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    Home » Recipes » Desserts & Sweets

    Snow Ice Cream

    Published: Feb 23, 2023 · by Renée B. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Vertical image of snow ice cream in a bowl, resting in a bed of fresh snow. Pin text reads: Snow Ice cream | 4 ingredients, 3 minute prep

    This quick, easy Snow Ice Cream recipe makes the perfect snow-day treat! It requires only four simple ingredients and five minutes, and it's easy enough for kids to make all by themselves!

    Snow ice cream in a bowl, setting on a snow-covered bistro table.

    Snow ice cream is a cold-weather treat that creates lasting memories! It could not be easier to put together, and makes a great family activity.

    Jump to:
    • Snow Cream Ingredients
    • How to Make this Easy Snow Cream Recipe
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Top Tip
    • FAQ
    • More Snow Day Recipes
    • Snow Ice Cream

    Snow Cream Ingredients

    Snow ice cream ingredeints, labeled: fresh snow, cream, sugar, vanilla
    • Fresh snow: How much snow you need depends on the type and texture of your snow. If you have light, powdery snow, you may need more than if your snow is heavier and wetter.
    • Cream: You can use any milk or milk alternative to make snow cream. (We prefer half-and-half, or a mixture or heavy cream and whole milk. Keep in mind that the richer and creamier the milk product added is, the creamier and richer your ice cream will be.
    • Sugar: Use plain, white granulated sugar.
    • Vanilla: Use vanilla extract or vanilla paste.
    • Salt: A pinch of salt added to the mixture enhances the flavor of the ice cream, but is totally optional. (A very small pinch will do it.)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to Make this Easy Snow Cream Recipe

    Scoop clean, fresh snow into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

    Combine cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a medium bowl or measuring cup and stir until sugar completely dissolves.

    Drizzle the cream mixture over the fresh snow, folding it in gently to combine.

    The consistency of snow ice cream should be light and airy; scoopable, and somewhere between homemade ice cream and a very thick milkshake. If yours seems too heavy or watery, add more snow until it reaches the consistency you like.

    snow ice cream in a bowl, resting in a bed of fresh snow with a spoon to the side.

    Hint: Drizzling the liquids into the snow (instead of pouring) allows them to cool more quickly, resulting in a creamier, airier ice cream.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • Snow: Instead of using fresh snow, you can substitute fresh shaved ice. The amount of snow you need is totally dependent upon the texture of the snow.
    • Cream: Any milk or alternative milk product will work.
    • Vanilla: You can use any kind of extract or flavoring. Mint, almond, and coconut are all tasty options.
    • Sugar: Use plain white granulated sugar. We've never tried using brown sugar in this recipe, but I supposed you could; however, do not use any liquid sweeteners (i.e., honey, agave, etc.).
    • Vegan: Sub in an alternative milk to make vegan-friendly snow cream.
    • Condensed milk: You can replace the cream and sugar with one cup of sweetened condensed milk.

    Top Tip

    Snow cream is best eaten immediately after it is made.

    Snow cream can be frozen for up to a week; however, the smooth, delicate structure of the snow turns to hard, crunchy ice crystals when refrozen, so the ice cream will not be as light and airy the second time around.

    FAQ

    Is it safe to eat fresh snow?

    Fresh, clean, pristine white snow is generally safe to eat. There are, however, a few caveats:

    • Never use snow that has been in contact with the ground or soil.
    • Do not collect snow near roads, cars, smokestacks, active volcanos, or radioactive areas.
    • Do not use yellow snow, black snow, brown snow, gray snow or snow any color other than white.
    • Do not use snow containing particles of grit or grime. 

    snow ice cream in a bowl, resting in a bed of fresh snow with a spoon to the side.

    More Snow Day Recipes

    When the weather outside is frightful, these recipes will warm you from the inside out!

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    Snow ice cream in a bowl, setting on a snow-covered bistro table.
    5 from 4 votes

    Snow Ice Cream

    This quick, easy Snow Ice Cream recipe makes the perfect snow-day treat! It requires only four simple ingredients and five minutes, and it's easy enough for kids to make all by themselves!
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Dessert, Treats
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time:5 minutes minutes
    Total Time:5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 272kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 large mixing bowl
    • 1 small mixing bowl
    • 1 mixing spoon

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 6-10 cups fresh snow or shaved ice
    • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half, whole milk, 2%, alternative milk
    • ⅓-½ cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 pinch salt

    Instructions

    • Scoop clean, fresh snow into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
    • Combine cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a medium bowl or measuring cup and stir until sugar completely dissolves.
    • Drizzle the cream mixture over the fresh snow, folding it in gently to combine.
      The consistency of snow ice cream should be light and airy; scoopable, and somewhere between homemade ice cream and a very thick milkshake. If yours seems too heavy or watery, add more snow until it reaches the consistency you like.

    Notes

    Snow cream is best eaten immediately after it is made. The smooth, delicate structure of the snow turns to crunchy ice crystals when refrozen. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 60mg | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 875IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!
    Vertical image of snow ice cream in a bowl, resting in a bed of fresh snow.

    Thank you for visiting the Good Hearted Woman. Remember to bookmark this site, and come back soon!

    Originally published February 8, 2014. This post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions for better user experience.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is self-taught home chef with a penchant for creating healthy(ish) comfort food recipes, and adapting vintage recipes for the 21st century cook. In her spare time, she writes unfinished novels and songs about cowboys.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 4 votes

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    1. Ned says

      February 23, 2023 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      We just got a bunch of snow where I'm at so I had to try this with my kids! They loved it! Thank you for an awesome recipe!

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        February 23, 2023 at 3:47 pm

        You are so welcome!

        Reply
    2. Glenda says

      February 23, 2023 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe took me back 50+ years. It's still as tasty as I remember and it was fun to make with our grandkids! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        February 23, 2023 at 3:47 pm

        Your grandkids will remember making it with you forever!

        Reply
    3. Jeff says

      February 23, 2023 at 2:18 pm

      This is so much fun. I don't have snow where I live but the shaved ice should do well.

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        February 23, 2023 at 3:46 pm

        Shave ice works very well for this - sometimes even better than snow!

        Reply
    4. Kathleen says

      February 23, 2023 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a fun recipe. The kids will enjoy helping make this one.

      Reply
    5. Lily says

      February 23, 2023 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      What a fun way to enjoy a snow day! I remember as a kid collecting snow and sticking it in the freezer, so I could have snow on-demand. Now, you can have ice cream on demand on your snow day!

      Reply
      • Renée B. says

        February 23, 2023 at 1:27 pm

        It's one of those simple recipes that makes for lasting memories.

        Reply
    6. Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says

      February 09, 2014 at 10:37 pm

      A neighbor made snow milkshakes, and these look like so much fun too! You are all tempting me with your creative weather-influenced desserts! This somehow seems a tad healthier than the buttery sugar cookies we baked... and I fully approve of your use of the official blogger term "blecky" 🙂

      Reply
    7. Yvonne @ Dress This Nest says

      February 09, 2014 at 11:45 am

      Great idea! I was thinking of going to get some snow cone syrup but I can make this without leaving my house. WIN!

      Reply
    8. Adventures in Dressmaking says

      February 08, 2014 at 2:00 pm

      Looks pretty good!! Might have to try this - there is SO much snow out there! I do have some coconut milk and coconut palm sugar to do this with!

      Reply
      • Renée ♥ says

        February 08, 2014 at 2:58 pm

        Let me know how that turns out – I haven’t made it with coconut milk before, but it sounds delicious. (Wish I had thought of it myself!)

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Renée!

    Welcome to The Good Hearted Woman — a cozy corner of the internet where comfort food meets modern life. From heirloom recipes and easy weeknight dinners to seasonal dishes, homemade breads, and potluck favorites, we share the kind of food that brings people together.

    When we’re not in the kitchen, you’ll find us hosting guests at Parkside Acoustic Bed & Breakfast, our music-themed B&B in Ashland, Oregon — where good food and warm hospitality go hand in hand.

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