It's Snowball Season in Baltimore, Hon'

The weather is getting warmer here in Baltimore and when we think summer months, we think snowballs, that nostalgic treat you grew up with.  While I'm not from Baltimore, I would come from Massachusetts to visit my grandparents every summer and going out to get a snowball after dinner with G-Mom and G-Pop was a special treat that I looked forward to because I couldn't get them at home.  I remember Gramom (our very own Maggie Moore) always got a chocolate snowball with marshmallow, which was of course pronounced "marshmella".  Sam recalls Gramom always got Egg Custard, which Sam thought was gross!  Whether it was Egg Custard or Chocolate, one thing we can agree on, her snowballs always had to have marshmella. Which reminds me- Granpop would get up early to go to the bakery on the weekend and get marshmella buns! I kind of just like saying marshmella.

The snowball is a childhood rite of passage, and as a Baltimore native, Sam grew up on snowballs, hon'!  Her favorite growing up was chocolate (hold the marshmella), which was basically just ice and Hershey's syrup dumped on top.  She would smush her snowball with her spoon, to properly mix in the chocolatey goodness, so it was nice and juicy.  When she got a little older and her palate became more refined, she graduated from simple flavors to the memorable 'Little Mermaid', which was different colorful flavors all mixed together and how cool was that?! And remember Skylite flavor?  What was that and is that still a thing?

The snowball dates back to the 1800's in Baltimore when ice trucks would roll through the city giving kids extra ice shavings.  They brought these home to their resourceful moms who added flavoring, like egg custard, for the perfect summer treat.  During the Depression, this was an inexpensive way to make extra money serving up shaved ice with simple flavorings, and they were known as the "hard times sundaes" or "penny sundaes".  And the iconic snowball stands could pop up anywhere, always serving a cup mounded high with shaved ice, a few pumps of that sweet sweet flavoring and if they were doing it right Marshmallow in the middle and on top.

Some of our favorite  places to get snowballs you ask? Some of our first Maggie Moore Studio business meetings were held over Quality Snowballs.  Quality Snowballs is on the Avenue in Hampden and their flavors have come along way from Egg Custard and Skylite, like Watermelon, Basil and Lime (a personal favorite) with chunks of watermelon on top, Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  Yes Please! Still  trying to make my way through all the flavors.

We also love a trip over to the Peggy. The Peggy  at The Margaret Cleveland is a full on experience boasting it is the oldest snowball stand in the country.  The Egg Custard originated right there on Walther Avenue, and they have delish organic marshmallow topping.  Not sure you can call that marshmella. While enjoying your snowball you can tour the beautiful grounds to pick up a  little something for your garden, wandering through their gorgeous greenhouses, browsing in the Farmhouse for a gift or to treat yourself. And if you plan  it right you can check our live music or a movie for a true Baltimore community experience. Check out the Peggy Insta to plan your trip.

And if you're Downy Oshun we recommend The Snowball Stand in Berlin.  They have wild flavor combinations topped with everything from traditional marshmallow to ice cream, popsicles, sprinkles, cotton candy and Moore.  They even serve flights if you just can't decide.  What a genius idea!

Our greetings are the perfect was to deliver a smile to someone, far from home, who is missing this signature Baltimore sweet treat. We would love to hear from you. Share a special childhood memory or your favorite stand below.