Seize the next snow day and make sweet Snow Cream! Made with actual snow and real cream, this easy recipe will grow into a beloved tradition for wintry weather. With just five ingredients — including no sweetened condensed milk, no ice cream maker and whatever kind of milk you want — this ice cream-like treat comes together in minutes.
DISCLAIMER
*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Feast + West may receive commissions for purchases made through those links — at no cost to you. All opinions are our own. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
About this Snow Cream recipe
This is a recipe that takes me back to my childhood. I grew up making Snow Cream with my family, and now it’s a little tradition whenever we get snow (which is super, super rarely in North Carolina). Recently, we had a huge snowfall of the powdery kind, and it was really fun to revisit this favorite. My husband and I made snow cream a few times so I could get this right, and it was just so much fun!
If this wasn’t a part of your childhood, I’ve got you covered. Snow Cream is ice cream made with actual snow — preferably the powdery kind. It’s an easy recipe that yields a sweet, creamy frozen treat that brightens any winter day.
All ages are sure to enjoy this dessert, especially when you add in their favorite toppings. Next time the snow starts to fly, grab your mixing bowl * and ingredients so you don’t miss out!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s fun for all ages. Even kids can help craft this simple recipe; just one bite will take you back to your childhood snow days.
- You can customize it easily. Toppings are the simplest way to make this recipe your own, but tailor the ingredients to what you have on-hand to meet your personal preferences.
- Perfect for winter days. You only need a few ingredients to enjoy this fun dessert!
Ingredients & essentials
The most critical ingredient is right in the name: snow! You’ll want to watch the weather and note when you’ll get flurries to provide the amount of snow you’ll need. Powdery snow works best, but since you can’t exactly place an order, you can adjust other ingredients to account for the texture of your snow. If you really needed to, a shaved ice machine might work in a pinch, but I’ve never tried it.
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
Setting out a glass or ceramic bowl works best for this recipe. These materials allow the snow to stay cold when you bring it inside. You can set out a few bowls to ensure you get enough snow, since sometimes storms can stop as soon as they start!
Besides snow, you’ll want to make sure you have milk, heavy cream and granulated sugar on-hand. This recipe doesn’t use sweetened condensed milk like some I’ve seen. You can choose the type of milk you use, including non-dairy options. If you don’t have cream, no need to brave the weather for a trip to the store. Just make up the rest with more milk. Use toppings to make it your own, or mix in a unique flavor a try with peppermint extract or cocoa powder to flavor the ice cream, but vanilla is classic to me.
baking essentials
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → *
Let’s talk about snow
Believe it or not, there is such thing as the best snow! My dad taught me it’s best to use a super fluffy snow, not sleet or ice. Make sure you’re catching it fresh and making this recipe soon after the snow starts falling. If it’s too compacted or it’s old, it’s not advisable, and it could affect the texture or flavor.
Make sure you’re aware of where you’re collecting your snow. Your bowl should be in a spot that isn’t covered by anything or in danger of collecting debris (like under a tree or gutter).
Disclaimer: Always use freshly fallen, clean snow for this recipe. Avoid snow that has been sitting on the ground, collected under trees or gutters, or exposed to roads, pets or debris. If the snow looks discolored or has been sitting for a while, it’s best to skip it. As with any raw ingredient, use your best judgment and skip it if you’re unsure about the snow’s quality.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email a link to you, so you can come back to it later! Plus you'll get great new recipes each week!
Instructions
Your snow will set the timeline for this recipe, so you may need to be patient as it accumulates! Collect your fresh snow and leave it outside until you’re ready to add it to the recipe.
- First, measure out your milk and heavy cream, combining into a bowl.
- Next, add your vanilla (or alternate flavor if preferred).
- Then pour your sugar into your milk mixture.
- Whisk until the mixture has become frothy and thickened slightly.
- Add snow a cup at a time, working quickly so that it doesn’t melt, and stir in between each addition.
- Stir in snow until you’ve reached your desired consistency and enjoy before it melts!
Tips & tricks
- Use ceramic or glass bowls when collecting your snow to help keep your snow cold.
- Work quickly when you’re adding your snow so that it doesn’t have time to melt, which would affect your final texture.
- Make sure the texture of your milk mixture thickens before adding snow, then add it a little at a time.
Serving suggestions
This isn’t a recipe that allows you to save leftovers for later; it tastes best fresh when it has its slushy texture. I’ve tried to freeze it once made, but it ends up as hard as a rock. For me, growing up in the South, this is just more of a special occasion thing that you enjoy in the moment.
You can, however, freeze it for just a few minutes. That will get it firm enough to scoop into bowls. Make sure everyone gets an even portion!
What’s ice cream — or Snow Cream — without toppings? Try chocolate syrup, sprinkles, mini marshmallows or even crushed up cookies to make this dessert your own. When you need to warm up, a cup of homemade hot chocolate is the perfect complement to the frozen dessert.
FAQ
Many recipes do, but this recipe uses real sugar, cream and milk. You can even choose your preferred type of milk, including non-dairy.
Unfortunately, snow cream depends on the weather because you’ll need fresh, fluffy snow! You could try using shaved ice from a machine, but the texture will be different.
Leave a comment or tap the ★★★★★ below to leave a rating — it helps others and supports our work. We love hearing how it turned out!
Homemade Snow Cream
ingredients
- 8 cups fresh snow
- ⅔ cup milk
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- sprinkles or toppings, optional
instructions
- Collect fresh snow. Leave it outside until just before you add it (in step 4).8 cups fresh snow
- in a large mixing bowl *, combine milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract *.
- Add the sugar and whisk until frothy and slightly thickened.¼ cup granulated sugar
- Working quickly, add the snow one to two cups at a time, stirring in between each addition, until you reach your desired consistency.8 cups fresh snow
- Enjoy immediately with your favorite toppings. Snow cream is best the day it's made, but you could freeze it for about 10 minutes if you want a scooping consistency.sprinkles
notes
Save this recipe for later
We’ll email a link to you, so you can come back to it later! Plus you’ll get great new recipes each week!
recommended products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leave a Reply