How to Make Snow Cream With 2 Ingredients
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Want to learn how to make snow cream? All you need is clean snow and condensed milk to make this sweet homemade ice cream taking TikTok by storm.
With snow ice cream having a moment right now, I thought this was the perfect time to resurrect this easy-peasy snow cream recipe. Now, I know there are countless recipes for snow cream out there and I honestly am pretty surprised that I have the ability to bring you even one! Living in Alabama, snow is not something we normally see (we’re usually lucky if we get a dusting a decade). But we woke up to a full 10 inches this morning and folks started asking about snow cream on Facebook so here we go!
My snow cream recipe is simple because… well, you have probably caught onto the fact that I’m not one to complicate things. Simple is good and why mess with a good thing, right? When it comes to how to make snow cream, all you need to know is it’s quick, easy, and only needs 2 simple ingredients. That’s freshly fallen snow and a can of sweetened condensed milk.
The instructions are as simple as the ingredients and involve… stirring the ingredients together. Voila, you have homemade snow ice cream in the blink of an eye! I’ve included lots of serving suggestions below, but serve it exactly as you would serve a normal scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Before we dive in, usual disclaimers apply. If you live near a nuclear meltdown zone, you are probably better off eating plain old ice cream. If you raise dogs who have already tromped through your yard this morning, you are probably better off eating plain old ice cream as well. Personally, I put my dishpans out last night so I had a big old pile of fresh clean snow waiting for me this morning.
Okay, now let’s get crackin’!
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh snow or shaved ice
- Sweetened condensed milk
I estimated you’ll need about 8 to 12 cups of snow, but don’t fret too much. Just eyeball it and you’ll be fine.
How to Make Snow Cream
Pour sweetened condensed milk over the freshly fallen snow in a big bowl.
Stir well.
Really well.
Like so.
Yep, that’s all there is to it. Grab a serving glass or bowl and serve up your snow cream.
The kids love to add sprinkles but you can serve your snow ice cream however you like (keep scrolling for more inspiration).
Storage
Now, I personally put the remaining snow cream on the back porch so we can go back for seconds later. However, you can also store it covered or in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes
- You can place the canned sweetened condensed milk in the fridge for an hour or so to ensure it’s nice and chilled before adding it to the fresh snow.
- For vanilla snow ice cream, add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract for a kick of flavor. A pinch of sea salt will also enhance the flavor.
- You can also use peppermint extract for something different too.
- Now, you can substitute the sweetened condensed milk for a cup of milk and 1/3 cup of granulated sugar mixed together. Let it chill while the snow gathers and then combine them as instructed. However, I find the condensed milk gives the fluffy snow a richer and more decadent flavor.
- Here are some fun ice cream toppings to add to your cup, cone, or bowl of snow:
- Sprinkles
- Chopped nuts (try my walnuts in syrup or candied pecans).
- Chocolate chips or M&Ms
- Maple syrup
- Hot fudge sauce, chocolate syrup, or a drizzle of Nutella to make a chocolate snow ice cream recipe.
- Homemade dulce de leche or caramel sauce.
- Crushed Oreo cookies, gingersnaps, or graham crackers.
- Chopped candy bars
- Chopped fresh fruit, like strawberries for strawberry ice cream.
Recipe FAQs
Can you make snow cream from the first snow?
You can make this snow ice cream recipe from the first snow or the last snow, as long as it’s fluffy, freshly fallen, and clean (yeah, stay away from that yellow snow, folks).
Why do you wait for the second snow to make snow cream?
Well, some people wait for the second snow because they say the first one “cleans the air.” However, down here in the South when snow doesn’t come around often, we can’t be picky!
Is it safe to make snow cream out of snow?
Yes, it is safe to make snow ice cream out of snow. However, you want to make sure the snow is fresh and clean. This means placing a clean pan or bowl outside to catch the snow so it doesn’t touch any soil or the street. The wind also tends to deposit a fine layer of dirt/particles on snow within a day, so once the pan is full, it’s time to make homemade ice cream.
How long does snow cream last?
When stored in an airtight container in the freezer, your homemade snow ice cream will last up to one week.
Check out these other enticing ice cream recipes:
No Churn Ice Cream With Fresh Blackberries
Homemade Peach Ice Cream (No Eggs Needed)
Deep Fried Ice Cream Milkshakes
Ingredients
- 1 dishpan or large bowl fresh clean snow (or shaved ice)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Combine snow and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl or dishpan.1 dishpan or large bowl fresh clean snow (or shaved ice), 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- Stir really well then serve immediately. Add toppings if desired.
I too grew up having snow cream and continued the tradition with my kids and now my grandkids. We’ve always made it with whole milk, sugar and vanilla. The best part of winter in North Carolina is getting enough snow to make snow cream and that doesn’t happen every year. We’re on our second snow since Christmas with another snow storm on the horizon. I can’t wait!
I’m in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) and have never heard of it either. Definitely must be a Southern thing. Can you imagine how big all us northern folks would be if we made it every time is snowed.
One thing we use to do as kids was pour Maple Syrup on the snow and then gather it up. It ends up having a taffy texture.
If you find yourself without condensed milk; sweet milk, a cap or two of vanilla flavoring and 1/2 cup or so of sugar mixed with the snow will make some pretty darn good snow cream as well! Just mix to taste add more milk or sugar as needed, I’ve never measured.
We had it for lunch, first time ever for my son. Now…back to my taco soup. 🙂
We use to make snow cream when I was a kid (different recipe-raw egg, sugar, milk and we didn’t die!), but when I had kids there was as much snow as in “the old days”, but we managed to get enough a couple of times. It is good. Hope to use your recipe the next time we get enough snow. Not enough in North West Tennessee today tho…just a dusting that melted off quickly. : (
I walked 2 miles in the deep snow with an unruly dog to get a can of sweetened condensed milk. I hadn’t had snow cream in YEARS! To me, it’s even better than homemade vanilla ice cream (and that means A LOT!). I do dump in a little vanilla flavoring, but otherwise, make it the same way. If it is too sweet, I add more snow. I ate it ’til my mouth was on fire! I love reading these comments and seeing that it *might* be a southern thing. I love the south! The food just doesn’t get any better. I love your blog, Christy!
I’m jealous of all the snowy weather everyone is getting and I *never* thought I’d say that in my life. =) My grandma would make snow cream and I’ll have to ask my sister what it was but I remember she added a “secret ingredient”. In the meantime I’ll go have a shave ice and think wintry thoughts. Stay safe everyone!
This brought tears to my eyes, I grew up in Texas and every blue moon when we got snow my Grandmother and Mom would make us snow ice cream.
Thanks for the great memory!
Loved this post Christy, okay I love all your posts =)
This one takes me right back to my childhood in southern Oklahoma (I live in southern California now) when me and my grandma would make snow ice cream.
My grandma never let me eat the first snow of the season though, she said it didn’t taste as good because the Lord was using it to clean all the dirt in the air. hehehe
God bless your bones
Stay warm.
Barb
That is what my Granny told me too.