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.
We used regular milk and flavored it with green creme de menthe when we were kids (50+ years ago). An ounce of creme de menthe split between 4 kids but we thought we were hot stuff! Still make it occasionally just for fun.
And sugar, forgot we also added sugar. Which is not required if you use sweetened condensed milk.
Snow Cream is fun isn’t it!?
It is snowing tonite. yummy stuff. remember to save a pint of snow from the first snow in Jan, Feb and March (you can add them together) for storing in the fridge to treat mild burns in the kitchen. Something My grandmother taught me.
I had never heard that one Barbara, thanks for sharing!!
Like you, I put a large pan out on the hood of my car and caught a bunch of clean snow. Have always used regular condensed milk, but this time I just happened to have a can of the Dulce de Leche…it was a lot thicker but stirred some in with the condensed milk. Yummy change of pace.
Perfect timing!! I was just telling my mother about this recipe!! I will be sure to share it with her!! We just got 18.8 inches of snow yesterday, and 9.3 inches last week!! We can have a neighborhood Snow Cream Party!!! lol Thanks for sharing!!! Have a great day!! 🙂
WOW Judy, I think you have enough snow to have a snow cream party or most of the nation!
Oh my! I am 60 and have lived in the Florida since I was 10 so the last time I had snow cream was when I was 9. It’s been many years since I’ve even thought about it. I was born in Delaware and my grandmother used to make this for us. She used canned milk, vanilla and sugar as I recall. It was such a special treat. Thank you Christy for a chance to recall a very happy childhood memory!