Why make ice cream inside when winter literally hands you the freezer? TikTok is buzzing with a new snow-day hack that skips the kitchen entirely. People are heading outdoors, placing a bowl right into fresh snow or ice, mixing ingredients on the spot, and then scooping the finished treat straight onto a cone.
There are actually two ways to do it: one using real snow, and one that just uses heavy cream, sugar, and a salty ice base for a quick outdoor soft serve. Here’s how to make both:
Hack 1: Heavy Cream Ice Cream Hack (No Snow Needed)
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup icing (powdered) sugar
- A splash of vanilla extract
What You’ll Need
- A metal bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Fresh snow or crushed ice
- Salt
- Cups or ice cream cones
@jenniferkalynuik We finally tried the viral snow ice cream and it did NOT disappoint ❄️ Easy, fun, a little science magic, and the kids were obsessed. Highly recommend for your next snowy day. #snowicecream #winterfun #momsoftiktok #familyactivities #canadianwinter
How to Make It
Step 1: Create the Freezing Base
Pour a generous amount of salt onto the snow or ice where your bowl will sit. The salt helps the mixture freeze faster as you whisk.
Step 2: Set the Bowl
Press the metal bowl firmly into the salted snow or ice so the bottom is fully surrounded and chilled.
Step 3: Add the Ingredients
Pour in the heavy cream, then add the icing sugar and vanilla.
Step 4: Whisk Until It Thickens
Whisk gently, pausing occasionally to let the cold do its magic. After about 10 minutes, the cream will thicken into a scoopable, soft-serve texture.
Step 5: Scoop and Serve
Scoop into cups or pile onto cones and top with your favorite extras.
Hack 2: Real Snow Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8–10 cups fresh, clean snow
Supplies
- A metal or sturdy bowl
- Spoon or spatula
How to Make It
Step 1: Set Up Your Snow Base
Find a fresh patch of snow outside. Make a shallow indent and place your bowl directly into it so the bottom is surrounded — this keeps everything extra cold.
Step 2: Add Your Ingredients
Pour in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Let the cold do its thing for a few seconds before mixing.
Step 3: Stir in the Snow
Slowly scoop snow into the bowl while stirring continuously. Keep adding snow until you reach a creamy, soft-serve consistency.
Pro Tips for the Best Texture
- Use fresh, powdery snow only; skip the first inch or snow that’s been sitting for days.
- If too dry, add a splash of milk.
- If too melty, add more snow.
- For extra scoopable ice cream, place your bowl on a patch of snow sprinkled with salt.
