One of the best ways to cool off on a hot summer day is indulging in an icy treat: the snow cone. What simple treats they are — so simple, in fact, they’re incredibly easy to make right at home.
Really, all you need is some shaved iced and flavored syrups, and you’re set! But let’s take it step by step… first up, the ice.
Snow cone ice
If you’re up for some DIY that also lets you get out some aggression, wrap ice in a clean dish towel, stuff it into a large freezer bag (so no chips get away), and beat the living daylights out of it with a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat tenderizer (or just grab a hammer from the garage, and wrap the tip in foil — as long as the dirty part doesn’t touch anything you plan to eat or eat with).
Or, simply throw the cubes into a blender, and crush them that way. Of course, there are also plenty of snow cone machines you can buy at varying price points if you prefer something specialized.
More: The Weirdest Ice Cream Flavors to Try This Summer
Snow cone syrup
Making the syrup is just as easy. Do you have water, sugar and flavored drink mix (such as Kool-Aid) at home? That’s all you need. To make about a cup of syrup, stir a cup of sugar and a packet of drink mix into a cup of water, and bring it to a boil over medium heat until everything is dissolved. Remove it from the heat, and after it’s cool, funnel it into a squeeze bottle or a bottle rigged with a bar spill-stop.
Put the ice into little cups, pour the syrup over until the ice is saturated, and enjoy. Of course, you can also buy flavored syrups from places like Hawaiian Shaved Ice and Amazon, where you can also buy other snow cone-making supplies.
More: The Perfect Summer Cocktail for Every Zodiac Sign
The best flavor combos
Whether you make your own or buy them online, we have 20 flavor combos below for you to try out. One tip before you start: Mix the flavors together before adding them to the snow cone. As for the cream flavors you’ll find below, those should be refrigerated before use.
That’s it — now go make a snow cone already!
A version of this article was originally published in July 2016.
Leave a Comment