Martha's Coca-Cola float is the perfect balance between a classic ice cream float and a dirty soda.
Martha Stewart recently posted a video on Instagram showing how she makes an old-fashioned Coca-Cola “float,” and the whole thing feels extremely Martha in the best possible way. Not because it’s elaborate (it’s actually the opposite) but because it feels like the exact kind of smart, nostalgic summer trick Martha has perfected over the years.
Her version skips the ice cream and instead uses frozen Coca-Cola ice cubes, fresh Coke and whipped cream. The result lands somewhere between a classic soda float and a frozen movie theater Coke, especially once those ice cubes start turning slushy in the glass. And when the whipped cream starts blending into the rest of the drink, it’s almost like a simplified take on a dirty soda.
How does Martha Stewart make her Coke float?
Martha’s method is extremely simple:
- Freeze Coca-Cola in ice cube trays
- Fill a glass with the Coke cubes
- Pour cold Coca-Cola over the top
- Finish with whipped cream
That’s it! I don’t know about you, but I love an uncomplicated summer treat, so I wanted to try it immediately.
The Coke cubes are genuinely the best part. Of course, they keep the drink from diluting, but they also create a slushy texture that makes it even more refreshing. Because soda doesn’t freeze as solidly as water, the cubes soften as you drink and turn almost granita-like around the edges.
I actually experimented with this a little. My first attempt used tiny cubes. They melted almost immediately, turning the drink too soft too quickly. Regular-sized cubes worked much better. They stayed cold longer while still creating that frozen-Coke texture.
I also added a cherry to mine because once you’re already leaning into soda fountain nostalgia, it feels almost rude not to.
How does it taste?
This tastes like summer in the most wonderfully old-school way possible.
The whipped cream slowly melts into the Coke, creating that creamy, fizzy texture you normally associate with a classic float, even without the ice cream. Meanwhile, the partially frozen Coke cubes make the drink extra cold and lightly slushy.
It also somehow tastes more like Coca-Cola than regular Coke does. Since nothing gets diluted, all the caramel notes stay strong the entire time.
Mostly, though, it’s just fun. Martha has always had a talent for bringing classic ideas back into the spotlight without making them feel overly polished or performative. If you haven’t had one of these since you were a kid, consider it your sign to pour an ice cold glass tonight.
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