In the world of beverages poured over ice cream, I think root beer floats reign supreme (sorry, affogatos). Creamy vanilla ice cream and herbal root beer are a match made in soda shop heaven, a rich and complex combo that keeps you coming back for another sip and spoonful. Here the classic pairing gets the granita treatment, with a can of sweetened condensed milk standing in for the ice cream. By freezing the mixture in a baking dish and scraping it periodically with a fork, you’ll yield a refreshingly icy treat with a melt-in-your-mouth texture—serve it heaped up in cups or small bowls with a spoon and a maraschino cherry for old-school vibes. — Kendra Vaculin
Ingredients
8 servings
48
oz. root beer (6 cups)
1
14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
Maraschino cherries (for serving)
Preparation
Step 1
Bring 48 oz. root beer (6 cups) to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and whisk in one 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk. Transfer to a 13×9″ baking dish and let cool, about 30 minutes.
Step 2
Transfer baking dish to freezer and freeze 90 minutes. Using a fork, scrape granita, making sure to get around edges of dish (it will feel like a slushy at the edges but still be fairly liquid in the center). Continue to freeze, scraping every hour or so, until mixture resembles fluffy shaved ice, about 3 hours more.
Step 3
To serve, scoop into glasses or bowls and top with maraschino cherries.
