This creamy root beer cocktail tastes like an adult version of a classic root beer float. It’s made with root beer, spiced rum, and RumChata for a smooth, slightly cinnamon-spiced drink that’s sweet, creamy, and ridiculously easy to make.
It takes about 5 minutes to mix together and instantly feels a little nostalgic. Think fizzy root beer, warm vanilla spice from the rum, and that creamy float flavor without needing a scoop of ice cream. Trust me, it’s one of those drinks that disappears fast.
If you’re looking for another dessert cocktail, try this creamy espresso martini, dairy-free eggnog spiked with brandy, or a pumpkin spice white Russian next.
You’d think this would be one of those cocktails you save for special occasions with friends on the weekends. Nope, I casually drink this on Tuesdays after work. Because it’s just so tasty.
The dark rum and root beer are the perfect match because they’re both sweet with notes of vanilla and have slightly spicy undertones. They both have a smooth, velvety taste. And the splash of heavy cream and rumchata add the creaminess you’d get from the scoop of vanilla ice cream, plus a hint of cinnamon flavor. I love it when new recipes turn into instant favorites!
If you love creamy, sweet cold drinks but don’t love alcohol, give this cake batter protein shake, iced caramel latte, or mocha coconut iced coffee a try. Sip sip hooray!
Inspiration for this Root Beer Cocktail
The idea for this drink came about when Not Your Father’s Root Beer blew up. I’ve always been a fan of root beer, so when I realized my taste buds could enjoy this classic soda as an adult drink, I was pumped to say the least.
The wheels started turning. Why not take a classic ice cream drink for a hot summer day and turn it into a dessert cocktail for the next party or relaxing night in? I think it’s probably the most nostalgic drink recipe I’ve ever had. The end result was much better than either of us expected it would be. We were actually at a wedding and introduced this to everyone and they thought it was the wedding drink special! No big deal.
So I thought it was only right to share it with all of you! Something this good should not be kept a secret. I hope you enjoy this drink as much as we do! And if you’re not a drinker, maybe this will inspire you to have a classic root beer float!
Why this Root Beer Cocktail Recipe Works
This drink works because the flavors already naturally belong together. Root beer, spiced rum, and cream all share warm vanilla and spice notes, so the cocktail tastes balanced instead of overly sweet.
The RumChata adds instant creaminess. It gives the drink that root beer float flavor without needing ice cream, plus a little cinnamon spice that makes the whole thing taste like a dessert.
Spiced rum complements the root beer. Both have hints of vanilla, caramel, and warm spices, so the flavors blend really smoothly instead of competing.
It takes five minutes. No shaking, no special equipment. Just pour, stir, and you’re done
How to Make a Root Beer Cocktail
Here are the basic steps, with images, for this root beer cocktail. Skip down to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe.
1. Prepare glass.
Fill a tall glass with crushed ice cubes. Pour in the root beer and spiced rum and stir to combine.
2. Add cream and rumchata.
Top it off with rumchata and a splash of heavy cream if desired.
3. Stir and serve.
Taste and add more rum, root beer, or cream to taste. Serve right away.
Recipe Variations
- You can use any brand of root beer for this cocktail. Not Your Father’s Root Beer will give you even more alcohol percentage. Olipop root beer, Diet root beer, or cream soda also work for this recipe.
- Try pinnacle whipped vodka instead of spiced rum for vodka root beer floats.
- If you really want to make this a treat, replace the heavy cream for a scoop of vanilla ice cream or coconut ice cream for an adult root beer float
- Swap the rumchata for coffee liqueur (Kahlua) and heavy cream.
- Batch it. Make a larger batch of this by doubling or tripling the recipe and waiting to pour it over ice when you’re ready to serve.
- Make it a mocktail. Omit the spiced rum and rumchata and add heavy cream and vanilla extract. For the spiced flavor, you could use cinnamon dolce coffee creamer instead of heavy cream or make a quick simple syrup with equal parts water and sugar simmered with cinnamon sticks and cloves.
What Alcohol Goes Best with Root Beer?
Spiced rum is one of the best alcohol pairings with root beer because both have vanilla, caramel, and warm spice flavors. Whipped vodka is another popular option for a root beer float style cocktail. Coffee liqueur like Kahlua also works well if you want a richer, dessert-style drink.
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Creamy Root Beer Cocktail
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
- 6-8 ounces Root Beer (Note 1)
- 2 ounces dark spiced rum (Note 2)
- 2 ounces Rumchata or Bailey's Irish Cream (or heavy cream)
- Crushed ice and whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- Fill a glass with crushed ice. Pour the root beer and rum in the glass and stir to combine. Top it with Rumchata and mix again until combined.
- Top with whipped cream and serve right away.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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🤣 note 1 says “diet root beef”…sampling the recipe while writing were we? 😉 srsly, excited to try this, thank you!
Haha whoops! Fixed! Thanks 🙂
My wife and I made this for a drink after voting. We used Bumbu rum, Bumbu crème, and made the whipped topping. Delicious! Definitely a drink we’ll be making again.
Thanks Adam!
Made these for a date night in recently and they were so creamy and delicious! I think next time I’d even add the scoop of ice cream!