Our 4-ingredient homemade root beer takes minutes to make and will become your favorite Halloween party drink!
Sometimes the most simple recipes create the best memories! ABK’s Easy Homemade Root Beer with Extract is just that. For a Halloween treat with NO tricks, this fun recipe will bring joy to kids of all ages.
How to make root beer at home
Just add dry ice to our easy root beer base and let the “spooky” begin! Dry ice creates the bubbly in the root beer while also entertaining your crowd. We used a Dutch oven with a foil liner and our little skeleton friend as an entertaining centerpiece to our Halloween table.
Perfect bubbles for perfect root beer!
steps for making Homemade Root Beer
- Mix ice cold water with sugar until sugar is dissolved.
- Add extract and stir.
- Pour root beer base into your favorite Halloween serving container.
- Using tongs or gloves, add dry ice.
- Serve in about 20 minutes, when root beer becomes bubbly.
Where to find Dry Ice
In the SLC area, we found dry ice at both Harmons and Smith’s grocery stores for under $2.50/pound. Just ask for it at the customer service counter or at the checkout. Dry ice is stored in a locked freezer that only the employees can access. They will give it to you in a brown paper bag.
Tips for using Dry Ice
- Buy dry ice the same day it is to be used – best used within 4 hours.
- Store in a cooler or freezer. To avoid pressure buildup, do not place in an airtight container.
- Prep root beer in a large foodsafe container with plenty of room for dry ice to bubble and foam.
- Add dry ice shortly before serving. The carbonation doesn’t last long.
- Handle with insulated gloves or tongs to prevent cold burns.
- Keep the serving container open to prevent dangerous pressure buildup.
- Don’t serve root beer containing pieces of dry ice. Don’t put dry ice directly into drinking glasses.
- Keep children at a safe distance. Adults should handle the dry ice and supervise the process.
FYI: Dry ice doesn’t melt in your freezer; it turns directly into carbon dioxide – a process called sublimation. Now you know!
More halloween recipes we love
Easy Homemade Root Beer with Extract
Ingredients
- 16 cups cold water
- 2 ½ cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons root beer extract , (we used Hires extract, found at the grocery store or on Amazon)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- vanilla ice cream – if making root beer floats
Instructions
- In a large container, stir together water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
- Stir in extract and vanilla. Taste and add sugar if desired.
- Using tongs or gloves, add dry ice to the root beer mixture.
- Dry ice will typically bubble for about 20 minutes. Once the bubbling stops, check carefully to make sure all the dry ice has completely disappeared before serving.
- Serve immediately with ice, or add vanilla ice cream for root beer floats.
Notes
- In the SLC area, we found dry ice at both Harmons and Smith’s grocery stores.
- Buy dry ice the same day it is to be used. It will disappear in your freezer overnight. Best used within 4 hours.
- Prepare shortly before serving — the carbonation doesn’t last long.
- Use a large food safe container with room for bubbling and foaming.
- Use insulated gloves and tongs to prevent cold burns.
- Keep the container open to prevent dangerous pressure buildup.
- Don’t serve root beer containing pieces of dry ice or put dry ice directly into drinking glasses.
- Keep children at a safe distance. Adults should handle the dry ice and supervise the process.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment and rate this recipe! I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!
