How to Make Snow Cream With 2 Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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.
Ummm! Love snow cream. My mom made it back when we had more snow than we do now. I make mine with 2% milk, about 3-4 cups, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 cup of sugar. Mix and pour over snow. So good. Saw Liz Hurley use condensed milk tonight on the news, along with vanilla and sugar. I guess it’s all in what tastes good to us and how we learned from our moms. Guess I’ll stick to the old fashioned way, since I’ve been eating it for seventy years. Or at least when we have snow! I thought Pricilla B.’s hubby had a great idea. Slushy sounds good. Think I’ll try that with my Dr. Pepper. Thanks all.
My mama made it for me and my sisters when we were little. Although, living in our part of Texas, we don’t get tons of snow. We got just enough to make snow cream once in a while. Mama made ours with sugar, milk & a touch of vanilla. I made it for my kids the same way. I really like the idea of using condensed milk! So easy!! 🙂 Thanks again, Christy, for keeping it simple!
When I was growing up, we would pour maple syrup over clean snow when it was sugaring season.. mmmmm so so good
We did the syrup thing too!
Here in Nebraska, we have had 9 inches of snow since last night. My husband went out and got a pan of snow and put a few scoops in a cup and poured a can of pop over the snow to make a “slushie.” It tastes pretty good.
My kids love, love, LOVE snow ice cream! All last winter I used it as a reward after we finished shoveling off the skating pond. This year the ice is too slushy, so we’re eating “just fer”. We found out that Dad …ummm… strongly dislikes the stuff, so now we go for it with clear consciences while he’s at work. We just mix milk, sugar, and vanilla into bowls of snow. I hadn’t thought of sweetened condensed milk. On the other hand, we get a lot more snow than you, so maybe I better keep it cheap!
I’ve never in my LIFE, heard of such a thing. Is this actually GOOD?
It’s delicious! I add a little 1/2 – 1 tsp of vanilla. If you live where there’s fresh snow, please try it.
Christy, I think Moma put vanilla in it sometimes. Atleast I thought she did. I got the idea from somewhere because that’s how I made it today. It was yummy!