How to Make Snow Cupcakes and Snow Ice Cream

It snows a couple of times a year where I live and we have already had a blizzard dumping more snow than we have had in many years. This instructable is what I was able to do during a blizzard, . . using few ingredients to satisfy a sugar craving.

The electric went on and off for several hours as I was baking these snow cupcakes. My good light for taking pictures had a burned wire and I could not use it for my camera shots. Fortunately we have a gas oven so my cupcakes did not fall. The kitchen water faucet froze~

After this experience I feel for all of you who live in the colder climates and find these situations normal for winter weather. All in all I was very please my efforts paid off. These snow cupcakes were very well received by my neighbors and my friend from Belarus has requested the recipe.

This instructable will share how I made chocolate and vanilla snow cupcakes using snow as the leavening properties. I will share several easy frosting recipes. I will also share a tasty chocolate or vanilla snow ice cream recipe; for those who don't happen to have ice cream in the freezer and the local store is closed due to heavy snow and ice.

Step 1: Ingredients and Utensils

Ingredients:

Chocolate and Vanilla Frosted Snow Cupcakes ( cake )

1/3 C. unsalted butter ( or shortening)

1/8 Cup Cocoa Powder (optional) or to taste

1 C. sugar

1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste)

1 3/4 C. flour (I used cake flour)

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 Cup whole full fat milk

Large bowl of fresh Snow (Approximately 2 cups snow loosely packed) Shaved ice will work also if you live in the city. (We were always taught to use the snow that has fallen several hours after the first snow. The first few hours of snow has a lot of particles that have fallen from the atmosphere. If you live in an area where there is a lot of smog then I would warn you not to make this recipe. I live in a small town with no high traffic, no large cities near by or manufacturing plants.

Frosting:

I made several different kinds of simple frosting's because sometimes a variety is nice when some are so simple to make.

1/2 cup confection sugar

approx 1/4 cup Butter or to your taste

Pinch sea salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or you can use a good vanilla extract ).

Approx 1/8 cup Cocoa powder or more if desired (For the chocolate frosting . . . I separated half the vanilla frosting and placed it in a separate bowl and added cocoa powder to one bowl and mixed it well.)

I added a small amount of milk to the mixture until I liked the consistency.

For a French twist "Herbes De Provence" if you would like a fancier tasting icing or for bright and cheery garnishes try Sprinkles. I also used organic coconut.

If you don't have the ingredients to make frosting, Nutella is tasty also.

Chocolate Snow Ice Cream:

Large bowl of fresh clean snow

1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract

1/2 Cup Sweetened condense milk ( I noticed Borden's makes chocolate flavor after I posted this )

Cocoa powder to taste (I used about 1/8 cup)

Pinch sea salt

Utensils:

Hand mixer or mix by hand,mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, sifter, muffin pan, cupcake liners and of course an oven.

Step 2: Set Up Work Station and Mix

Set up the work station with all the ingredients and pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. For high altitudes pre-heat oven to slightly higher than 350 degrees F. I have a gas oven and am at 3500 elevation and the first time I baked these for 30 minutes at 350 degrees and they were not quite done. I decided to raise the temperature just slightly and bake them three more minutes checking them often and they were perfect. I recommend filling only one cupcake and baking it to test it the first time you make this recipe. Please remember to place the remaining batter in the freezer while it bakes.

I filled a large bowl of very clean snow and covered it with Saran wrap. I left it outside close to the kitchen door in a un-disturbed, area away from pets or kids until just before I needed it. I placed cupcake liners in the pan so they were ready to fill. Mixing the snow into the batter and pouring the mixture into the pan must be done rather quickly because it is the snow flakes that make the mixture rise.

Procedure:

Cream the sugar and butter (or shortening) together and add vanilla. I used a food processor to mix the sugar and butter together.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.

Add to creamed mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix after each addition using a hand mixer. The mixture will be thick and smooth before adding the snow.

Bring the snow in from outside and gently fold in (by hand). The mixture will have small lumps, this is OK and preferred as the snow acts as the leavening agent for the batter because these lumps create a pocket of air which causes the mixture to rise, if I understand it correctly.I read an article about using snow instead of yeast for baking breads.

Step 3: Pour the Batter Into Muffin Pan

Method:

Pour the batter into the muffin pan about 3/4 full or slightly more, please see the difference in the pictures.

You may bake a loaf cake instead but I recommend lining it with parchment paper instead of using oil and flour. The first one I made stuck to the pan and did not look very pretty after I removed it from the pan.

Step 4: Bake

Pre-heat oven 350 degrees F for 30 minutes: Higher altitudes may need slightly higher than 350degrees F and several more minutes of baking time

Bake for 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Completely cool before frosting.

Step 5: Frosting

Make The Frosting:

I like to use different types of frosting's on cupcakes because I usually give them to my neighbors because we can't eat all of them and some people have food allergies. This recipe made about 12 cupcakes or about six cup cakes and one loaf cake. I tried using coffee creamer as shown in the picture to make the frosting but I did not like the flavor. I used regular milk instead but cream would be better if you have it.

All you do is cream the sugar and butter together and add the vanilla bean paste, salt, or what ever flavor you might like and mix until incorporated. If you would like chocolate and vanilla flavors, separate the mixture in half and place half in a separate bowl and add cocoa to taste and mix until incorporated.

1/2 cup confection sugar

Approx 1/4 cup Butter or to your taste

Pinch sea salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or you can use a good vanilla extract ).

Approx 1/8 cup Cocoa powder (optional) or more if desired

I added a small amount of milk to the mixture because it was a little thick. If you don't have milk or your water pipes are frozen, add snow~

Nutella is good on cupcakes especially if you don't have the ingredients to make frosting.

For a French twist add "Herbes De Provence" to the top of the frosting or mix it in with the frosting.

Organic coconut is delicious or try Sprinkles for bright and cheery frosting garnishes.

Step 6: Frost

Frost the cupcakes and it is Ok to sample one.

Step 7: Snow Ice Cream

Cake without ice cream is like toast with out butter. Let's make some snow ice cream to go with those delicious cup cakes~

Procedure:

Vanilla or Chocolate Snow Ice cream

Cream together 1/2 Cup Sweetened condense milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, and a pinch of sea salt. Go outside and retrieve the bowl of snow and slowly add small amounts to the milk mixture until you have the desired consistency.

If making chocolate ice cream make the same recipe adding coco powder to taste to the mixture. I used about 1/8 cup.Then slowly add the snow to the mixture until it is the texture you desire.

Please note: This recipe is best if you make small amounts that you will eat very soon after making it. I like to layer the ice cream between my cup cake and frost the top.

Step 8: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts

I loved the ice cream with these cup cakes. My neighbor posted a picture on her Facebook page and had several request for the recipe. She came over yesterday and said 13 people made the cupcakes and thought they were delicious. I wished my kids had been here to enjoy them with us.

I hope you do give the recipes a try and have a safe and Happy New Year 2016~ I wish to thank everyone here at instructables for making this a great place to hang out and play~ Have a safe and Happy 2016~

sunshiine~