Easy Snow Ice Cream Recipe
on Jan 08, 2018, Updated Sep 01, 2024
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Easy snow ice cream is a fun recipe for cold winter months. You only need four ingredients: evaporated milk, sugar, vanilla, and fresh snow!
Have you ever heard of making ice cream out of snow? It’s so fun and simple to do, and it’s one of my family’s favorite winter activities after a big snowstorm! My mom made this for us when we were growing up, so I’ve always been fond of this creative hack for making ice cream.
My kids were totally amazed the first time I showed them this easy recipe (extra mom points for the win)! I remember being stunned watching my mom make it, too. She’d let us sit around the bar and eat ice cream straight out of the giant white bowl she mixed it up in! It’s become a winter tradition for us over the years, and I’m excited for you to try it, too.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- If you live somewhere with snow, this simple sweet treat will be everything to you (and your kids) and will get you through to warmer months!
- This recipe only used four ingredients and only takes about 5 minutes to make.
- Snow Ice Cream is a delightful treat to make after a big snowfall. You’ll love how easy, sweet, and tasty it is, especially with all your favorite ice cream toppings!
Recipe Ingredients
- Evaporated milk
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla
- Snow
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Snow Ice Cream
Step 1: Mix the milk, sugar, and vanilla together until well combined.
Step 2: Add the snow to a big bowl.
Step 3: Pour the milk mixture over the top and stir well to combine.
Step 4: Serve right away, adding sprinkles if you’d like.
Recipe FAQs
Snow ice cream is just like it sounds—ice cream made of snow (and three other key ingredients)! It’s traditionally a Southern treat, and I grew up eating it after big snowstorms. This cold, creamy treat makes a snow day all the more fun.
Yep, it’s generally safe to eat snow, but you’ll want to make sure it’s fresh snow, typically right after a snowstorm. Make sure it’s bright white—if it’s colored in any way, then it’s contaminated by dirt, animals, or something else.
The amount of snow really depends on the texture of the snow itself. Mine was extra wet and heavy when I made this, and about 8 cups were perfect. If your snow is drier and fluffier, you may want to add quite a bit more. The taste and texture should be your guide—it should be thinner than store-bought ice cream but still have some structure when scooped. Don’t be afraid to add a little extra snow as needed.
Expert Tips
- The texture of your snow will affect how much is needed to make your ice cream. Wet, heavy Indiana snow will need less than light and powdery Utah snow.
- Add your milk mixture a little at a time and stir often. The texture of the snow ice cream is just right when it reminds you of homemade ice cream right out of the churn. It will be just a little on the thin side like a milkshake.
- Long live all the cute sprinkles.
More Ice Cream Recipes to Consider
Simple Gingerbread Recipes
Homemade Gingerbread Syrup: Cozy Holiday in a Bottle
Ice Cream
Pistachio Gelato
Ice Cream
Fresh Peach Ice Cream
Ice Cream
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Quick and Easy Snow Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 can evaporated milk, (12 ounces) or 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Bowl of Snow, about 1/2 gallon
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the milk, sugar, and vanilla together until well combined.
- In a large bowl, add about 8-10 cups of snow. Pour the milk mixture over the top and stir well to combine. The texture will be close to that of homemade ice cream (thinner than store-bought ice cream but still have some structure when scooped).
- Serve right away, adding sprinkles if you'd like.
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Notes
- This recipe is traditionally a Southern treat and I grew up eating it as a kid after big snowstorms. It makes a snow day all the more fun when you get this cold, creamy treat.
- There are so many options for toppings to add a fun touch!
- Snow ice cream is a delight to make after a big snowfall. You’ll love how easy, sweet, and tasty it is.
- The texture will be close to homemade ice cream (thinner than store-bought ice cream but still have some structure when scooped). Serve right away, adding sprinkles if you’d like.
My husband loved snow ice cream as a kid and I had actually never had it. I’m so glad that I came across this recipe. It was perfect! I did 5 cups of snow, ½ cup sugar, ½ Tsp vanilla, 6 oz evaporated milk, and I also added ½ Tsp of lavender. It was unbelievably delicious and my husband loved it!
It’s my mom’s recipe from when I was a kid! Isn’t it so fun?! I’m so glad ya’ll made it and loved it.
I remember when my mom would always make snow ❄ice cream 🍦for us kids
We had about 5 inches of snow here in OKC yesterday. I made some this afternoon with my 2 year old. We used sweetened condensed coconut milk as an alternative to the sweetened condensed milk (I’m lactose intolerant). It is divine! Thanks for the recipe!
Happy snow day! And thank you for coming back to let us know what worked for you, so helpful!
We have about 12 inches so far so that should make enough snow for my ice cream tomorrow.
I’m 77 yrs. old now and we used to make this every winter. The snow was a lot cleaner back then. I had forgotten how to make it. Thanks for recipe , it brings back a lot of memories.
I read your comment out loud to my family because it made my day! Thank you for sharing it with me!
I was inspired to make some like this last winter and almost forgot to try again so thanks for posting this reminder!
I’m hoping for some snow here in Glasgow, Scotland so I can make this. Although cold enough for snow, it doesn’t snow that much here. Plenty in the mountains though. Maybe I should take the ingredients up there! 🙂
We actually have a snow day today. 🙂 Homemade ice cream will be happening today. 🙂
Awesome! Now I have the measurements for “some”……oh how could I have forgotten the vanilla!!!! Fond childhood memories at the cabin at Lake Tahoe! Wouldn’t ya know….I just left my Utah snow for a roadtrip visiting parentals……of course, no snow where they live now! Argh. Maybe we will have another great storm when I get back home! Happy Day!
This can also be made with regular milk (whole is best). It’s probably a little runnier, but still delicious. We don’t currently live where there is snow, but when we lived in Idaho my kids LOVED to make snow ice cream. Yum.