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Create an old fashioned ice cream soda like they use to serve at the local lunch counter at home! With just a few ingredients you can enjoy this delicious treat.
I am lucky to have grown up in the mid-west town of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
My high school was right downtown and we had an open lunch hour which meant we could leave the school at lunchtime. sometimes my friends and I would head over to the Woolworth’s, the local five and dime that was right downtown.
Woolworths had a little bit of everything. It was the Target of its’ day. I bought sewing supplies there and they even carried pet supplies and pets! The thing I loved most about Woolworth’s was that it had a lunch counter. (Thanks to Google Images I was able to find a photo of the actual lunch counter from my Woolworths!)
You could sit there on a stool and enjoy a hamburger or a grilled cheese sandwich and of course a milkshake.
One of my favorite things to enjoy at the soda fountain or ice cream parlor was a chocolate ice cream soda. Making the perfect one at home is so easy!
Ingredients Needed
- Vanilla Ice cream
- Chocolate syrup. I use Hershey’s syrup.
- Soda/seltzer water
- Whip cream
- Sprinkles
How to Make An Old Fashioned Ice Cream Soda
- Add chocolate syrup into glass. I like to start with a frosted or chilled glass. The amount of syrup you will add depends on the size of your glass. I used about 2 Tablespoons of chocolate syrup to 1/2 C soda/seltzer water.
- Add in soda/seltzer water.
- Scoop in scoops of ice cream to reach the top of the glass.
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkles. Add a straw and long spoon.
Tips from Leigh Anne
- A fun flavor variation is to use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.
- Garnish with some whipped cream and a maraschino cherry or sprinkles for fun.
The last thing left to do is add a spoon and a straw and dig it!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an ice cream soda and ice cream floats?
An ice cream soda is made with soda water, syrup, and ice cream. An ice cream float is made with soda and ice cream. Root beer floats or Orange Cream Floats are popular flavors for ice cream floats.
Can I use other flavored syrups?
You can use any favorite flavors you have. Strawberry is another favorite at our house.
Try these other ice cream treats:
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Old Fashioned Ice Cream Soda
Ingredients
- 2 large scoops vanilla ice cream
- 2 Tbsp chocolate syrup
- 1/2 cup seltzer or soda water
- whip cream and sprinkles to garnish
Instructions
- Pour chocolate syrup and soda water into glass.
- Stir to mix well.
- Add in ice cream
- Top with whip cream and sprinkles.
Tips & Notes:
- A fun flavor variation is to use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.
- Garnish with some whipped cream and a maraschino cherry or sprinkles for fun.
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Nutrition Facts:
Sherry Donnelly says
Ah yes the good ole days! Springfield, Ohio 1950’s and 1960’s My mom was mgr of our Woolworth’s lunch counter. I was a favorite of the store mgr’s Mr. & Mrs Shannon (1950’s) and i have pictures of store front window on Saturdays holding a children’s style show. Of course i was a model! I remember Mrs. Shannon would come in every week on a certain day and take me to lunch counter for a milkshake. I was always thrilled! Then in the 60’s several of us would go for lunch on school days. Loved their hot dogs, mashed potatoes and gravy! What I would give to go back to those wonderful days and memories!
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
I’d love to go back to those good old days for a visit too!
patty wilkerson says
After So glad you talked about ice cream soda’s and the soda fountains that sold them. I miss them. Our Woolworth’s made the best ice cream soda. They start out with about 1/4 cup milk then add the chocolate syrup, the seltzer water, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream , whip cream and cherry on top. Ummmm nothing better! Please try the milk addition, it is so much better. We go to an ice cream shop at the beach and I always have to tell the to put milk in the glass first. Let me know how you like it. If you Google chocolate ice cream soda, it will list recipes with the milk included
Leigh Anne says
Patty, Will definitely try it with milk next time. Sounds great!
ang says
My grandmother always used to tell me stories about going to get ice cream sodas and flirting with the soda jerks 🙂 Thanks a great recipe, and making that nice memory pop up 🙂
Ang
Anne Marie says
Oh my! What wonderful pictures of Woolworth’s counter.
I remember it well growing up in Massachusetts and I loved my chocolate ice cream soda’s.
I am going to make your recipe and recall all those yummy memories in every bite. Thank you.
Leigh Anne says
Anne Marie, Enjoy your ice cream soda!!
Amy at Living Locurto says
Love that huge counter from the old photo! I’m from a small town in Oklahoma and it still looks similar to these photos. Will have to try this recipe, it looks great!