Whether you love the snow and celebrate its impending arrival with giddy anticipation and recitals of “let it snow,” or absolutely hate it and the havoc it will likely wreak on your daily routine, once it’s here you might as well try to make the most of it. It’s kind of like the fairly new phrase, “it is what it is,” but I say it is what you make it.

Of course, after you shovel the driveway, you’re most likely used to playing in the snow by making a snowman or a snow angel, or even having a snowball fight. But one of the hidden gems is that you can turn that fresh snowfall into a tasty little treat. If you like ice cream, you’ll love snow crème.

However, before you get started on collecting snow and making preparations for some delectable dessert, there are a few things to keep in mind.

When it first starts snowing, you should consider waiting a few hours before you begin collecting it for consumption.  When snow falls through the sky, it is prone to catching pollutants that may be in the atmosphere, such as black carbon or soot. The longer that it snows, the lower the pollution levels in the air, and accordingly, the lower levels of pollution in the snow.

When it’s time to collect your sample of snow, you should take into consideration the location. For example, collecting snow in your backyard tends to have higher concentration levels of pesticides. And you should never eat snow that has been plowed, as it is likely to contain sand and chemicals such as magnesium chloride.

When you collect your sample, you’ll also want to consider scraping off the top layer, especially when it’s windy. When it’s windy, the snow can get mixed with soil, which often times contains chemicals that you don’t want to ingest. But don’t be overly concerned, most of the chemicals that may be in the snow are at low enough levels that they shouldn’t pose any harm to you.

Now it’s time to get started on making some snow crème!

Ingredients for Snow Crème

Snow (12-16 cups)

Sugar (1 cup)

Whole Milk (2 cups)

How to Make Snow Crème

To start, you have to go and collect some snow. Grab a large cooking pot, scrape the top layer of snow away, and then scoop around 12-16 cups of snow into the pot. Be careful not to dig into the grass/soil.

Once you have your snow, take it inside and add then add the sugar and milk. Start by adding around a cup of sugar into the snow, then start adding milk. For first timers, add milk little by little and stir it up until you find the perfect consistency. And bon appetite, you have your snow crème. It’s pretty simple!

Snow Crème

Snow Crème Variations

Of course, there are several other options you can play around with to make snow crème how you like. We like to keep it basic, but there is so much you can add.

Vanilla extract is a popular addition to your snow crème. The sugar will make it sweet, but the vanilla can add some flavor. If you or your family favors vanilla ice cream, then this will make a great touch.

If you have a birthday or two coming up in your family then add some sprinkles. Even if there are no birthday celebrations, sprinkles are a nice accent for snow crème. I’d even suggest mixing the sprinkles in since snow crème is a bit dense and the sprinkles would get distributed throughout it.

Chocolate or chocolate chips are some other great options for snow crème. It’s a sweet touch that will make your taste buds happy, especially for chocolate lovers. Plus, chocolate has been proven to produce “happy” effects when consumed, so you have just one more reason to add it in.

Cinnamon, which is good for you, can give your snow crème some spice. Whether it’s fresh cinnamon shaved from the stick or ground cinnamon, the product will be amazing.

You could even make your snow crème more into a sherbet by adding fruit juice or fruit into it. Peaches, strawberries, and raspberries are just are few of the possibilities that could transform your snow crème into sherbet or a snow cone.

Now that you know how to make snow crème, I encourage you to be a little adventurous and give it a try this winter – you won’t be disappointed.

Photo: (Flickr/Overduebook)