Black Cow

The Black Cow is a classic non-alcoholic dessert drink, essentially a root beer float with a chocolate twist. It's a nostalgic hit, often ordered by those seeking a sweet treat or a trip down memory lane. Simple to assemble, it delivers a satisfying blend of creamy and fizzy, appealing to all ages. It’s a solid choice when you need something indulgent but without the booze.

Black Cow

4.53 from 17 votes

Calories: 300kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Instructions

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Pour root beer over ice cream and chocolate syrup in a large tumbler glass. Garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve with a straw and a long spoon.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 300kcal (15%)Carbohydrates: 17g (6%)Sugar: 16g (18%)

Mocktail

Where it came from

The root beer float, or ‘Black Cow,’ is credited to Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, in 1893. The story goes he saw the snow-capped Cow Mountain and was inspired to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to his root beer. The chocolate addition likely came later, solidifying the ‘Black Cow’ name for this specific iteration.

This drink sits squarely in the ‘float’ family, alongside the Coke float or the Boston Cooler, which uses ginger ale. What sets the Black Cow apart is the distinct sarsaparilla flavor of root beer, combined with vanilla ice cream and the added depth of chocolate, creating a specific, rich profile that's more complex than a simple soda and ice cream.

You’d typically find a Black Cow served at a diner, an old-school drive-in, or perhaps whipped up at home for a casual treat. It’s a go-to for kids’ parties or as a simple, satisfying dessert when you want something more substantial and fun than just a scoop of ice cream.

What it tastes like

On the palate, the Black Cow delivers a sweet, creamy upfront hit from the vanilla ice cream, quickly followed by the distinctive spiced, sarsaparilla notes of the root beer. The chocolate sauce adds a layer of rich, bittersweet depth, lingering on the finish and tying the whole decadent experience together with a pleasant, familiar sweetness.

Given this recipe contains no alcoholic ingredients, the Black Cow has a 0% ABV. This means it’s significantly lighter than even a standard light beer, which typically clocks in around 4-5% ABV, and far from a spirit-forward cocktail that might hit 20% or higher. It’s pure indulgence, not intoxication.

The technique

Building a Black Cow is straightforward. Start with a large, chilled tumbler glass. Spoon in your ice cream, then drizzle the chocolate sauce over it. Slowly pour the root beer down the side of the glass to minimize fizz and help it mingle with the ice cream rather than just foam up. Finish with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a cherry for presentation.

The key technique here is the slow pour of the root beer. Dumping it in quickly will result in a huge head of foam and a messy overflow. A gentle pour helps the root beer seep into the ice cream, creating that desirable creamy, fizzy texture without losing half the drink to the counter. It also helps the ice cream melt more gradually, giving you more time to enjoy it.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Root Beer

Use: Opt for a quality root beer with real sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup, for a more authentic sarsaparilla flavor. Brands like A&W, Mug, or IBC are solid choices.
Skip: Diet root beer. The artificial sweeteners will clash with the creamy texture of the ice cream and leave a thin, unsatisfying finish. Avoid overly sweet, generic brands that taste more like sugar water than actual root beer.
Why: Root beer is the backbone of this drink. Its unique spiced and sweet profile is what defines the Black Cow, providing the distinctive flavor that pairs so well with vanilla and chocolate. Without it, you just have a generic soda float.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Use: A high-quality vanilla bean ice cream with a rich, creamy texture and real vanilla specks. Brands like Haagen-Dazs or Ben & Jerry’s work well. The fat content is important for mouthfeel.
Skip: Cheap, icy, or ‘light’ vanilla ice cream. It will melt too quickly, lack the necessary creaminess, and won’t stand up to the root beer’s strong flavor. Avoid anything with artificial vanilla flavor.
Why: The ice cream provides the essential creaminess, coldness, and vanilla notes that balance the root beer’s spice and the chocolate’s richness. It creates the iconic float texture as it slowly melts into the soda.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Spiked Black Cow

For the adults who want a kick.: Add 1.5 to 2 oz of dark rum, bourbon, or even coffee liqueur to the glass before adding the root beer. This gives the classic a boozy, warming twist.

Brown Cow

The original float, often without chocolate.: This is essentially a root beer float without the chocolate sauce. Some purists prefer the unadulterated combination of root beer and vanilla ice cream, letting those two flavors shine.

Chocolate Cow

Double down on the chocolate.: Swap out the vanilla ice cream for chocolate ice cream. This creates a richer, more intensely chocolatey experience, especially when combined with the chocolate sauce and root beer.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Ice Cream?

Use frozen yogurt or a dairy-free vanilla alternative. The texture will be different, but you’ll still get the cold and creamy element.

No Root Beer?

Try cream soda or cola for a similar fizzy, sweet base, though the flavor profile will shift significantly.

No Chocolate Sauce?

A tablespoon of cocoa powder mixed with a little hot water to make a paste, or even melted chocolate chips, can work in a pinch. The texture might be less smooth.

No Whipped Cream?

A scoop of extra ice cream or a drizzle of heavy cream can provide a similar richness, though without the airy texture.

No Cherry?

Any small red fruit like a raspberry or strawberry can work for garnish, or simply omit it. It’s mostly for looks.

No Tumbler Glass?

Any large, sturdy glass will do. A pint glass or even a large mug can hold the volume and allow for the float to form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Black Cow?

A Black Cow typically contains vanilla ice cream, root beer, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry for garnish.

Is a Black Cow alcoholic?

No, a traditional Black Cow is a non-alcoholic beverage, making it suitable for all ages. However, it can easily be ‘spiked’ with spirits.

What is the difference between a Black Cow and a Root Beer Float?

While often used interchangeably, a Black Cow specifically implies the addition of chocolate sauce, distinguishing it from a standard root beer float which is just root beer and vanilla ice cream.

Can I make a Black Cow dairy-free?

Yes, you can easily make a Black Cow dairy-free by using dairy-free vanilla ice cream and a plant-based whipped cream alternative.

What kind of root beer should I use for a Black Cow?

For the best flavor, use a good quality root beer with a rich, authentic sarsaparilla taste and real sugar. Avoid diet versions.

Why is it called a Black Cow?

The name ‘Black Cow’ is often attributed to Frank J. Wisner in 1893, inspired by the snow-capped Cow Mountain and the dark color of the root beer. The ‘cow’ part came from the addition of milky ice cream.

Is a Black Cow a dessert or a drink?

It’s both. The Black Cow functions as a refreshing beverage due to the soda, but its rich, creamy, and sweet components also firmly place it in the dessert category.

What’s a good alternative to root beer if I don’t like it?

If root beer isn’t your preference, you could try a cream soda float for a similar sweetness and fizziness, or a cola float for a different, more familiar flavor profile.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read