The good old-fashioned spider drink is an Aussie classic that every kid loves making and every parent feels nostalgic about. And if you fancy whipping some up for movie night or a birthday party, scroll down for a simple recipe that tastes just like the ones you had growing up.

What exactly is a Spider drink?

A Spider is a type of fizzy-slash-creamy beverage made using soft drinks and scoops of ice cream. Also called an ‘ice cream float’, it’s usually served in a tall glass and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles or a cherry on top.

Basically, Spiders have all the yumminess of a milkshake, but with the added fun of fizz!

The story goes that the famous drink dates back to 1874 when a quick-thinking vendor use ice cream in his drinks when he ran out of ice. Customers went crazy for the wacky drink, and the vendor ended up offering a host of different flavoured syrups for people to try.

What’s in it?

In Australia, the traditional Spider drink recipe calls for Coke and vanilla ice cream, but the imagination is the limit with how you make yours. You might try Fanta with chocolate ice cream for all the Jaffa vibes, or maybe raspberry soda with strawberry ice cream for a next-level pink party drink. All you need to do is let your taste buds lead the way.

Why is a Spider drink called that?

It’s a very good question and the good news is that it actually has less to do with creepy crawlies and more to do with webs. You see, Spiders are so-called because when the fizz (or carbonation) of the soda combines with the ice cream, it froths up and creates a web-like effect.

The webby frothiness is quite short-lived, though. Once little (or big) hands start stirring the drink, it quickly becomes more of a murky soup!

How to make a Spider:

Whether you’re treating the kids to their very first Spider, or just want to take a trip down memory lane, this recipe contributed MoM Member, Rebecca, will have you sorted in a matter of minutes. All you’ll need is some ice cream, your choice of soft drink and a tall glass. Enjoy!