I spent my childhood frolicking on the sun-kissed, powdery white beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast. However, before my family made the move down south when I was just 7 years old, we resided in the northern reaches of Indiana. There, a different kind of white substance often blanketed the landscape, serving as the essential ingredient for a special winter indulgence crafted by my father: snow ice cream.
After days of chronicling the series of winter storms that many of you experienced this month, I decided to reach out to my three older sisters via text to inquire if any of them possessed the coveted recipe for snow ice cream. Their response was simple yet definitive: “There is no concrete recipe.” Nonetheless, my sister Missy did impart a crucial piece of advice: “Remember, only utilize white snow!! The yellow variety will not impart a lemon flavor!”
Recollections flood my mind of my father extending his arm out the window to gather a substantial bowl of snow, haphazardly sprinkling a combination of sugar, vanilla, and (perhaps) milk atop it, swiftly stirring the concoction before handing me a spoon.
While numerous snow ice cream recipes abound, the one sourced from the University of Alaska Museum of the North resonates with authenticity for me. Although the recipe stipulates various dairy alternatives, I am confident that one can easily substitute with personal preferences. For those seeking an elevated experience, consider infusing the ice cream with additions like cocoa, flavored syrups, sprinkles, or fruit. Much like a perfect snow day, there are no strict guidelines for snow ice cream.
INGREDIENTS FOR SNOW ICE CREAM:
– 8 cups of freshly gathered, clean snow (extracted carefully from the top layer after several hours of snowfall)
– 1 cup of any of the following dairy options, either individually or as a blend:
– Milk: whether dairy-based or non-dairy (e.g., rice milk)
– Half-and-half
– Heavy cream
– Sweetened condensed milk
– Sugar to taste (suggested amount: 1/3 cup; omit if using sweetened condensed milk)
– 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
Instructions for Snow Ice Cream:
1. Combine the chosen dairy or non-dairy ingredient with sugar (if desired) in a mixing bowl.
2. Pour the dairy mixture and vanilla extract over the collected snow.
3. Blend the ingredients using a spoon or spatula until the desired ice cream consistency is achieved.
4. Serve the snow ice cream with an array of toppings according to your preference.
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