"Floating" - Cool Dessert Ideas for a Hot Father's Day Barbecue

Summer hosts need to keep their cool!  No guest likes to arrive at a Father's Day BBQ and be greeted and guilt-ed by a frazzled, sweaty, red-faced, scowling barbecuer. Sometimes, that off-handedly casual "just drop over for a barbecue" invitation is some kind of high maintenance brand of summer dinner party.  It can be deceiving!

Grilling up burgers requires slicing tomatoes, onions, and pickles.  You must lovingly select, rinse, and tenderly blot the lettuce; and then spoon up the mustard, mayo, and ketchup. Who "relishes" that job?  And, oh, what about the side dishes.  Potato salad-making and fresh fruit-cutting and
-presenting is no joke (okay, the chips, dips and olives may be easy).  I don't know about you.  But baking or making dessert can send an "entertainer" right into orbit.

I love to present a "ta da" ending to a meal.  Something yummy and worthy of a "Wow!" without any more crazy prepwork.  So here's a fun, chill idea.  How about a float?  Cool, fizzy, creamy, and dreamy.  Making a float isn't a recipe thing.  Do you want to go fruity? Boozy?  Chocolaty?  Are kids coming?  you will need glasses (or Solo cups), spoons, an ice cream scoop, and some fun straws.  Most floats are best with 2-3 scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, fresh fruit, a chocolate or caramel syrup, a chocolate curl or two, and whatever drink "floats" your boat.  Always scoop your ice cream first and then slowly pour over your fizzy find.  Give the foam a few minutes to settle down and add more beverage.

Let's get you started:

1.  Beer Float  - Yup, it's a thing.  Try using a beer that has some body, like a stout.  You don't want a sour or bitter tasting variety.  Thrillist Food & Drink has some great ideas for beer and ice cream pairings that sound pretty amazing.  How about serving your float in a beer stein or mason jar?  They even suggest a hefeweizen with a banana sorbet.  Hmm, kind of interesting.  A beer float bar could be a fun way to create your own unique combos.

2.  Coffee Float - Get caffeinated with cappuccino gelato (chocolate, vanilla, or mocha fudge swirl work too) topped with cold brew coffee.  Nitro coffee?  I've accessorized this one with dark chocolate-covered espresso beans.  Delish.

3.  Champagne Float - A champagne or prosecco float is a cool idea to celebrate an upcoming engagement, birthday, retirement, new home, wedding, or just about any fun or festive occasion.  Try a raspberry sorbet with champagne and sprinkle on a few fresh raspberries.  You can also try a small pour of prosecco with a fresh fruit popsicle standing on its head in a stemless wine glass; chic, easy, and refreshing.

4.  Peach & Grapefruit Fizzy Float - Bon Appetit Magazine recommends peach ice cream, grapefruit soda, and an ounce of campari with a taragon sprig.

5.  Kahlua & Coke Float - Suggested by Brit + Co. (via Shabby Creek Cottage), try 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream, a healthy dose of Coke, and a big splash of kahlua.

6.  Root Beer Float - Of course you can't go wrong when you go classic.  Good quality root beer paired with rich vanilla ice cream.  Out of this world!

(7.  Unicorn Float - If your kids are all about unicorns, you can serve up a float with a rainbow sorbet, bubbly water, and a multi-colored straw.)

As you can see, you are only limited by your imagination.  So bring on the heat.  I am going to vibe up the cool factor by surprising my family with a beer float bar for Father's Day. Cheers!