If you've never tried sweet snow ice cream, you're in for an absolute treat! This simple dish needs just a few pantry ingredients and, of course, fresh snow. There's no better way to celebrate a snowfall.
Do your childhood memories of winter include gathering freshly fallen snow to stir up a big bowl of snow ice cream? Or, like me, is this treat completely new to you? Either way, snow ice cream is definitely a treat worth trying: It’s easy, fast, fun to make with kids, and delicious!
Here in the Northeast, we love our sugar on snow. A treasured part of late winter is to visit a local sugar house and enjoy warm maple syrup poured over a dish of fresh snow (with a dill pickle on the side!). But an ice cream made of snow was a new one! A poll of fellow Taste of Home Field Editors revealed that snow ice cream is a beloved tradition common in Mid-Atlantic and Southeast states, as well as in the Great Lakes region. It’s also popular in Southern states like Georgia and Texas where snowfall is rare, and therefore all the more reason for a celebratory snack! In Tennessee, it’s such a beloved treat that the Mayfield Creamery sells half-gallons of “Snow Cream” flavor ice cream in stores.
My family and I just tried snow ice cream for the first time, and we were instantly hooked on the frosty concoction. It’s creamy and smooth, and the sweet vanilla taste is scrumptious. I don’t know how we made it this long without trying this amazing dessert (we certainly have plenty of snow here in Vermont!), but snow ice cream will be a winter tradition for us going forward.
If you’re curious to try snow ice cream and you have some fresh snow on hand, you’ll love how simple it is to make. There are many recipe variations available online, but snow ice cream is essentially milk and sugar, or sweetened condensed milk, plus vanilla extract combined with fresh snow. You can also top it with sprinkles for fun and a little extra crunch. Here’s my quick and easy recipe:
How to Make Snow Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 7-8 cups clean, fresh snow
- Sprinkles (optional)
Directions:
In a small bowl, stir together the milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. Have the snow ready in a large bowl. Pour in the milk mixture and stir to combine it with the snow. Spoon it into serving dishes, and, if desired, top with sprinkles. Serve immediately and enjoy this sweet, wintry treat!
