Trolley Car

Pro tips

• Chill your serving glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before assembling to slow ice cream melting.
• Blend or muddle the strawberries lightly with amaretto before adding ice cream for better flavor integration.
• Add ice cream as the final layer just before serving to maintain texture and prevent over-softening.
• Use a scoop of ice cream that's slightly firm straight from the freezer rather than partially melted.

Substitutions

• Amaretto → Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur creates a different but complementary nutty profile)
• Vanilla Ice Cream → Strawberry ice cream (doubles down on fruit flavor, reduces almond notes)
• Fresh strawberries → Strawberry puree or syrup (if fresh berries are unavailable)

Storage & make-ahead

This is a drink meant to be consumed immediately after assembly. Do not store or attempt to make ahead.

Can I make a Trolley Car without ice cream?

Ice cream is essential to this drink's texture and appeal. You could substitute with vanilla gelato or cold vanilla custard, but omitting it entirely changes the drink significantly.

Should I use fresh or frozen strawberries?

Either works; the recipe calls for both fresh or frozen strawberries. Frozen will chill the drink faster but release slightly more juice. Fresh strawberries give a cleaner flavor.

What type of amaretto should I use?

Standard almond-flavored amaretto works best. Quality matters here since it's the primary alcohol—choose a brand you'd drink on its own.

How do I prevent the ice cream from melting too quickly?

Chill your glassware beforehand, use cold or frozen strawberries, and serve immediately after assembling.