SNOW CREAM
While most parts of the Appalachian South get at least some snowfall on an annual basis, a sho’ ‘nuff gollywhopper of a snow is another matter. When that occurs, one of the many rituals associated with it, along with snowball fights, sledding, building snowmen, and the like, is enjoying snow cream. My mother turned into a kid on such occasions, and once depths reached 4 or 5 inches she would say: “Let’s make some snow cream.” She would then send my siblings and me, or perhaps some of our friends for whom the house always seemed to be operational headquarters thanks in no small part to how well Momma cooked, outside with a dish pan. Our orders were to fill it up, using bowls or flour scoops, while being careful not to go too deep in the layer of snow covering the earth and get trash in the mix.
Once the pan was suitably full, a quick trip into the house, addition of key ingredients, and a bit of stirring produced the finished product. Here is Mom’s basic recipe, although it could be expanded as needed.
- 1 cup of whole milk or, for additional richness, half and half
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- Big bowl of snow (approximately 3 quarts)
The ingredients were stirred gently and consumed immediately. There were many variations to this basic recipe. The additional of chocolate syrup was popular, as was cocoa mix. For added richness, an egg could be beaten and stirred in the mix. Raisins soaked in water, drained, and doused with a bit of rum flavoring offered another possibility. A dusting of cinnamon along with the aforementioned egg gave an eggnog-like taste. Frozen berries could be thawed and mixed in, or overripe bananas could be mashed up. Whatever the end product, it was always a special treat.
JC
—Celebrating Southern Appalachian Food written by Jim Casada and Tipper Pressley
If it come a big snow when I was a girl we’d sled till we were tired out and frozen till we couldn’t feel our fingers and toes then we’d come inside to sit in front of Pap and Granny’s big oil heater and warm while we ate snow cream.
We never had a recipe, Granny added milk or cream along with a little vanilla and sugar to a bowl of clean snow till it looked and tasted right. If it was us kids doing the mixing and adding we sometimes ended up with a drink instead of a cream. But it was still a special treat after a day of sledding.
The first time I remember eating snow cream was with my Mamaw, Pap’s mother.
Mamaw took me by the hand and led me around the side of the house. While we walked carefully through the snow she told me it was important to remember the first snow of the year was poison and I wasn’t to ever eat it. I held tightly to her as we looked for good clean snow to fill our bowl.
Once our bowl was full, we went back to her tiny kitchen, and she let me sit in the special chair to watch her make snow cream. The chair was like a swivel office chair except it was covered in a bright yellow floral pattern. All us kids wanted to sit in that chair because it turned fast like a merry go round. Mamaw and I ate the snow cream and I decided it was very good, and somehow even though I was very young, I believe I knew staying with Mamaw when no one else was around was very good too.
On Saturday Blind Pig reader Kelley Forrester left this comment:
“We got about 4 inches here in Northeast Georgia (Banks County). Enough for me to make some snow ice cream for my Mama to enjoy yesterday afternoon. She’s been on hospice since November. She passed away last night. Today (the 11th) is her Birthday. She would’ve been 75. I sure do miss my best friend but I know she’s having the best Birthday and reunion ever.”
Our recent snow wasn’t big enough for snow cream, but hopefully the next one will be. If it is, and I get to make snow cream, I’ll be studying on how Kelley’s mother enjoyed it in the last hours of her life.
Last night’s video: Matt Has an Internal Foodie Clock & Getting Firewood Before the Snow.
Tipper
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I remember the big ole metal spoon and melamine bowl we always dipped snow in. Granny would always use Pet or Carnation milk sugar and vanilla. If it was a real wet snow she sometime added Hershey cocoa powder too. Tipper praying for Granny
My recipe is the same – the same as mama did it 60 years ago. My grandkids surprised me with theirs:
Snow
Sweetened condensed milk
Vanilla.
I thought that was pretty cool. It’s just like combining the milk and sugar.
Kelley, my condolences on the loss of your beloved mama. It’s wonderful that you were able to make her a special treat like that on her last day. That will be a precious memory for years to come, and I hope it is a solace to you at this difficult time.
We had around 25 adults and kids for a sled riding party yesterday. My granddaughter made hot chocolate for the sled riders, (everyone). Many put snow in their cup and said it was chocolate slushies. After they got a bed made over 10 inches or more of snow it was 3 hours of fun. The best day of my life this year so far just watching. After sledding was done, everyone gathered in my small house for 3 different homemade soups plus many other things. God blessed us gracefully, especially me.
Tipper, I too was always told never to eat or make snow cream from the first snow of the yr because it was no good. Never made sense to me and being the rebellious child I (sometimes) was, I would eat a handful or 2 of the first snow anyway so I could prove it didn’t hurt me none. Shoot, maybe that’s what’s wrong with me now haha…I ate from too many first snowfalls!!
We call it snow ice cream, but make it exactly the same way.
Nothing is more delicious! Or more fun! May you get snow
soon, Tipper!
Several things, my mother or parents would always have evaporated milk in the refrigerator when I was a kid, it would be used in coffee, add to regular milk in oyster or salmon stews or mixed with a little bit of water if we were out of sweet/regular milk. I think she would sometimes add it to homemade ice cream. Some have mentioned being afraid to eat snow ice cream today because of what might be in it. I have also heard to not make any ice cream from the first snow. I have ate snow ice cream all of my life when I could get it and did not worry about it being bad or unhealthy. The only snow I ever worried about or wouldn’t eat was yellow snow, especially if there was young boys and dogs around and it had designs or names drew or wrote in it!
To Kelly, my prayers of comfort are for you and your family during this time of earthly separation from your beloved mother. From what you wrote I can tell you already have peace. Kelly, you have many wonderful years of memories with your mom to carry you on and she will never leave your heart.
Tipper, I think my mom made snow cream, but us kids just like eating the snow as it was. She must have gave up on trying to make snow cream because we would eat it before she could make it. She would tell us as we went out side “Don’t eat the yellow snow!” LOL
Kelley, I am so sorry you lost your sweet mama and taking her some snow cream was precious. I’m so glad she was able to enjoy it, and you got to share that time with her.
Mama always said we shouldn’t make snow cream from the first snow but since we didn’t get snow often, we did anyway. We’d get a dish pan and get the cleanest we could find. I remember she used evaporated milk like Pet or Carnation, sugar, vanilla and plenty of snow. That was such a treat.
The memories of snow-cream are of my aunt Mina (my mother’s sister) with whom I mostly lived – she always made snow cream after we got a good snow fall, using canned condensed milk, sugar, and some vanilla – always using the ‘middle’ layer of the snow fall. Back in my time we would get a few feet of snow most winters, & I think it would have had far less pollutants than the snow we get today. I just know it was a wonderful treat. So happy for you Tipper that you got to go sledding! 🙂
Prayers to Kelly and Norman.
Another variation to snow cream – and apologies if I missed it in the comments area – my Aunt Suzy makes it with evaporated milk. All the other stuff, sugar, vanilla, and the add-ins as you like, are the same!
That’s how I make it.
No recipe needed for mommy’s big dish pan full of snow…add a little sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla and sit by the big brown warm morning heater and eat the best snow cream ever.
I still make it for myself and remember those memories. It warms my heart!
Everyone have a great day!
Kelly, my heart breaks for you. I will remember you in prayer. My lifelong next door neighbor also passed away yesterday. Her name was Hazel, her husband, Kenneth has been dead for a good while. She never failed to tell me happy birthday each year and would tell how old I was and then say, “ me and Kenneth married on the day you were born.” Their wedding anniversary would be February 20 and they were married in 1954. God has never made better neighbors or friends than them.
The videos I mentioned earlier, were Appalachian Humor, Appalachian Phrases and Sayings, and Appalachian Old Ways of Doing Things all by Jarred Kin. He also has other videos about Appalachia on you tube. He is new to me but I will be watching or listening to his other videos. In no way are the videos offensive or making fun of Appalachian folks.
So very sorry for the loss of your special friend and neighbor, Randy! 🙁 She sounded like a very sweet woman. I always enjoy your comments. Thank you for sharing the new Appalachian channels you found on YouTube.
First thing to do to get the best snow cream is to milk the cow in the evening, then pray for a new snow in the morning.
Snow cream made with milk should be called Snow milk! Remember when the only thing you could afford said “Ice Milk” right there on the box. Now it’s “frozen dessert”!
No I don’t have a cow. Sure wish I did!
I remember my adopted mom fixing the snow cream when I was small. it was so good, those where great memories, she passed away January 7th, 2009. I miss her something terrible. I would be scared to even fix the snow cream today, for all the chemicals that are up there in the skies. (Chem Trails) Thank you Tipper for the nice post today. Thank you for all that you do. God bless all the BP&TA family and God bless Granny. You all stay safe and warm on this cold January morning of 1-13-25. Lord God, please bless all the people out there in those California fires, and the Hurricane victims of N.C. and Florida. Kelley Forrester sorry to hear about your mom. You are in my prayers. Take care. AMEN
We loved our snow cream, growing up in western Kentucky. we used canned milk — not the sweetened condensed kind, just the evaporated milk. My parents always had a can in the refrigerator to lighten their coffee with. Then we added sugar and vanilla to taste. Once we tried an old bottle of maple extract instead of vanilla. It was awful! We’d laugh about “maple snow cream” for years, comparing any other bad tasting recipe -fail to that (now, real maple syrup would have been delicious– this was an bottle of artificial flavoring that might have tasted good at one point). I always kept a small can of evaporated milk on hand until the last few years, just in case we got a deep enough snow for snow cream. Mayfield dairy made a limited edition Snow cream ice cream a few years ago. it really captured the flavor of snow cream.
I agree with Debbie—my heart goes out to Kelley too. My own mama used to make snow cream for us when we were kids, and I made it for my own children. I have never made it for my grandchildren—I suppose I had just kind of forgot about it until you jogged my memory with this blog. I am so happy that Kelley got a chance to give joy to her mama, and most likely jog her memory too, by serving her snow cream like she must have done for her as a child. Mamas are definitely special gifts.
We always made snow cream on the second snow of the season and Mama used the basic recipe but added an egg to it
Mama always made snow cream if we had enough snow….however…I always heard that you shouldn’t eat from the first snow. I am 68 so those memories were from the late 50’s early 60’s. I think it had something to do with fallout from testing of bombs. Does anyone remember this?
We had about 1-2 inches, very fine snow. I am ready for warm weather….these bones of mine are complaining!
I’ve heard about the first snow being poison all my life but sometimes one was all we got, so we were told to just make sure we didn’t scrape all the way through to whatever surface we were collecting from, which was usually a car. Two years ago we had a carport built so when I saw snow falling on Friday morning, I set out my two huge stainless bowls I normally use when canning tomatoes. They take up so much room, we keep them in the basement but, as luck would have it, they were upstairs after being used to make big batches of Chex mix. We gathered snow from them later on in the day and my husband made us some snow cream. It felt extra special to me because I believe it was the first time someone had made it for me since I was a child. We don’t use a recipe either- snow, milk or half and half (or coffee milk, in a pinch), sugar, and vanilla. He even put us a container in the freezer for a future treat.
I’m holding Kelley in the Light after the loss of her mother.
Heartfelt condolences to Kelly and her family.
So happy you finally got the snow you’ve been hoping for and you were able to get some sledding in too.
I’m calling the doctor at 8:00 a.m., to see if they are snowed in, if my appointment has been canceled, please pray for good results, lots of things will be discussed, lots of blood will be taken today, lots of test, God bless you and thank you for praying
Norman-I’m praying for you!!
Prayers for you Norman.
Ah, sweet memories of making snow cream. We seldom had snow, but when we did Mama always let us make snow cream, being very careful not to scoop to deep. Delicious!
I never got to go sledding. No hills close by. I would have loved it, I’m sure. It was fun to see you and Matt sled down the hill!
Tipper,
I was so tickled to see y’all got some snow and the great time had by all! I believe I grinned like a possum the whole time I watched the girls video; you and Matt sledding together and Paul chuckin’ that snowball at you lol! Snowcream was a must when I was a kid and we’d get decent snow in the 70s and 80s. But Momma would never let us eat the first snowfall of the year. She always said it cleaned the air and wasn’t fittin’ to eat. But my sister and I would always grab a handful and eat it anyway!
We got nearly a foot up this way and it’s still lingering. I reckon it’s a’waitin on more! This is our biggest snowfall in many years. But we’ve enjoyed it, too. One good one and we’re ready for spring, summer and looking forward to fresh vegetables from the garden!
Have a blessed day!
Appalachian Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley Living
I do remember Mama and Daddy and his brother and sisters making snow ice cream with similar ingredients. Quite the treat during the Depression for all of them. Somehow, along time’s way, making it fell to the Wayside. I shall try it if we get deep enough snow.
Well, I didn’t make snow cream, but I did scoop a handful and taste it. This was one of those very dry snows until the freezing rain set in later in the day. Yesterday afternoon we got out & walked & enjoyed all the beautiful scenery. A very sweet neighbor came by on his Kabota & plowed our driveway for us. There are still angels among us. Have a blessed day Tipper. We are going down to Dillard & Clayton late morning when it’s safe to drive down the mountain to buy a breaker. One of ours went bad. Praise The Lord not the one for the furnace.
Tipper, I watched y’all sledding on the girl’s channel. So much fun!! I laughed and laughed watching all the excitement! Pure joy!
We always made snow cream, but I kindly forgot about it. We have about 14 inches on the ground and more coming. I guess I’ve been too worried about our wild rabbits. They have been pawing up the ground trying to find the bottom. My husband and I have been taking them greens and carrots to give them something to eat. Back in the day we would have eaten them. I’m getting too tender hearted now I reckon.
God bless all y’all! Have a warm and safe day!
My heart goes out to Kelley. Our mommas are so precious! So glad she got to have that special memory. God’s blessings, Kelley.
This is the recipe my wife and mother would use to make snow ice cream. We would always scrap the snow off the car or some other object and not off the ground. Not snow ice cream, but mother would sometimes make ice cream for my sister and me on these cold below freezing temperature evenings by just simply mixing milk, sugar and either vanilla or lemon flavoring together, out it in a container and set it outside until it froze. As kids we thought that was something. Weather radar shows my neck of the woods to be getting snow right now at this moment but I don’t see anything when I looked out the window. It must have slipped in the back door, no snow was being forecast when I went to bed at 10:30 last night.
While playing around on you tube yesterday I found so videos that were about Appalachian humor sayings, phrases and how it used to be done. None of it was making fun or putting down Appalachian folks. I will post the titles to the videos later today. Since I am always saying I was so ugly mother had to be blindfolded before she would let me nurse, I thought this saying was funny “ a fellow being so ugly he had to rub a pork chop on his britches leg before his dog would have anything to do with him.”
Hi Randy. Until last night I never heard of snow cream. We folks way up north were so worried about the dangers of the huge snowfalls we’d get, we didn’t think anything fun could come of it all. We’d measure snowfalls in feet not inches.
Sometimes we were able to get out in it and build a snowman or a fort. Watching last night’s video with everyone having such a good time sledding, was fun. It’s nice that you found those channels about Appalachia on YouTube.
Way up here in Northwestern North Carolina we don’t often get feet of snow but when you’re in the mountains an inch of snow can easily be more dangerous than much more in flatter terrain. Here, if you skid off the road you don’t just end up in a ditch, you might tumble over and over down the mountainside for hundreds of feet. Your chances of surviving that are bleak.
Beech Mountain, just a few miles north of me, gets 61 to 84 inches of snow per year. That’s 5 to 7 feet. Probably nothing near what you get but still enough to measure in feet.
The weather radar can’t scan down at lower elevations where people actually live. It scans way up in the atmosphere where snow and rain begin. Often that precipitation falls through dryer air down below and evaporates before it gets to the ground. It’s cloudy and 32º here with 68% humidity, so I wouldn’t expect any snow even if their radar showed it. If at the same temperature the humidity was in the 80s or 90s I’d be hunting for a snow shovel.
I still have snow in my back yard and expect it to stay for a week or so unless the temperatures climb higher than predicted. Back next to the woods the sun doesn’t reach the ground from Oct ’til Apr pretty much.