Elsa might say the cold never bothered her anyway. But for those non-ice queens among us, the early excitement over winter’s arrival can really start to fade with frigid temps, dark days and kids bouncing off the walls with boredom. If you’re like us, we look for any excuse to reach for a treat to soothe our soul. So we figure, why not make the most of a snowy situation instead of groaning every time our favorite weather person predicts a few inches.
Just eat it up.
Kids have long known the joy of snacking on snow, whether catching it on their tongues as it falls, picking up handfuls in the yard or eating the icy chunks directly off mittens after a snowball fight.
There’s a better way.
Grab a pot and turn Mother Nature’s curse (err gift) into yummy treats for bellies of all sizes. Just thinking about Chocolate Peppermint Snow Cream has us wishing for snow! Of course, use your best judgment when it comes to eating snow — and definitely avoid the yellow kind.
Snow Ice Cream Recipes
Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
We always love getting the kids involved in making their treats. Here is a fun way to make ice cream – plus it keeps them busy. You’ll need a 1-pound coffee can with a lid, a 3-pound coffee can with a lid, salt, snow, 1 pint whipping cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp. Vanilla, 1 cup crushed strawberries.
Put the cream, sugar, vanilla and strawberries into the smaller can and mix. Place the smaller can inside the larger can with salt and snow (ice works too). Roll on the floor back and forth until the ice cream is firm. You may need to add more salt and snow and continue rolling after about 15 minutes. Mittens are helpful because the can gets very cold.
Chocolate Peppermint Snow Ice Cream
The internet is full of recipes for vanilla ice cream, but Lisa Huff, the mom over at Snappy Gourmet, decided to give her version a twist with condensed milk, cocoa powder and peppermint extract – and fresh snow, of course.
Get the recipe at Snappy Gourmet.
Snow Candy
New England kids have known about this popular snow treat forever that might go back to the pilgrims. But maple syrup is plentiful right here at home so this is worth a try. Simply drizzle hot maple syrup over packed snow until it cools to becomes like taffy, then twist it around a fork, spoon or stick to pick it up and eat. If you want to get a little more complicated, Little House — the website devoted to all things Little House on the Prairie — has a recipe that uses molasses and brown sugar.
Get the recipe at Little House.
Real Snow Cones
It’s a no-brainer to make snow cones with real snow. You simply need water, sugar and Kool-Aid or syrup of your choice – and snow, of course. A mom contributor over at Food Pusher has a recipe the kids will enjoy.
Get the recipe at Food Pusher.
Frozen Hot Chocolate Slushie
You can make this hot treat the easy way, with your favorite packaged hot chocolate and mix in the snow until drinkable or you can go fancy, but making it with your favorite chocolate, sugar and milk can be fun. Debi, over at Mama Loves to Eat has an easy recipe. Just substitute snow for the ice. Don’t forget the whipped cream or marshmallows because those additions make everything better.
Get the recipe at Mama Loves to Eat.
Slushy Snow Mimosa
This one is for the moms and dads. The folks over at Food Network suggest filling a champagne flute with fresh snow and pouring in apricot nectar or orange juice, plus champagne or Prosecco.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
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