Vanilla Ice Cream Soda Recipe

[Photograph: Alexandra Penfold]

With very little effort you can make an awesome ice cream soda in your own kitchen. The ingredients are easy enough to come by: seltzer, milk, vanilla syrup, and vanilla ice cream, but as with any deceptively simple dish, it's worthwhile to splurge on the top of the line stuff; for me that means making a homemade quick vanilla bean simple syrup (the leftovers are great for cocktails or iced coffee!) and using either homemade ice cream or my favorite store bought vanilla. Creamy and sweet, this is makes for a nice cool down treat on a hot day, just make sure you have a straw or two on hand for optimal sipping enjoyment.

One of the joys of the ice cream soda is that as the ice cream melts it further sweetens the drink. With that in mind, I only include a tablespoon of syrup. If you have a sweet tooth feel free to add a bit more to taste.