3-Ingredient Snow Cream Recipe

Snow cream is one of those delicacies that belongs in the "so simple I can't believe I didn't think of it" category. It's ice cream made with snow. According to Business Insider, already thousands of years ago, the Persians combined fresh snow with sweet ingredients like honey. Modern-day renditions can be traced to parts of the American South as a way to celebrate rare snowfalls (via Atlas Obscura). By mixing snow with dairy and sweet elements, snow cream is created.

As we head into winter, you might get a chance to make this the natural way with fresh snowfall (though cold weather often has us hankering for something warm). Luckily, recipe developer Susan Olayinka from The Flexible Fridge has a recipe that uses shaved ice so you can make it whenever the craving strikes. 

"There are a few things I really enjoy about this recipe," Olayinka explains. "One is that it's only three ingredients so it's super simple to make. Another is that it's a great way to use up leftover shaved ice. And lastly, the sprinkles add a fun touch!" So winter or summer, let's get started on this unique and super fun way to make ice cream.

We can't emphasize the simplicity of this recipe enough. To start with, you could use some freshly-dropped snow, though Olayinka points out, "just hope you live in an area with low pollution." If that's not realistic, pick up or make shaved ice — you'll need 9 cups. Then, get a can of condensed milk (you'll need 1 cup) and a container of sprinkles. Olayinka indicates that "you can substitute evaporated milk or sweetened condensed milk."

"If you don't have shaved ice, you can use a food processor or blender to make it," Olayinka suggests. "Just add some ice cubes and blend until they're broken up. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your food processor or blender."

Place your ice in a large bowl; "Make sure to use shaved ice, not crushed ice," Olayinka stresses. Then, start your journey to snow cream magic by pouring the condensed milk on top of the shaved ice.

Now, simply mix the contents together with a large spoon. Since the ice will start softening, mix everything thoroughly but don't take too long doing so.

Once the milk is spread thoroughly through the shaved ice (or snow), freeze it to harden the mixture. If you want to spruce it up first, Olayinka suggests that "you could add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture. You could also add some extract (vanilla, almond, etc.) to the condensed milk for added flavor."

Cover the bowl with foil and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes.

Once it hardens a bit, it's time to garnish the snow cream. Spoon the sprinkles over the snow cream before serving it to your guests. "You can omit the sprinkles or substitute them with something else (chocolate chips, crushed candy, etc.)," suggests Olayinka. "Or, top the snow cream with your favorite toppings (chocolate syrup, nuts, whipped cream)."

"Because of the shaved ice, this recipe is best eaten right away," Olayinka indicates and adds that "the snow cream will start to melt pretty quickly." She comments that "if you must store it, the snow cream will keep in the freezer for up to 2 hours."