Cold Snap, from the Wordcasting variant, does not have a target word restriction.
As such, you can choose to use Personal (though this would damage you, but still an option), Selected (the description of this one makes it into a range/melee touch attack, since it deals energy damage), or Cone.
Now, the description of Cold Snap says that if this effect word has only a single target, it requires a ranged/melee touch (though the saving throw disappears).
So just to be clear, does that mean if I make it a cone but only would hit one target that I must still roll the touch attack? Or is the intent of that clause to explain that if I use Selected or combine it with other effect words to reach a higher wordspell level (thus opening other target word choices), the saving throw is no longer need?
The second.
A cone is an area affect and creatures in the area will need to make a save to mitigate the effect.
If you are doing this as selected (either ranged touch or touch attack) then there is no longer a save (the attack roll effectively replaces it).
Sean