the syrup, bourbon and lime juice in a jar or bottle. Add the sparkling water and stir to combine.
For float:
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream or vegan vanilla bean ice cream (homemade or store bought)Scoop the ice cream into a 12-ounce glass and top with the ice cream. Garnish with a couple of cherries if you like. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
[email protected] says
So so so AWESOME! I think I watched the video like 5 times. These floats look amazing and I can't wait to try them all!
Alanna says
Awww! Thank you so much Tori! <3
Ira Kharchenko says
Great post dear!
http://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/printed-sea-3880191
Alanna says
Thanks, you!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Raced over from Sarah's to see this culinary creation of deliciousness, because... it included cocoa nibs, cherry and bourbon... tell me now, what in the world could be better than this!? Fabulous concoction, Alanna... drooling and sooo looking forward to our local cherries comin in. Should be within a few weeks! Thank you for your inspiration! Such a beautiful, fun post!
Alanna says
Aw, thank you Traci! You are sooooo sweet.
Pang @circahappy says
Fun x 3!!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! This is the most fun collaboration post I have ever seen, not to mention a wonderful SUMMER recipes. I can't wait to see what you three will do next if the first one is OH-SO-FANTASTIC. <3 <3 <3
Alanna says
Pang! We gotta do a video together sometime, they're stupid fun. I miss you lady!! Let's get tea soon?
Pang says
Let's Let's Let's
I miss you, too :)
Alanna says
Yay!!! <3
Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation says
What a lovely collaboration. So sweet. And the floats look super delicious.
Alanna says
Aw, thank you Kimberly.
Rebecca Winkler says
Gorgeous. I haven't had an ice cream float in years (and even then, only with coca cola). This looks so much more tempting!
Alanna says
Haha, this is probably the most floats I've had in my entire life. Highly recommended! :)
DessertForTwo says
I smiled all the way thru the video! Lovely work, friends! :)
Alanna says
Awwww, thank you Christina!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Absolutely gorgeous floats, those colors are so striking!
Alanna says
Thank you Laura!!
Madeline says
Fabulous video...the outtakes are the best part! And gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS photos of multiply-flavored deliciousness! I'm completely out of superlatives...
Alanna says
Hahaha, thanks!!
Izzy says
These are so much fun!! And I love your video! I haven't had an ice cream float in forever, but I'm craving one now! The colors are so bright and beautiful :)
Alanna says
Thank you Miss Izzy! We had too much fun making them. :)
Lili says
I absolutely love this, I could watch that video over and over again! Great work!! :-)
Alanna says
Aw, thanks Lili!
Betty Bake says
beautiful - well done on all the work you put intro making the video, editing etc..
beautiful and delicious!
Alanna says
Thanks!
Betty Liu says
Ahhh my gosh Alanna, this is SO gorgeous and pretty! I love all the bright colors - this came in perfect timing because we've had several days of rain and gloom. So so beautiful!! And I absolutely love the "bloopers" at the end. Who hasn't had that experience of scooping out ice cream... and then finding out that it WON"T FALL? Hahaha, I could not stop giggling.
Alanna says
Haha! We couldn't stop laughing either. Thanks so much for watching and for the kind note Miss Betty! (Video collab in July?!?!)
Tessa | Salted Plains says
These photos are so beautiful, Alanna!!! And the cherry cacao nib syrup + bourbon + ice cream sound just splendid. The video is awesome - looks like you guys had so much fun!
Alanna says
Aw, thank you Tessa!
Lynsey Walker says
these are beyond beautiful. insanely in love. xo
Alanna says
Awww thank you Lynsey! <3
Bonnie Weeks says
These look amazing...and I would totally drink them for you right now. Beautiful work!
Alanna says
We need all the help we can get! ;)
The Kosher Spoon says
these looks amazing!! and thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! i had to update to disqus comment so yours doesn't show anymore but it's well appreciate! xo
Alanna says
Aw, too bad. Thanks for stopping by yourself. :)
Cindy says
These are the prettiest! and I love the video...though, now I'm thinking you probably stole it--floats, faces, friends, LIFE. But, seriously, these are the best colors and look amazingly delicious! It was so good to connect last weekend!!
Alanna says
Oh crap, you got me! ;) Thanks so much lady! It was SO good to meet you and I hope we get to hang more in the near future. (I got to taste a Blue Star donut on Sunday and you were right - heads and tails above Voodoo!) xoxo
Alyssa says
This combination sounds amazing! Have to figure out how I can get my hands on some cacao nibs in Tokyo...
Alanna says
Thanks Alyssa! There must be nibs about somewhere what with all the fancy French baking that goes on there, no? Hope you can get your hands on some soon!
rcakewalk says
Just excellent! Very nicely done, all the way around :)
Alanna says
Thank you, dear friend!!!