Beverage Recipes

Raspberry & Aperol Floats

The bright syrup at the bottom of this drink is made with Aperol, a semi-dry aperitif from northern Italy that tastes like a combination of bitter grapefruit and sweet, melted orange popsicle. As you can imagine, it’s wonderful with vanilla ice cream. And once you add the fresh raspberries, it’s like a slightly boozy version of some of the best, most cheerful childhood desserts: strawberry milk, milkshakes, and dreamsicles.

It’s a good-looking dessert too: the bright orange-pink syrup looks delightful against the white ice cream, and the foam is so celebrational. It makes a classic barbecue or picnic dessert, especially if there’s a birthday involved. We also like to serve a mini version of it in a brandy snifter — it’s the perfect dessert cocktail to wrap up an evening with your partner.

Raspberry & Aperol Floats
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Beverage

Raspberry & Aperol Floats

Serves: 4

Ingredients

3 sprigs thyme
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup (or more) Aperol
1 ⅓ cups raspberries (about 6 ounces)
1 pint vanilla ice cream or gelato
2 12-ounce cans club soda

Directions

  1. Bring thyme, sugar, and ¼ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit 15 minutes.
  2. Remove thyme sprig and let syrup cool. Stir in ¼ cup Aperol.
  3. Divide syrup and raspberries between 4 tall glasses and muddle gently.
  4. Dividing evenly, add ice cream and top off each with club soda and more Aperol, if desired.

Source: Bon Appétit