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Homemade Old-Fashioned Snow Cream – A treat from days gone by, snow cream is a wonderful, easy frozen classic that falls out of the sky!
Do you remember making homemade Snow Cream when you were little? My husband said his mother made it often and even used eggs for a custard cream. I remember making it a few times with my mom but only with sugar and milk, and maybe some vanilla. This is what happens when you get snowed in!
I tried to get some before and after shots from the front yard. We didn’t end up with as much as areas north and west of us, but it was enough to close businesses and give us a few aches and pains from shoveling the driveway 🙂 I put a few large containers out on the deck when the snow first started. We wanted to capture some clean snow to make our snow cream! We had plenty!
Snow cream is basically a snow cone made with a milk and sugar mixture.
I used half-n-half because that’s what I had on hand. I warmed it on medium low then added a little sugar and stirred until dissolved. Off heat I added vanilla extract then chilled the milk mixture until the snow was ready!
My husband enjoyed his walk down memory lane with his milky snow cream. We are all just kids at heart!
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- 1 cup half-and-half or milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 6-8 cups fresh fallen snow
Heat the half-and-half in a small saucepan and add the sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and add the vanilla. Refrigerate until ice cold.
- To make the snow cream, put 6 cups of snow in a large mixing bowl. Pour the cold sugar mixture over the snow and stir with a spatula until blended. Add another cup or two of snow if needed.
- Serve immediately and freeze leftovers
Snow cream has been around for a very long time. Apparently Native American’s sweetened snow with maple sugar. We have also heard that Canadians pour hot maple syrup over snow to create toffee. What a fun experience! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Tricia
MaryAnn Coy says
The Canadian Maple Syrup treat you mentioned, is called Maple Sugar on Snow. It is common in the Northern Tier of the US, where ever there are Maple Groves that harvest sap to make real Maple Syrup. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup +/-. The density of sap, varies year to year, and week to week. This is done in small family operations, in sugar houses or sugar shacks and large factories like Maple Groves in St. Johnsbury, VT. Many farms allow visitors from roughly Mid Feb – nearly April. Dependent on the amount and quality of sap. Maple Groves had year round operations, factory tours, a tasting room, and store when I was young. You would need to call ahead and check these details and if there is a charge for tours. To make Sugar on snow, you need clean snow, not easy to find in many places. The essential ingredient is boiling, real maple syrup. Here it is boiled to hard crack stage, then poured on clean snow in thin ribbons. It is extremely sweet, and this method produces a hard candy for lollipops or break up into hard candy. Too get toffee, as you mentioned, you would cook to the hard ball stage. Then pour on clean snow. If there is a lot of air pollution where you live, you can use snow. But prepare plastic or silicone molds or an 8×8 in pan or pie plate with a heavy coat of butter. Put the snow in a larger pan and add salt liberally. Place the prepared pan in the snow(the salt makes the snow get colder before it melts.) Then pour the hot syrup into the buttered dish or snow. One trick to be aware of with
Maple Candy, make any candy including maple fudge, only on a good weather day.
In particular, under High Pressure, Low Humidity, and Bright Sunshine. The sun only helps you identify the right kind of day, it has no effect on the candy. But the deep blue cloudless sky and dry cold weather will. The High Pressure and Low Humidity bode well for candy making. Syrup can be made in any weather. I haven’t had fresh cream ice cream in years, but loved it as a child. Now I am allergic to dairy, so it will remain a fond memory. But I thought folks might want to try it so am leaving these notes.
Tricia Buice says
Wow MaryAnn – this is fascinating! Thanks for sharing your notes – I bet someone will want to give it a try. Thank you!
John/Kitchen Riffs says
I haven’t had this in decades! It’s actually been in the back of my mind that I should make some again, but haven’t had the right kind of snow. We used to make this the same way. Well, sometimes. Other times we’d skip the cream and vanilla, and just mix the snow with maple syrup. Easy and tasty! Fun post — thanks.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks so much John! I hope you get the chance to enjoy this blast from the past – it was a ton of fun!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
How cool! Never had anything made with snow!!
Tricia Buice says
It was a fun project and my husband loved it!
Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef says
This is too cute, I remember eating snow when I was a child but never snow cream .
Tricia Buice says
It was a fun post – very nostalgic for my husband. Eating snow works too – just less sugar that way 🙂
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
This snow storm kept you busy! We made this as kids and now I want to be a kid again! Can’t wait to try this!
Tricia Buice says
You know about snow storms Abbe – your turn in coming soon! Put a bowl outside and give it a try 🙂
Susan says
It looks so pretty there! I’ll bet it’s half melted by now. Not only does the scenery look lovely but the snow cream looks delicious! I’m a Wisconsin girl and never had it!
Tricia Buice says
Oh no Susan – you must give it a try someday. So simple and very much like a snow cone. It was a fun post 🙂
Muna Kenny says
This dessert sounds fun to make! I would love to try it. Wow, eating snow! 🙂
Tricia Buice says
It’s a funny thing Muna – but a tasty one!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
Oh I wanted to do this so badly on my blog but alas, no snow here! This is amazing, I’m pinning and sharing for sure!!
Tricia Buice says
If you get snow in LA we are all in trouble! It was a fun project 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
MaryAnn Coy says
But in LA and San Diego where the climate is much nicer than Boston Beantown where, Snow is a major pain in the back, and the A- -, they can drive to snow when they wish. I have spent 50+ years in snow, if I had the money, I would move to San Diego. Immediately!!! If I never saw snow again, except on distant mountains, it would be a celebration. MA
Tricia Buice says
I guess that’s why so many people move to Florida – they get tired of the snow! Thanks again and best wishes.
Monica says
How fun is this, Tricia! My son would have gotten such a kick out of it. So glad you thought ahead. The snow looks beautiful around your house under that sun. It’s like driving around a maze over here…not quite so pretty but glad we got through it. : )
Tricia Buice says
Maybe you can try this next time Monica – since your son enjoys kitchen projects this would be perfect for him. Stay safe and warm!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
How is it that I live in the land of ice and snow and I’ve never heard of this?!! How fun! I’ve got to try this (no shortage of snow here 😉
Tricia Buice says
You should try the Canadian way of making maple toffee – boiling the maple syrup and drizzling it in the snow – toffee! Sounds delicious 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Oh I’ve had that!! (and it is delicious 🙂 Must try this snow cream.
Diane (Created by Diane) says
I so wish it snowed here so I could make this 😉 It’s so FUN!!!
Tricia Buice says
It was fun Diane – hope you get to try it soon 🙂
Betty says
This is exactly how my mom used to make it for us, and thus the way I made it for my own kids when they were small. I missed my chance this snowfall- maybe next time! 🙂
Tricia Buice says
That is so cool Betty! Maybe we’ll get some more snow this year. Have a good week.