Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats

When it comes to Halloween, it’s not just about the costumes, spooky decor, and trick-or-treating—it’s also about the fun, creative, and delicious food! If you’re looking for a treat that’s sure to delight both kids and adults, these Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats are the perfect choice. These Halloween-inspired floats combine the bright orange color of Fanta soda with creamy vanilla ice cream to create a spooky, jack-o’-lantern-themed dessert that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Not only are they super easy to prepare, but they also make for a colorful, festive addition to any Halloween party.

Imagine enjoying a creamy orange float with a whimsical twist—your glass looks like a glowing jack-o’-lantern! With a bit of creativity and some simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of these Fanta floats in no time. They’re refreshing, sweet, and perfect for celebrating Halloween. Plus, with just a few additional decorations and some orange and black straws, you can make these spooky treats look extra special for your Halloween table.

Whether you’re hosting a party, enjoying a Halloween movie marathon, or just want to surprise your family with a fun treat, these Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats are sure to be a big hit!

Why You’ll Love These Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats

1. Fun and Festive: These floats look like little jack-o’-lanterns, making them perfect for Halloween parties or family get-togethers.
2. Quick and Easy: With just a few simple ingredients, these floats come together in minutes, and you can easily make them in large batches for parties.
3. Kid-Friendly: The bright orange color and creamy vanilla ice cream make these floats a hit with kids (and adults who are kids at heart).
4. Customizable: You can get creative with the decorations, the ice cream flavor, and even the type of soda you use.
5. Perfect for Parties: These Fanta floats are a great party treat, and you can even set up a float-making station where guests can make their own jack-o’-lantern floats!

Preparation Time and Servings

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 0 minutes (no cooking required!)
• Total time: 10 minutes
• Yield: Serves 4-6
• Serving Size: 1 float per person

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 290 kcal
• Carbs: 45g
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 10g
• Sugar: 40g

(These values are approximate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used and portion sizes.)

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these fun Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats:

For the Floats:

• 4-6 clear plastic cups or glass jars (to mimic the jack-o’-lantern shape)
• 4-6 scoops of vanilla ice cream (about 1 scoop per float)
• 1 liter of Fanta Orange Soda (you can substitute with any orange soda of your choice)
• Whipped cream (optional, for topping)
• Candy pumpkins, orange or black sprinkles (optional, for garnish)

For the Jack O’Lantern Decoration:

• Black construction paper or black adhesive vinyl
• Scissors
• Tape or adhesive (if using construction paper)
• Orange and black straws (for extra Halloween flair)
• Green pipe cleaners (optional, to resemble pumpkin vines)

Optional Add-Ins and Variations:

• Orange sherbet for an extra fruity flavor instead of vanilla ice cream
• Candy corn, to sprinkle inside the drink for an added Halloween touch
• Soda variations: Try mixing it up with grape soda or root beer for a different twist
• Alcoholic version: For adults, add a shot of vodka, rum, or orange liqueur to create a spiked version of the float
• Halloween candies for decorating the tops of the floats

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Decorate the Cups

The first step to creating these Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats is to decorate your cups so that they look like little jack-o’-lanterns! Here’s how you can do it:

1. Cut Out the Jack-O’-Lantern Faces:

Using black construction paper or black adhesive vinyl, cut out shapes to create the classic jack-o’-lantern faces. You’ll need triangles or ovals for the eyes, a triangle for the nose, and a jagged smile for the mouth. If you’re feeling creative, you can experiment with different facial expressions—happy, spooky, or silly!

2. Attach the Faces to the Cups:

If you’re using black construction paper, attach the cut-out faces to the outside of your clear plastic cups or glass jars using tape or a glue stick. If you’re using adhesive vinyl, simply peel off the backing and stick the faces onto the cups. Make sure to position the eyes, nose, and mouth so they’re visible when the cup is filled with the orange float.

3. Optional Decorations:

For added fun, you can twist green pipe cleaners around the top of the cup to resemble pumpkin vines. This extra detail will make your floats even more festive. You can also use orange and black straws to complete the Halloween look.

Step 2: Assemble the Floats

Once your cups are decorated, it’s time to build your spooky Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats!

1. Scoop the Ice Cream:

Place one large scoop of vanilla ice cream into each decorated cup. If you want a fruitier flavor, you can use orange sherbet instead, but vanilla ice cream gives a nice creamy contrast to the orange soda.

2. Pour in the Fanta Soda:

Carefully pour Fanta Orange Soda over the ice cream, filling the cup to the top. The soda will foam and fizz when it meets the ice cream, creating a fun, frothy texture. This fizzy orange soda also gives the floats their bright jack-o’-lantern hue!

3. Top with Whipped Cream (Optional):

If you want to make the floats extra special, add a dollop of whipped cream on top. This adds a creamy, fluffy finish that pairs perfectly with the sweet soda and ice cream.

Step 3: Garnish the Floats

Now it’s time to make your Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats look even more festive with some fun Halloween garnishes!

1. Candy Pumpkin Garnish:

Place a candy pumpkin or candy corn on top of the whipped cream for an extra spooky touch. You can also sprinkle orange or black Halloween sprinkles over the whipped cream for added flair.

2. Add a Straw:

Insert a cute orange and black striped straw into each float. The straws not only look festive but make sipping your float easier.

3. Serve Immediately:

Serve your Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats immediately after assembling, as the soda and ice cream will start to melt and blend together. The fizzing, bubbling effect is part of the fun!

Step 4: Enjoy Your Spooky Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats!

Gather your family or guests, and serve these fun and festive Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats! They’re refreshing, sweet, and bursting with Halloween spirit. Whether you’re serving them at a party, as a dessert for a Halloween dinner, or as a treat while watching spooky movies, these floats are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

How to Serve

• At a Halloween Party: Set up a DIY float station where guests can make their own Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats. Provide pre-decorated cups, a cooler of orange soda, a tub of ice cream, and plenty of toppings so everyone can get creative with their float creations.
• As a Halloween Dessert: Serve these floats as a fun dessert at the end of a Halloween-themed meal. They pair perfectly with other Halloween treats like cupcakes, cookies, or spooky appetizers.
• For a Family Movie Night: Enjoy these festive floats during a Halloween movie marathon with family or friends. They’re the perfect treat to sip on while watching your favorite spooky flicks.
• With Other Halloween Sweets: These floats pair wonderfully with a candy bar, where guests can help themselves to Halloween candies, gummies, and other spooky sweets.

Additional Tips for Success

1. Decorate the Cups in Advance: If you’re planning to make these for a party or event, you can decorate the cups ahead of time. This way, when it’s time to assemble the floats, all you have to do is scoop the ice cream and pour the soda.
2. Use Cold Soda: Make sure your Fanta Orange Soda is well-chilled before making the floats. The colder the soda, the better it will combine with the ice cream and create that classic float texture.
3. Try Different Flavors: While Fanta Orange is the classic choice for creating a jack-o’-lantern look, you can experiment with other soda flavors. Try grape soda for a spooky purple float or lemon-lime soda for a ghostly green twist.
4. Create Layers: For an extra fun presentation, you can layer the ice cream and soda in the cups, adding a small scoop of ice cream, pouring a little soda, then repeating until the cup is full. This creates fun layers of foam and ice cream!
5. Serve Immediately: Floats are best served right after assembling. If they sit too long, the ice cream will melt completely into the soda, losing that delightful fizz and foam.

Recipe Variations

This Fanta Jack O’Lantern Float recipe is incredibly versatile, and you can easily customize it to suit your preferences or party theme. Here are a few variations to try:

1. Orange Sherbet Jack O’Lantern Float:

Swap out the vanilla ice cream for orange sherbet for a super fruity and vibrant version of this float. The orange sherbet will enhance the orange flavor and add an extra citrusy twist to the float.

2. Spiked Jack O’Lantern Float (Adults Only):

For a fun, boozy version of this float, add a shot of vanilla vodka, orange liqueur, or rum to the Fanta before adding the ice cream. This adult version is perfect for a Halloween cocktail party.

3. Black-and-Orange Halloween Float:

For an even spookier look, combine Fanta Orange soda with grape soda or black cherry soda to create a black-and-orange layered float. Layer the grape or black cherry soda with the Fanta for a haunting Halloween color scheme.

4. Vegan Jack O’Lantern Float:

For a dairy-free or vegan option, use dairy-free vanilla ice cream or coconut ice cream instead of regular ice cream. Make sure the Fanta is also vegan (most sodas are, but it’s always good to double-check).

5. Root Beer Jack O’Lantern Float:

If you’re a root beer lover, switch up the soda and make a Root Beer Jack O’Lantern Float instead! The root beer will still give you a delicious float experience, and you can still decorate the cups like jack-o’-lanterns.

Freezing and Storage

Storing Leftovers:

Since these floats are made with soda and ice cream, they’re best enjoyed immediately. If you have leftover soda or ice cream, you can store them separately for future floats, but don’t assemble the floats ahead of time, as they will melt and lose their bubbly, fizzy texture.

Make-Ahead Tips:

While you can’t make the floats ahead of time, you can prepare the decorated cups, chill the soda, and scoop the ice cream into individual servings. Then, when it’s time to serve, you can quickly assemble the floats.

Special Equipment

• Clear plastic cups or glass jars: To create the jack-o’-lantern look, you’ll need clear cups or glass jars so the orange color of the float is visible.
• Black construction paper or vinyl: For creating the jack-o’-lantern faces on the cups.
• Scissors and tape: To attach the jack-o’-lantern faces to the cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use another type of soda for these floats?

Yes! While Fanta Orange is perfect for creating the jack-o’-lantern look, you can use any soda you like. Root beer, grape soda, or even lemon-lime soda would work well. Just keep in mind that different sodas will change the flavor and color of the float.

2. Can I make these floats ahead of time?

Floats are best served immediately after assembling to preserve the fizzy texture of the soda and ice cream. You can prepare the decorated cups and chill the soda in advance, but wait until you’re ready to serve to combine the soda and ice cream.

3. Can I use homemade ice cream for this recipe?

Absolutely! Homemade vanilla ice cream would be delicious in these floats. Just make sure the ice cream is well-frozen before scooping it into the cups.

4. How do I make these floats look like jack-o’-lanterns?

To create the jack-o’-lantern look, simply decorate clear plastic cups with cut-out jack-o’-lantern faces using black construction paper or adhesive vinyl. Then, when you fill the cups with Fanta Orange Soda, the orange color will make the cups look like glowing jack-o’-lanterns!

5. Can I make a sugar-free version of these floats?

Yes! You can use sugar-free soda and sugar-free ice cream to create a lower-sugar version of these floats. The texture and flavor may be slightly different, but they’ll still be delicious and festive.

Conclusion

Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats are the perfect combination of fun, festive, and delicious—just what you need to celebrate Halloween! Whether you’re making these for a party, a family Halloween movie night, or just because you want to enjoy a spooky, sweet treat, these floats are sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces.

The best part is how easy and customizable they are. You can get creative with the decorations, the soda flavors, and the garnishes to make your Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats unique and tailored to your tastes. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these fun Halloween treats as much as I do—have a spooktacular Halloween!

Print