Snow day rules: the kids get excited, I get cold, and we all magically forget chores the moment dessert is involved. This snow ice cream (aka snow cream) takes 4 ingredients and about 5 minutes, and I’m sharing two easy methods- sweetened condensed milk version, plus a milk + sugar swap if SCM isn’t in the pantry.
Before we scoop anything: I’ll also show you how to collect snow more safely, plus how to fix the #1 problem (hint: soupy sadness).
Yea, yea, I know what you are thinking, but I grew up in the 80’s drinking water from a hose and licking the beaters. We also live out in the country and make sure to only use fresh, undisturbed snow.
What is Snow Ice Cream?
Sometimes known as just snow cream or even snow monkey ice cream (I have no idea where that name came from) it is simply homemade ice cream made from fresh snow.
It isn’t a creamy, thick and rich ice cream, it is actually more of a slushy like a snow cone, snow ball or shaved ice. Some recipes just simply put a bowl of cream in the snow and mix with sugar, but that is just as easy as placing a bowl in a bowl of ice and doing the same thing. This version actually uses the fresh snow.
Ingredients for Snow Ice Cream
Gather your ingredients… you’ll need…
- Snow (Duh) – Fresh snow works the best. Not only because there is less chance it has been in contact with other things, but also because it isn’t frozen yet so it is easier to stir. Stay away from the yellow snow!
- Sweetened Condensed Milk– All sweetened condensed milk consists of is evaporated milk and sugar. It is easiest if you have a can of this in your pantry, but if not, we have an alternate method using regular milk and sugar too as well as a homemade sweetened condensed milk recipe.
- Vanilla– If you don’t use vanilla, it will just taste like sweet snow. Other flavors of extract work too.
- Salt– Salt serves two purposes here. It enhances the flavor of vanilla or other extracts and also sugar, but also helps keep it at a steady, cold temperature. Salt depresses the freezing point so that water can become colder than 32°F before it turns to ice. Funny because we also use salt to melt ice. Science is weird.
How to Make Snow Ice Cream
Plan to work fast. Snow, and ice cream, melt! It is an ideal recipe to actually make outside where it is already cold, this will help slow down the melting process if working with young kids who dilly dally.
- Place the 16 cups snow in a very large mixing bowl (bigger than you think you’ll need). If you don’t have exactly 16 cups, that is fine- use a little less or a little more.
- Stir in the 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk*, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract , pinch fine sea salt over the snow and stir well. This takes a while, be patient.
- Continue stirring until it is mixed- it will still be slushy. Do not expect a rich, thick ice cream-style result. Add more (regular) milk or snow to thin or thicken. If the mixture gets a little too watery, place it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Scoop into bowls and decorate with your favorite toppings, sauces.
The Consistency of Snow Ice Cream
Please also set your expectations that while this is good and totally tasty, no snow cream recipe will be the same a slow churned vanilla ice cream. It is a little icier, like a granita. The type of snow you get will also determine the texture- fluffier snow will be icier, while wet, heavy snow will be creamier.
Milk & Sugar Method
Don’t fret if you don’t have a can of sweetened condensed milk (SCM) in the pantry. You will be on your way to fresh snow ice cream in a jiffy just using milk and sugar.
For the same recipe, substitute 2 cups of whole milk and 1/2 cup of sugar.
More Substitutions
No milk? You will need some sort of substitute for dairy or other dairy product.
- Evaporated milk or condensed milk– Use a 12 ounce can plus 1/2 cup sugar
- Almond milk– use 2 cups + 1/2 cup sugar
- Oat milk– use 2 cups + 1/2 cup sugar
- Rice milk– use 2 cups + 1/2 cup sugar
- Coconut milk– use 2 cups + 1/2 cup sugar
- Cream– or half & half 2 cups + 1/2 cup sugar
- Chocolate milk– 2 cups + 1/4 cup sugar
- Strawberry milk – 2 cups + 1/4 cup sugar
No Snow?
This method also works with shaved ice or a snow cone maker. I know you are smiling if you have a Snoopy Snow Cone Maker as a kid! You know, with the little red shovel?
They still make them, but you’ll have to do a lot of cranking to get 8 to 16 cups of snow!
Toppings
Just like with regular ice cream, the sky’s the limit as far as what you want to incorporate into your snow ice cream recipe. Here are our favorites:
- Fudge sauce
- Praline sauce
- Maraschino cherries
- Whipped cream
- Condensed Milk Caramel
(Dulce de Leche)
- Crushed cookies
- Chopping candy
- Peanut butter, butterscotch
or chocolate chips - Caramel sauce
Is it Safe to Eat Snow?
I am not a safe snow expert, but I will share what I learned from watching The Today show and from the Cleveland Clinic, who only warn against disturbed or discolored snow. Don’t collect snow in in the first hour or so of falling or anywhere near a well walked pathway or roadway. Snow in the suburbs and country areas are safer than major cities purely due to the fact that there is less air pollution. I’m lucky to live out in the country!
Commonly Asked Questions
It is the same thing- snow cream is just the cute nickname for snow-based “ice cream.”
Fresh, fluffy, clean snow gives the creamiest texture. Icy snow turns it more like a sweet granita.
Plan on 8–16 cups depending on how fluffy your snow is- snow compacts a lot as you stir. You can make a half batch.
You might have a warm bowl, prepped too slow and it melted or there is too much liquid. Fix it by adding more sweetened condensed milk (if you have it), working fast and placing it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
More Frozen Treats
Snow Ice Cream (Snow Cream)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 cups snow , fresh and clean
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk*
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch fine sea salt
Instructions
- Place the 16 cups snow in a very large mixing bowl (bigger than you think you'll need).
- Stir in the 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk*, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract , pinch fine sea salt over the snow and stir well.
- Continue stirring until it reaches the desired consistency. Add more (regular) milk or snow to thin or thicken. If the mixture gets a little too watery, place it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Scoop into bowls and decorate with your favorite toppings, sauces.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!
The kids absolutely loved making this! Now we can’t wait for the next snow storm!
I would love to receive your recipes and other ideas. I love the snow cream ideas!
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