Root Beer Float Dream Bars

Root Beer Float Dream Bars have all the flavors of those famous ice cream floats in the form of a layered no-bake gelatin dessert! With rich, creamy layers of vanilla cheesecake and gelatin filled with root beer flavor, this dessert will pull you right back to the soda shop!

I love a good root beer float, with fizzy soda and a big scoop of vanilla ice cream! I knew that classic dessert would be a natural flavor choice for Dream Bars. My Dream Bars are kind of famous around these parts, and I love coming up with new flavor combinations to try! I knew it would be a challenge to replicate that classic root beer float flavor profile in this dessert, but I think I’ve mastered it! 

I know there are a lot of steps to this recipe, but I promise, dream bars are easy to make and very forgiving!

Ingredient List for Root Beer Float Dream Bars

I tried several different brands when testing this recipe, and there were clear winners. If I name a brand in the ingredients below, I highly recommend using it instead of substituting another brand for the best results. For more details, check the notes in the recipe card! 

Here’s what you need:

• Golden Oreos
• Butter
• Cream Cheese (room temperature)
• Powdered sugar
• Pure vanilla extract
• Cool Whip (or my Stabilized Whipped Cream)
• Knox unflavored gelatin
• Barq’s Root Beer
• LorAnn Root Beer Oil
• Maraschino cherries, if desired

How to Make Root Beer Float Dessert Bars

Golden Oreo Crust

1. First, I line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper so I can easily remove the finished bars for slicing and serving.
2. Then I melt some butter in the microwave until it’s completely melted. Meanwhile, I pulse the Golden Oreos in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. I add the melted butter to the crumbs and mix it all up with a rubber spatula.
3. I pour the crust mixture into the prepared pan and spread it out, pressing down to form a thin, even crust layer. I place this in the freezer to harden for at least 30 minutes while I make the rest of the recipe.

Cheesecake Layer

1. Now I beat 8 ounces of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla together in a mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Then I fold in 1 cup of the Cool Whip with a rubber spatula.
2. When the crust is ready, I spread this cheesecake mixture onto the frozen crust to form an even layer.

Root Beer Gelatin

1. To make this gelatin, I pour ¼ cup of the Barq’s root beer into a medium bowl and stir it for a bit to remove some of the carbonation. Then I sprinkle the Knox gelatin over the top and stir gently to mix. I let this sit for about 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, I pour ¾ cup of root beer into a glass measuring cup, stir it again for a bit, and then place it in the microwave to heat it to boiling, about 1 minute and 40 seconds in my microwave. I gently pour this hot root beer over the gelatin mixture in the bowl and stir for about 5 minutes until completely dissolved.
3. Finally, I pour the remainder of the cold root beer and both drams of LorAnn root beer oil into the bowl and mix it in well. I place this in the refrigerator until cool but not set (about 8-10 minutes).

Root Beer Cream Layer

1. First, I beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Then I turn the beater to low speed and slowly pour in the chilled root beer gelatin, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Once that is completely smooth, I fold in the remaining Cool Whip with a rubber spatula.
2. I gently spread this root beer cream layer on top of the cheesecake layer with an offset spatula, then place it in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.

Tips for Serving

• When it’s time to slice and serve the bars, use the parchment paper to remove the bars from the pan. Run a large, sharp knife under hot water, then dry it off and slice. Repeat this with each new slice to make clean cuts!
• Serve this with additional dollops of Cool Whip and maraschino cherries if desired.
• I like to cut some colored straws in half and place them in each slice before serving, too! I think it adds a cute and festive touch.

FAQs

What is a dram?

A dram is equal to a little less than a teaspoon. It’s an old way of measuring things. LorAnn sells their oils by the dram, so that’s why I used that in the recipe.

Can I use just one dram of Root Beer oil instead of two?

You can use one dram of Root Beer oil instead of the two that are called for in the recipe. However, the flavor of the root beer will be milder.

How do I store Root Beer Dream Bars?

If you’ve removed them from the pan, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. If they are still in the pan, just cover them tightly before placing the pan in the fridge.

More Dream Bar Recipes

These are some of the most popular Dream Bars here on the blog:

• Easy No-Bake Turtle Dream Bars
• Orange Creamsicle Dream Bars
• Chocolate Mint Dream Bars
• Banana Pudding Dream Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Which one do you want to try next?

If you can give these Root Beer Dream Bars a try, I’d love to hear how they turn out for you!

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