Last Bit of Snow Traditions

Just as the first fall of snow brings magic and excitement, the last bit of snow has its own share of excitement and games. At least at our house.

The last bit of snow brings a mix of emotions, especially on a year, like this one, where snowfall has been so minimal. Even as the weather grows warm again, our prayers continue for the needed moisture to keep our western region safe from fire and drought.

Yet even this year, there is still that mix of emotions we feel every year.

There is an undeniable excitement for spring, for more sunshine and longer days, for green grass and barbeques. Yet there is also the sadness that winter is over, and snow-play is at an end as our backyard winter wonderland melts in the sun.

But despite the sadness of no more sledding, no more snow angels or building snowmen, our kids have found delight in what has become a yearly family tradition:

Making ice cream with the last bit of snow.

As the sun shines and the weather heats up (even if it’s only to 40 degrees), my favorite handful of littles are ready for sandals, shorts, and t-shirts; swimming suits and — you guessed it — ice cream cones.

So we welcome in the change of weather and celebrate with one last day of snow-play, using the most minimal of snow needed.

Making Memories

Growing up, our family often did this as a (somewhat inconsistent) Mother’s Day or early summer tradition. We would go for a drive or four-wheeled adventure in the mountains searching for a patch of remaining snow. And if we had the ice cream crank and pre-mixed tube of ingredients with us, we would make it right there on the spot – on the side of the mountain.
If we didn’t have all our ice-cream making supplies, we would simply fill a cooler full of snow to take back to camp or back home, where we would then have a modest ice cream making party.

Those are memories I cherish from my childhood.

And as I fill up zip-lock bags full of milk and cream, and bigger bags of snow – because we’re not cool enough yet (no pun intended) to own a fancy hand-crank or electric ice cream maker at our young family home – I am cherishing the memories we are making for my children’s childhood.

They are truly memories that I know bring magic into their lives. Even if hands and fingers are freezing cold by the end of it, and some of us give up on shaking our bags when our ice-cream is only half set up – I know the memories will last. Even as the snow and ice cream melt away.

Join in the Fun

So if you want to join in this fun last bit of snow adventure, I have included our base recipe for Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag recipe below, along with some our favorite flavors.

And when you get to the last bit of snow at your house, let us know what flavor of ice cream you made with your family.

What you’ll need…

Supplies:

• Quart-sized Zip-lock bags
• Gallon-sized Zip-lock bags
• Ice Salt (Rock Salt)
• Snow (or ice)

Ingredients:

• Milk
• Heavy Cream
• Sugar
• Salt
• (other ingredients for flavors)

First, send the kids (or a loving someone) outside with a gallon bag in their hands to gather up some snow.

While the kids are getting the snow, get all your supplies together — milk, cream, sugar, salt, and whatever other yummy thing you want to add into the cream mixture.

Next, start pouring ingredients into your quart-sized bags. (I like to use a mason jar to help hold my bag open for me so the bag doesn’t flop over and spill). Also, don’t forget to add any cocoa powder, vanilla, or other extracts or flavorings.

When the ingredients are all added, seal the bag. Make sure there are NO GAPS in the seal, or all your wonderful ice cream will spill out into the snow.

Now, these bags of creamy goodness are ready to go inside the gallon bags. Sprinkle the rock salt over the snow, and then seal the quart bag in with the snow.

Shake your bag, until the cream becomes more solid and forms_ Ice Cream!

Psst… for those of you wondering if you really need to spend all that time and energy on shaking rather than just tossing the quart-sized cream mixture into the freezer – let me tell you: Yes, you absolutely do need to shake, at least to a point. Shaking helps to break up the ice crystals while also adding air to the cream. This helps it freeze without freezing into a solid mass, or without forming hard ice crystals that just look and taste… not like ice cream.

So, yes, you have to shake!

Also, I highly recommend shaking outside because, well, shaking does take a while, and walking circles in the kitchen gets old real fast.

You know your ice cream is ready to eat when the inner bags have hardened.

You can eat it right out of the bag, or you can scoop and eat it at the table, complete with spoon and napkin. You choose!

Favorite Flavors

Here are some of our families favorite flavors to try with this Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag base recipe.

Classic Vanilla: simply add 1-2 tsp of pure vanilla extract (depending on how strong you like your flavor, and how potent your vanilla is).

Chocolate: 1 tsp vanilla and 2 Tbl cocoa powder. My husband pretty much thinks chocolate is the only acceptable flavor for ice cream, so chocolate ice cream gets made a lot at our house.

Peppermint: 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1/4 tsp peppermint extract. For some added fun, try adding some crushed candy cane either straight into your cream mixture or sprinkle on top once its done.

Raspberry: 1/2 to 1 full tsp raspberry flavor and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries. This Raspberry Ice Cream is my new found favorite way to eat Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag. I really love this raspberry flavor from Frontier Co-op — I use this same raspberry flavor in my Raspberry Cream Frosting which tastes downright delicious on these Giant Sourdough Sheet pan Cookies. (Note: I am not an affiliate marketer for Frontier Co-op. I do not get any kickbacks or financial gain from them as a company – I just genuinely like their seasonings and non-alcohol flavorings, like this one.)

Again, if you have a favorite flavor, drop it in the comments section below because I for one would love to give them a try. Plus, I have some little kids who would be overjoyed at another excuse to eat ice cream!

As you can see from the pictures below, we made our ice cream very last minute. It truly was the last bit of snow! The snow you can see in the background was all but gone and melted away the following morning. You can even see the plastic sandbox shovels my kids used to scoop up their snow, still left in the yard (who is their mother, again? She ought to remind her kids to clean up their toys… as if that isn’t the thing we do as mother’s all day long anyway, but alas…).

I am so glad we were able to enjoy the little bit of snow while it lasted. Now here’s to welcoming spring!