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This do-it-yourself homemade root beer has the perfect touch of fizz and amazing flavor. It’s party perfect!
If you love root beer like I do, try our Root Beer Float Ice Cream Cake, or make floats with our homemade Vanilla Ice Cream!
Who Doesn’t love Root Beer?
Our family are big fans of root beer! We don’t drink soda too often, but when we do our go-to drink is always Root Beer because it’s so good.
We tried a homemade version at a church party and knew we had to try it ourselves. It is so delicious and is perfect for parties and holidays, and we especially love to whip it up around Halloween.
Why we love it:
- Better at home. It only uses 4 ingredients and the flavor is unmatched! It’s far better than any store-bought version.
- It’s science. Dry ice offers a unique twist, creating a visually exciting and dramatic effect and providing a carbonated finish.
- A float! Add Vanilla Ice Cream and turn this into a best-loved classic treat.
- Spooky punch. You can easily turn this into a Halloween drink with added dry ice. See the simple step-by-step directions below!
Root Beer Ingredients
- cold water
- granulated sugar – sweetens the root beer. Adjust the amount used to your preference, or try using a sugar substitute such as stevia, monk fruit extract, or erythritol.
- Add in sweet fruit juices or use honey or maple syrup but note that these choices will change the flavor profile of the root beer
- root beer extract (Zatarain Brand) – Traditional root beer uses different combinations of flavors and spices such as sassafras root bark, wintergreen, star anise, sarsaparilla root, ginger root, licorice root, and birch bark. This recipe used a premade root beer blend that uses similar flavors and does not contain alcohol or any artificial colors.
- dry ice – creates carbonation. Or use a home carbonation system.
How to Make Root Beer
- LIQUID. Dissolve sugar completely in the water. Add root beer extract and stir to combine. Taste and add any more sugar or extract needed. (Mix the root beer in a well-ventilated area.)
- DRY ICE. Carefully break up the dry ice pieces into very small pieces. Add the dry ice pieces using gloves or tongs, stir into the water, sugar, and extract mixture making sure to keep the ice from sticking to the bowl and to melt the dry ice. The mixture will start to bubble and the fog will pour out and over the bowl.
- SERVE. Make sure the ice is completely melted before ladling into cups or mugs. To be extra safe, pour the mixture through a mesh strainer before stirring to filter out any small pieces of dry ice.
A Smoky Brew
Create a fun Halloween drink! You’ll need some dry ice and a couple of non-glass bowls.
- Break the dry ice into pieces using a hammer or other tool. Wear gloves when handling the dry ice and do not let your skin touch it.
- Place a few pieces of dry ice in the bottom of the larger bowl or cauldron. Nestle the smaller bowl on top of the dry ice.
- Add warm water to the larger bowl and the dry ice will start smoking.
- When you need more smoke add more small pieces of dry ice to the larger bowl and apply warm water.
- Be very careful that no dry ice lands in the punch. It could cause harm if swallowed.
- Store extra dry ice in a styrofoam cooler nearby or, if you can, under the punch table.
Storing Root Beer
- STORE. Transfer the homemade root beer recipe into airtight containers (bottles or pitchers with tight-fitting lids) before placing them in the refrigerator.
- Airtight containers will help maintain the carbonation for as long as possible. Store for 3-5 days.
For More Sweets:
Homemade Root Beer
This do-it-yourself homemade root beer has the perfect touch of fizz and amazing flavor. It's party perfect!
Ingredients
- 1 gallon cold water
- 2 – 2½ cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons root beer extract, zatarain brand
- 1½ – 2 pounds dry ice, broken into pieces
Instructions
- Add water and sugar to a large punch bowl, stirring to dissolve sugar completely.
- Add root beer extract and stir to combine. Taste and add any more sugar or extract needed.
- Make sure you are mixing the root beer in a well-ventilated area.
- Carefully break up the dry ice pieces into very small pieces. Add the dry ice pieces using gloves or tongs, stir into the water, sugar, and extract mixture making sure to keep the ice from sticking to the bowl and to melt the dry ice. The mixture will start to bubble and the fog will pour out and over the bowl.
- Make sure ice is completely melted before ladling into cups or mugs. To be extra safe, you can pour the mixture through a mesh strainer before stirring to filter out any small pieces of dry ice.
Notes
STORE. Transfer the root beer into airtight containers, such as bottles or pitchers with tight-fitting lids, before placing them in the refrigerator. Using airtight containers will help maintain the carbonation for as long as possible. Store for 3-5 days.
A float! Add Vanilla Ice Cream and turn this into a best-loved classic treat.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g, Calories: 121kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 15mg, Potassium: 1mg, Sugar: 31g, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0.02mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you need to use dry ice?
Yes, I would recommend it!
Love root beer and will have to try this!
My niece had root beer milk as a dessert at her KC wedding from a dairy outside of town (Shatto Dairy) and it was delicious! My husband and I buy some to bring home every time we are in the area. I will have to experiment now to see if I can duplicate that since we don’t live close enough to enjoy it more than once every couple of years.
Such a great idea to quench everybody at home! So easy and delicious! Highly recommended!
Thank you!
This was absolutely amazing! We had so much fun making these and drank every last drop!