This Purple Cow Drink is a special beverage that takes a classic root beer float and flips it on its head. Kids and adults alike will love this grape juice and vanilla ice cream mixture. It’s a great way to deviate from a classic dessert, just a wee bit, and make it a fun color for summer or just because!

Where Does a Purple Cow Drink Originate From?

A Purple Cow Drink, and variations like it, have been around for quite a long time. Of course, many of us have had a root beer float and have used other sodas to mix it up. There’s no history that I can find leading back to when the Purple Cow Drink first came on the scene. However, a float in general, which is an ice cream and soda mixture, has been around since 1874. It was created by Robert Green in Pennsylvania during a big celebration. He ran out of ice for the drinks and resorted to using vanilla ice cream instead.

Floats became so popular that they eventually made their way around the world. They’re also referred to as ice cream soda, coke floats, and spiders, depending on where you’re at on the globe. Floats are still a super popular beverage or dessert, especially when hotter temperatures start coming around.

Variations of the Purple Cow Drink

Floats are traditionally made with soda and a Purple Cow Beverage is traditionally made with grape soda. However, the variation I like to use involves grape juice. Of course, I’m not the only one that’s used grape juice for this drink. Using juice instead of soda is a common variation when it comes to this beverage.

Some people have even used frozen blueberries, blackberries, or purple grapes to go a more natural route. They place the berries in the glass first and pour sparkling water over the top of them and let them sit a minute for the fruit to steep. Then they add their ice cream.

Places You’ll Find the Purple Cow Drink

Although floats in general are popular, a purple cow version of a float isn’t commonly seen like it used to be back in the day. You can always special request it since the ingredients themselves are pretty popular and commonly found. There’s also the option of ordering the two ingredients separately and making it yourself. However, if you don’t want to go through the trouble and would like to try a good, classic Purple Cow Drink, The Purple Cow Restaurant in Arkansas specializes in the drink (hence the name).

How Do You Make a Purple Cow Drink?

Making this float is quite easy and quick. Simply spoon the desired amount of vanilla ice cream into your glass (I usually do two big scoops). Take your grape juice and slowly pour it over your ice cream (I like to use Welch’s grape juice). The portions are up to you and each person is different with what they prefer.

Purple Cow Float

Yield: 1

Purple Cow Float

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

This Purple Cow Drink is a special beverage that takes a classic root beer float and flips it on its head. Kids and adults alike will love this grape juice and vanilla ice cream mixture.

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Ingredients

• 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream (adjust for personal preference)
• 8-10 ounces of Welch's grape juice or grape soda

Instructions

1. Spoon vanilla ice cream into a glass.
2. Pour grape juice or soda over the ice cream.
3. Enjoy!

If you’ve ever had a float, you will most likely fall in love with a Purple Cow Drink. Plus, it’s a fun drink to make with the kids or for a summer get together.