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.
It’s currently 4 degrees outside & about 8″ of snow. I’m out of milk & Sweetened condenses milk, & canned milk. Got to go get some! Someone told me in VA last week that they made peach cream. Yumm!
Raquel, you only gather it on the 2nd snow because the 1st one is “cleaning” the sky! : )
I use to have this growing up alot we made it a little different dont know exactly how seems like just milk and vanilla and sugar (its been along time ago 🙂 this is an easy receipe I will have to try it were suppose to get snow tomorrow 🙂 I live in southern ohio so we get snow quite often. I cant wait to make it for my kids I have a 22 month old boy and 2 month old girl dont think they will enjoy it just yet but I will 🙂 .
We always had snow cream for a treat in the winter. The rule was to let it snow an hour or more at a pretty good pace to clean the air, then set out the pans to catch the clean snow. We used the sweetened condensed milk, but we always added a tablespoon or two (depending on the amout of snow) also. It is so good and COLD!
So, is snow cream a Southern thing? I grew up in Alabama and remember eating snow cream as a little girl. Lived up in Stevenson in the early 60s and had lots of great snow! I bought a half gallon of Mayfield’s Snow Cream ice cream when I saw it, but it wasn’t nearly as good as the homemade thing. The only thing that has ever come close is Chick-fil-A’s Dreamsicle ice cream. Mmmmmmm!
Sad in Florida…it looks so yummy!!
Wow I can’t believe how much snow you guys got! I live in Indiana and we are use to the snow and are also expecting 5-8 inches later tonite. So tomorrow afternoon I am going to try your snowcream. Thanks Christie!
I am 71 yrs. old and have lived in MD most of my life. My grandfather always made snow cream for my brother and me. Now I would have to try it with just Splenda, milk and vanilla. Maybe I will tomorrow. Our snow is suppose to start then. Lovely memory.
I grew up in N. Alabama — Sheffield — and have memories of many snows and LOTS of my mom’s snow cream….hmmm, maybe there is something to this global warming thing.
Anyway, back in the day, my mom’s recipe had 2 egg yolks, sugar, milk and vanilla, although we knew folks who used sweetened condensed milk. I think I’ll try it, because I know it’ll be less ‘gritty’ than with the sugar. And, now, we know we can’t eat raw eggs, so I leave those out, as well.
Snow is slated for Northern Va. tomorrow, so I’m getting ready! yum, yum!