How to make ice cream out of snow with just a few ingredients!

Don’t play with your food? Well, now you can make food out of snow play! Next snow day or winter blizzard, let the kids bring some fresh snow in the house for this yummy and fun snow day treat! Using just milk, vanilla, and snow, your kids can help make easy snow storm ice cream! You can even make chocolate ice cream snow, add chocolate chips and sprinkles, or plain vanilla sweet ice cream!

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Rule number one for making anything with snow- Do not use the yellow snow!

I’m sure you knew that. 

Kidding aside, this is a delicious and fun way for kids to play with their food and get to help out in the kitchen! 

When they come in from playing in the snow and you have a hot batch of slow-cooker hot chocolate and a hot chocolate dessert board waiting for them, grab some snow and start making ice cream!

Ingredients for making ice cream out of snow

8-10 cups snow

1 can (about 10 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Can I make snow ice cream without condensed milk?

Yes. If you don’t have condensed milk on hand, you can use evaporated milk and add sugar. Use one 10-ounce can of evaporated milk and one cup of sugar.

How to make ice cream out of snow

1. In a large bowl, add about 4 cups of fresh snow
2. In a medium bowl, combine pour in condensed milk and vanilla and whisk to combine
3. Slowly pour the milk mixture over the snow. Using a spoon, store slowly to combine all ingredients. You will have to break up snowballs and smash/fold to get everything combined well. It will be a bit lumpy (but stop stirring before it melts!)
4. Add toppings of your choice
5. Enjoy!

Can I make chocolate ice cream snow?

Yes! I do this by adding chocolate syrup (about 3-4 Tablespoons) while I am mixing the evaporated milk and vanilla in the smaller bowl.

Can I make different flavors of snow ice cream?

Yes. The easiest way I have found to change the flavor is to use different extracts! We love orange ice cream snow and almond is my second favorite! Peppermint snow ice cream would be delicious covered in crushed candy canes! How about banana ice cream?! Just use orange extract, almond extract, peppermint extract, banana, or any other flavor you want to try! 

And don’t forget the toppings! Top your ice cream with chocolate chips, sprinkles, caramel syrup, wiped cream, or nuts!

Can I freeze this homemade ice cream?

Yes but placing it in a freezer-safe container. I have frozen it for about a week but I will say that I prefer it fresh! Allow to defrost just a bit for easy scooping!

Recipe notes:

-Ice cream snow is best served fresh!
-It melts more quickly than regular ice cream and the texture is a little different than store-bought ice cream.

-Be sure to use fresh snow (that no one has stepped in or played with of course!)

 

If you like ice cream made from snow, you might also like:

• Snowball Cookies
• Snowman pancakes
• Breakfast brownies