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Ah, summer. You deserve to be smooth and creamy, rich and delicious. Like this gluten free root beer float pie. I like it best with a simple light and flaky pastry crust like our coconut cream pie, but if you were hoping not to turn on the oven at all you could easily make it with a no-bake cookie crumb crust (easy instructions included below). Summertime is for livin' easy, after all.
The single pastry crust can easily be made way ahead of time, too, and frozen raw or even frozen after it's been baked. If you freeze it raw, bake it right from the freezer. If you freeze it baked, allow it to defrost at room temperature before pouring in the smooth and creamy root beer float filling.
There are quite a few root beers that are gluten free, but my old-time favorite is A&W. I've also made the filling for this pie with Hansen's root beer and I think it had a bit more of a root beer flavor.
My kids don't drink much soda at all, so this is really a special treat for them. Want to boost the root beer flavor even more? Add some root beer flavoring or root beer concentrate in place of the vanilla extract. Or just serve with a tall, frosty glass of root beer. :)
Gluten Free Root Beer Float Pie
Ingredients
Single Pie Crust (See Recipe Notes for no bake option)
- 1 ยฝ cups (210 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I highly recommend Cup4Cup; please click thru for full info on appropriate blends) plus more for sprinkling
- ยพ teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
- ยผ teaspoon baking powder
- ยผ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter roughly chopped and chilled
- โ cup cold water iced (ice cubes do not count in volume measurement) plus more as needed
Filling
- 1 ยฝ tablespoons (9 g) unflavored powdered gelatin
- 3 tablespoons (1 ยฝ fluid ounces) water
- ยฝ cup (70 g) gum-free gluten free flour blend (omit if your blend already contains it)
- ยฝ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- โ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ยผ cups (18 fluid ounces) milk
- 1 ยฝ cups (12 fluid ounces) root beer soda
- 5 (125 g) egg yolks at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter chopped
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Topping
- ยพ cup (6 fluid ounces) heavy whipping cream chilled
- ยผ cup (29 g) confectionersโ sugar
- Maraschino cherries for serving (optional)
Instructions
Make the pie dough.
- In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine well. Add the chopped and chilled butter, and toss to coat it in the dry ingredients. Flatten each chunk of butter between your thumb and forefinger. Add 1/3 cup of water and mix until the dough begins to come together. Add the remaining water by the teaspoon until no part of the dough is crumbly. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured piece of unbleached parchment paper and press into a disk. Sprinkle the dough lightly with more flour, and roll it out into a rectangle that is about 1 inch thick, moving the dough frequently and sprinkling it lightly with flour if it begins to stick.
- Fold the dough over on itself like you would a business letter. Sprinkle the dough again lightly with flour, and roll out the dough once again into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Twice more, remove the top piece of parchment paper, sprinkle lightly with flour, and fold the dough over on itself like you would a business letter. This will smooth out the dough and make it quite easy to handle. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill.
Make the pie shell.
- Preheat your oven to 425ยฐF. Grease a 9-inch metal pie plate generously and set aside. Remove the pie dough from the refrigerator. Place on a lightly floured piece of unbleached parchment paper, dust lightly with flour, and roll into a 12-inch round, about 3/8-inch thick.
- Roll the pie crust loosely on the rolling pin and then unroll it over the prepared pie plate. Press the pie crust gently into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate and, with kitchen shears, trim the excess crust so that only 1/4-inch of excess is overhanging the plate. Tuck the 1/4-inch of excess under itself, and crimp the edge gently all the way around the crust. Pierce the bottom of the pie crust with the tines of a fork and place the pie plate in the freezer to chill for 5 minutes.
Bake the pie shell.
- Remove the pie plate from the freezer and place a large piece of unbleached parchment paper in the center of the crust. Place pie weights or dried beans in a single layer in the center of the pie crust, on top of the paper. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and remove the paper and pie weights. Return to the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 375ยฐF. Continue to bake until the crust is lightly golden brown all over (8 to 10 minutes more). If you donโt bake the crust until it is golden brown all over, your pie will have a soggy crust once it is filled. Remove the pie crust from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
Make the filling.
- In a small bowl, place the water, sprinkle the gelatin on top, mix to combine and allow to sit for about 2 minutes so the gelatin can bloom (it will swell). In a medium-sized, heat-safe bowl, place the flour blend, sugar and salt, and whisk to combine well. Add 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz.) of the milk, and then the egg yolks, whisking to combine after each addition until smooth. Set the mixture aside.
- In a medium-sized heavy-bottom saucepan, place the remaining 1 3/4 cups (14 fluid ounces) milk and the root beer, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the hot milk and root beer mixture to the bowl with the egg mixture in a slow trickle, whisking constantly to combine.Once all of the hot milk has been added, pour the whole mixture back into the saucepan and return to the heat. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium-high heat until thickened enough that the whisk leaves a visible trail in the mixture as you whisk it (2 to 3 minutes).
- Add the bloomed gelatin and mix to combine well. Remove the pan from the heat, and add the chopped butter and the vanilla, and stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the filling into the cooled shell and spread into an even layer. Allow the filling to cool for about 5 minutes. Cover the pie with plastic wrap, placing the plastic directly on the surface of the filling to avoid its developing a pudding โskin.โ Place in the refrigerator to chill until set (at least 2 hours and up to 2 days).
Make the topping and serve.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream and the confectionersโ sugar on medium-high speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form (about 3 minutes).
- Remove the plastic wrap from the chilled pie and spread the whipped cream on top. Slide the pie out of the shell onto a cutting board before slicing with a wet knife, placing a maraschino cherry on top of each slice and serving.
Notes
Instead of a single pastry crust, make a cookie-crumb crust by placing 1 1/2 cups (225 g) gluten free crunchy cookie crumbs and 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter, melted in a large bowl and mixing until well-combined. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan or deep-dish pie plate. Place the pie plate in the freezer until firm.
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Gluten Free Root Beer Float Pie
Ingredients
Single Pie Crust (See Recipe Notes for no bake option)
- 1 ยฝ cups (210 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I highly recommend Cup4Cup; please click thru for full info on appropriate blends) plus more for sprinkling
- ยพ teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
- ยผ teaspoon baking powder
- ยผ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter roughly chopped and chilled
- โ cup cold water iced (ice cubes do not count in volume measurement) plus more as needed
Filling
- 1 ยฝ tablespoons (9 g) unflavored powdered gelatin
- 3 tablespoons (1 ยฝ fluid ounces) water
- ยฝ cup (70 g) gum-free gluten free flour blend (omit if your blend already contains it)
- ยฝ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- โ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ยผ cups (18 fluid ounces) milk
- 1 ยฝ cups (12 fluid ounces) root beer soda
- 5 (125 g) egg yolks at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter chopped
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Topping
- ยพ cup (6 fluid ounces) heavy whipping cream chilled
- ยผ cup (29 g) confectionersโ sugar
- Maraschino cherries for serving (optional)
Instructions
Make the pie dough.
- In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine well. Add the chopped and chilled butter, and toss to coat it in the dry ingredients. Flatten each chunk of butter between your thumb and forefinger. Add 1/3 cup of water and mix until the dough begins to come together. Add the remaining water by the teaspoon until no part of the dough is crumbly. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured piece of unbleached parchment paper and press into a disk. Sprinkle the dough lightly with more flour, and roll it out into a rectangle that is about 1 inch thick, moving the dough frequently and sprinkling it lightly with flour if it begins to stick.
- Fold the dough over on itself like you would a business letter. Sprinkle the dough again lightly with flour, and roll out the dough once again into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Twice more, remove the top piece of parchment paper, sprinkle lightly with flour, and fold the dough over on itself like you would a business letter. This will smooth out the dough and make it quite easy to handle. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill.
Make the pie shell.
- Preheat your oven to 425ยฐF. Grease a 9-inch metal pie plate generously and set aside. Remove the pie dough from the refrigerator. Place on a lightly floured piece of unbleached parchment paper, dust lightly with flour, and roll into a 12-inch round, about 3/8-inch thick.
- Roll the pie crust loosely on the rolling pin and then unroll it over the prepared pie plate. Press the pie crust gently into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate and, with kitchen shears, trim the excess crust so that only 1/4-inch of excess is overhanging the plate. Tuck the 1/4-inch of excess under itself, and crimp the edge gently all the way around the crust. Pierce the bottom of the pie crust with the tines of a fork and place the pie plate in the freezer to chill for 5 minutes.
Bake the pie shell.
- Remove the pie plate from the freezer and place a large piece of unbleached parchment paper in the center of the crust. Place pie weights or dried beans in a single layer in the center of the pie crust, on top of the paper. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and remove the paper and pie weights. Return to the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 375ยฐF. Continue to bake until the crust is lightly golden brown all over (8 to 10 minutes more). If you donโt bake the crust until it is golden brown all over, your pie will have a soggy crust once it is filled. Remove the pie crust from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
Make the filling.
- In a small bowl, place the water, sprinkle the gelatin on top, mix to combine and allow to sit for about 2 minutes so the gelatin can bloom (it will swell). In a medium-sized, heat-safe bowl, place the flour blend, sugar and salt, and whisk to combine well. Add 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz.) of the milk, and then the egg yolks, whisking to combine after each addition until smooth. Set the mixture aside.
- In a medium-sized heavy-bottom saucepan, place the remaining 1 3/4 cups (14 fluid ounces) milk and the root beer, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the hot milk and root beer mixture to the bowl with the egg mixture in a slow trickle, whisking constantly to combine.Once all of the hot milk has been added, pour the whole mixture back into the saucepan and return to the heat. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium-high heat until thickened enough that the whisk leaves a visible trail in the mixture as you whisk it (2 to 3 minutes).
- Add the bloomed gelatin and mix to combine well. Remove the pan from the heat, and add the chopped butter and the vanilla, and stir until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the filling into the cooled shell and spread into an even layer. Allow the filling to cool for about 5 minutes. Cover the pie with plastic wrap, placing the plastic directly on the surface of the filling to avoid its developing a pudding โskin.โ Place in the refrigerator to chill until set (at least 2 hours and up to 2 days).
Make the topping and serve.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream and the confectionersโ sugar on medium-high speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form (about 3 minutes).
- Remove the plastic wrap from the chilled pie and spread the whipped cream on top. Slide the pie out of the shell onto a cutting board before slicing with a wet knife, placing a maraschino cherry on top of each slice and serving.
Notes
Instead of a single pastry crust, make a cookie-crumb crust by placing 1 1/2 cups (225 g) gluten free crunchy cookie crumbs and 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter, melted in a large bowl and mixing until well-combined. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan or deep-dish pie plate. Place the pie plate in the freezer until firm.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Iโm Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that arenโt good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, โgood, for gluten freeโ just isnโt good enough! Come visit my bio!
Jacqueline Brown says
Hi Nicole, i have been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease and find you website amazing, i live in Australia and have just ordered some of your books. Cant wait for them to arrive. I am attempting to make the Naan Bread this weekend to recreate my greek obsession of Gyros which i also found a recipe for on your site. Only thing is i do not have a stand mixer, is there any other way to make the dough without a stand mixer? I will need to invest in one in the near future. Thankyou. Jacqueline
Davonne Parks says
This looks fantastic. My husband loves root beer floats and pie so I can’t wait to try out this recipe! Side note, I made your GF cookie dough cupcakes for my daughter’s 10th birthday earlier this month, and oh, wow, they may have been the best cupcakes I have ever eaten. My 5 yr old (the child who actually NEEDS to be GF all the time) has told me several times that she feels sorry for her friends who “have” to eat the gluten cupcakes at their own parties because the GF ones I pack for her are way better ;) This is largely thanks to your blog and your amazing recipes!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Davonne, That is so great! It sounds like your 5 year old is your biggest fan. I made those cupcakes for my gluten free son’s 10th birthday and his classmates were fighting over the last ones. The photo is so great, and I’m thrilled it all worked out so well!!
Lisa says
Hello, I have subscribed to your emails and want to comment. 90% of the recipes that I receive are for sweets (so far). And while they have their place, I have to say that I don’t feel that anyone should be eating lots of sweets, especially those of us that have a compromised immune system (celiac). I have been on a GF diet for 4 years now and have seen my triglyceride levels quadruple and a lot of this is because of the increase in carbohydrates. I feel that the real NEED is to find healthy, GF, affordable meals that taste good and meet the requirements of a complete diet. Sugar tastes pretty darn good no matter what you do with it but it has no place in a healthy diet. Finding healthy substitutes for everyday meals is trickier. This is what most people want and need. I would appreciate some healthy, non-dessert recipes. Thank you for your consideration.
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Lisa, Thanks for subscribing to my emails and for your comment. Salads, simple main dish proteins and other naturally gluten free dishes are not recipes that I provide, simply because they are naturally gluten free. I do have plenty of recipes for savory dishes, however, all of which are in my extensive recipe index of hundreds. I provide recipes for the things that people miss once they go gluten free. The rest of a balanced diet is up to you!
Jennifer S. says
What a refreshing dessert for a hot summer!