Blood Orange Ice Cream Soda

Don't let blood orange season pass you by without enjoying a Blood Orange Ice Cream Soda, made with just 5 simple ingredients! I also recommend making extra blood orange simple syrup to get you through the beginning of spring.

(This recipe for Blood Orange Ice Cream Soda was originally posted in February 2014, but has been updated with new photos and content in 2019).

It's March 3rd and next week is daylight savings, which basically means it's spring... Annnnd we had a big snowstorm in Boston this morning. OK, I am trying really hard not to complain because we've had a ridiculously mild winter and I barely even wore my huge winter coat or needed to wear leggings under my pants (newsflash:I hate wearing leggings under my pants with a passion, but sometimes it's so necessary to get through the day). But still. I think I'm ready for spring. And there's really not much about the winter that I'm going to miss. Besides seeing how cute my dog is prancing around in the freshly fallen snow. And blood oranges. Yup, that's just about it.

I'm proud to say I had my fair share of blood oranges this winter, incorporating them into lots of desserts, meals, and cocktails. And I wanted to close out the season with one of my favorite fun drinks- blood orange ice cream sodas. There's no alcohol in these ice cream sodas, making them the perfect weeknight treat. Butttt you can also add a little vodka to them if you want, also making them the perfect weeknight treat. I'll let you decide. But one thing is for sure; you need to end the winter with a jar of that blood orange simple syrup in your fridge!

BLOOD ORANGE ICE CREAM SODA RECIPE

There's something so fun and spring-like about sipping on an ice cream soda. And they're one of those desserts that people rarely seem to make, possibly because they're a little bit old school. If you've never had one before, it might even sound a bit weird; ice cream and carbonated soda water?? But seriously, it works so well together... Especially when you mix in blood orange simple syrup, too.

This is a super simple recipe, but one that I think looks pretty impressive. I think anything with blood oranges has a little extra oomph to it and can go a long way in impressing. Even the simple syrup is ridiculously easy to make. But just make note that you'll need to let it cool before you assemble the blood orange ice cream sodas, so make it at least an hour in advance. It should last about a month in an airtight container in your fridge, too, so you can easily make it even further ahead of time. If you're ending the season with some extra blood oranges on your hand and no idea what to do with them, make extra blood orange simple syrup and you'll be able to start the spring off on an extra happy note!

If you've been reading here for a while then you know how I am with simple syrup. LOVE IT. I currently have 4 (FOUR) mason jars of simple syrups in my fridge right now. One plain, one espresso, one habanero, and one blood orange. Sometimes I spoon a little into my soda water for some extra fun (this is basically my idea of getting crazy!). I make it all the time and love how much it can jazz a regular old drink up.

Put the sugar and water in a medium saucepan, along with the blood orange zest and juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat. And then lower heat to a simmer and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Pour simple syrup into a mason jar or other container and pop it in the fridge to cool. Be sure to admire its gorgeous color!

Once the syrup is cooled, spoon about 2 ounces into each glass. And add in about a cup of ice cream. Maybe a little more... I won't tell.

And fill to the brim with soda water.

Done and done. I told you it was a breeze. That’s another awesome thing about the winter. You can be totally lazy and feel OK about it. Because… weather.

You might be the kind of person who says no to ice cream in the winter, but I hope not. If you are, I think you should probably rethink that. And rethinking it while sipping on one of these is the perfect idea. Of course, if you make the simple syrup now, you can keep it in your fridge and wait until spring to indulge in a blood orange ice cream soda. But come on, just enjoy it now!

I wish simple syrup lasted forever because I would go to the grocery store right now, buy up all the blood oranges and make 100 batches of this. Then I could go about enjoying the upcoming summer without feeling that little void due to the fact that blood oranges are missing from my life.

But seriously, this ice cream soda is incredibly delightful. The simple syrup is full of blood orange flavor and mixes perfectly with vanilla ice cream for what is basically a blood orange creamsicle taste. And, of course, the soda gives it an old-fashioned fizzy feel.

Speaking of, don't blood orange creamsicles sound like the best kind of creamsicle ever??

OK winter, you can stick around for a little bit. As long as you keep bringing on the blood oranges. But once they’re gone, you have to go away. For at least a year. Or until blood oranges start growing again.

What’s your favorite thing about this time of year? (seriously, we need some positivity up in here!)

After you make yourself a blood orange ice cream soda, be sure to check out all the blood orange recipes I currently have on the blog. I also want to make this Sticky Asian Blood Orange Chicken from Savor with Jennifer before the season is over!