Snow Brings Back Classic Southern Treat

Friday’s snow gives residents across the Upper Cumberland the chance to make snow cream, a classic southern treat.

Former Overton UT Extension Agent Robbie Melton said you need about a gallon of clean snow, a cup of sugar, a tablespoon of vanilla, and two cups of any kind of milk. Melton said all you need to do is to lightly whisk the four ingredients together.

“One of the secrets of making good snow cream is, first of all, is to take a metal bowl and put it outside to catch the snow as it falls,” Melton said. “And you want to keep it, the bowl, somewhere where animals can’t get close to it. I usually put mine on the hood of my car.”

Melton said anyone who cannot put a bowl outside to collect snow can gather any snow that they can tell is undisturbed. Melton said the dish is thought to be a southern tradition because of how rarely it snows in the region.

“If we’re going to be housed in for a while, what’s better than taking a little time to make some snow cream?” Melton said.

Melton said there is also a more complex snow cream recipe that families can use to teach older kids about different cooking techniques. Melton said that recipe requires three eggs, one and a half cups of sugar, two tablespoons of vanilla, a can of evaporated milk, one and a half cups of milk, and a “whole bunch of snow.”

“You want to combine the eggs and the sugar and the vanilla and the milk in a bowl and whisk it together real good,” Melton said. “Make sure you get those eggs incorporated real good. And then, using a double boiler, slowly bring the mixture to 160° using a candy thermometer.”

Melton said that mixture is then set outside or in the freezer for five to ten minutes to cool. Melton said a large amount of snow is then spooned into the mixture to combine it all together.

“You can use a hand mixer to mix it up, but don’t over-mix it,” Melton said.

Melton said anyone who does not have a double boiler can use a small sauce pan inside of a larger saucepan with water in it.