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Homemade Snow Cones

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Homemade Snow Cones with 3 ingredients Syrup are a quick, easy summer treat that everyone will enjoy! You’ll never need to go to another shaved ice stand again! That makes Mom’s everywhere happy!!!

Homemade Snow Cones

When the chicks were little at this nest… I wanted to teach them how to run a small business. The question was…what could my kids from ages 8-13 do to make money?

Then I stumbled upon a recipe for homemade snow cone syrup! We lived way out in the country with no snow cone stands insight. It was perfect! And different from the typical “Lemonade Stand”.

I bought a simple “Rival” snow cone machine from Walmart, (price point about $18.99). It uses regular ice… which is super handy. Also, this machine has safety features, so kids can use it. 

I started out with 6 different flavors and the kids were in business.

Rainbow Snow Cones with Snow cone machine

I left it all up to them, except for making the syrups. They ran their snow cone business for 6 summers.

One summer, they sold snow cones as a fundraiser, to purchase women in Africa sewing machines, so they could start their own small businesses! It was a great, rewarding family experience and I highly recommend it!

The snow cone syrup is the easiest and BEST snow cone syrup EVER! (I’m an official snow cone connoisseur. It’s a title I’m very proud of and have been working on for over 45 years!)

How To Make Kool-aid Snow Cone Syrup 

In a large sauce pan, add 2 cups of sugar. (Whoa! I know, I know…but we are making “simple syrup” and… Any good treat starts with sugar!)

Sauce pan with sugar

Add 1 cup of water. (You want more sugar than water because it is a “syrup”.) 

Addition of Water to Sugar

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. (It’s like witches brew…only, SO much better cause there are no toads involved! Gross!)

Boil 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until all the sugar is dissolved!

Note: PLEASE put this mixture on the BACK burner so no little’s get burned! This is a VERY hot syrup!

Boiling Syrup

Turn off the heat and cool to Luke warm!

Tip: I triple the mixture! This way, I can make three different syrups at once. 

Cooled Syrup Mixture

How To Flavor Simple Snow Cone Syrup

If you make more than one batch… Use a ladle to scoop out 2 cups of warm syrup mixture into a large glass measuring dish or another glass mixing bowl.

Add one packet of…wait for it…KOOL-AID AID to each batch of syrup!

YES! Let’s hear it for the big ol’ happy jug of summer fun! Yep, Kool-aid makes the BEST snow cone syrup ever! It’s magical! (This is the only thing we ever used it for! It’s SO good!)

Some of our favorite flavors are watermelon, blue raspberry, cherry, lime, mango, and pink lemonade. 

TIP: Now here’s my REALLY big TIP! If you want additional flavors like coconut, banana, and root beer, you can use flavoring extracts! Just add 2 teaspoons of any flavor extract you desire. Taste test. Depending on the extract, sometimes I had to add 3–4 teaspoons, but usually 2 did the trick. (You’ll smell like one big Popsicle! It’s like being your own wall flower scent! A dream come true!) You may want to add a drop of yellow food color to the banana. 

Kool Aid Snow Cone Syrup

Mix the flavoring into the clear syrup until well blended. Allow the syrups to cool completely before using. (Unless you just want kool aid syrup in water…just another helpful hint…ice doesn’t like anything hot! Like me! Unless it’s Tom Selleck! I’m suddenly having a hot flash!) 

How To Bottle Snow Cone Syrup

We used empty cleaned out water bottles and repurposed purchased syrup bottles. Anything the size and shape of a water bottle will work. Use a funnel to pour syrups into water bottles and have someone hold that bottle! I’m speaking from experience. Snow cone syrup + kitchen floor…NOT GOOD!

Pouring Syrup into bottles

TIP: Use Plastic Liquor Pour Sprouts. You can find them at Walmart, Home Depot, etc. A dozen usually run about $5.00. They fit snugly in the opening of a water bottle and allow the syrup to flow freely.

How To Make Perfect Homemade Snow Cones

Snow cone syrup in pour bottle

To make the snow cones, shave the ice from your snow cone machine into a bowl. If it’s 103° out you may want to skip the rest of the steps and just face plant it into this bowl! (No judgment here friends!)

Shaved ice in a bowl

Fill a cup with ice to the rim. Be sure to pack it down slightly. If you pack it too tightly, the syrup will not filter down through the packed ice. Pack it, but not too tight. (Think awful face lift tight! Don’t go that far!) 

Solo Cup filled with shaved ice.

Now to make the nice rounded tops, we use a Tupperware funnel. It works perfectly!  Fill the funnel with shaved ice. Again, packing it slightly.

Snow cone tops

Place on top of an ice-filled cup. Press down firmly and move the funnel back and forth to create the perfect rounded top!

Adding Rounded Snow Cone Top

Pour the syrup slowly and carefully over the top of the snow cone until you have the desired amount.

We’re a crazy rainbow family! Why? just have one color when you can have multiple? So I started out with watermelon…

Snow cone syrup in pour bottle

Then we added cherry and blue Raspberry! It was basically… Snow Cone PERFECTION!

Homemade Snow Cone

Even as a kid, when the ice-cream man came through the neighborhood playing his magical music… I always buy a “snow cone” with my quarters! They have been my favorite summer treat for as long as I can remember.

I love how they instantly cool you down and the happy colors! There’s nothing better than the fun flavors of summer! It is truly happiness in a cup! Basically… I LOVE SNOW CONES! 

Snow Cones

Want to see your kids smile this summer and save a few $$$ on summer treats? Make these delectable fun easy treats!

One last BIG TIP…want Tiger Blood? Mix cherry and coconut together! Mind-blowing!!! This will be the BEST Tiger Blood you’ve ever slurped! Try it!

Enjoy this cool yummy summer treat, friends! I’ve been making them this summer for the grandkids. Yep…the grandkids! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! (Don’t mind my rainbow-colored tongue…it happens to all snow cone lovers! Lol

Homemade Rainbow Snow Cones

Great Summer Frozen Treat Recipes!

Thanks for stopping by! The easy FREE printable recipe is below! Enjoy and stay cool!

Happy Nesting!

Norines Photo and signature
Yield: 8-10 snow cone servings

Homemade Snow Cones

Rainbow Snow Cone in a purple cup

This 3 Ingredient Homemade Snow Cone Syrup is the BEST and so easy to make. You'll have delicious tasty treats all summer long!

Prep Time 1 hour 3 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 8 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4-5 Cups Shaved Ice
  • 2 Cups Sugar
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 1 envelope of your favorite flavor of Kool Aid

Instructions

  1. In a large sauce pan add 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute.
  2. Cool to Luke Warm.
  3. Add one package of Kool Aid. Mix well. Cool completely.
  4. Place in clean used water bottle and top with plastic liquor spout.
  5. Shave ice in Snow Cone Maker.
  6. Lightly pack shaved ice into a cup. Carefully pour homemade syrup over ice.

Notes

*Prep time includes "cooling" time.

** You can make additional flavors by substituting Kool Aid for 2-3 teaspoons of extract flavorings. i.e.: Coconut, Banana, Root Beer.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10 servings

Serving Size:

1/8 to 1/4 cup of syrup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 218Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 11mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 0gSugar: 51gProtein: 0g

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Kate

Thursday 13th of June 2024

Hi should you store the left over syrup in the fridge or keep it room temperature?

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Monday 17th of June 2024

Hi Kate! I have always stored it at room temperature. If you chill it it can crystalize. Hope this helps. Norine

Kate

Sunday 9th of June 2024

What’s your advice for making cotton candy flavor?

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Monday 17th of June 2024

Hi Kate! I'm not sure how to make Cotton Candy flavor! That's a really great question! I will share that I have found the "snowie" brand flavorings on Amazon are great for hard to find flavors. Hope this helps. Norine

Tina

Thursday 7th of September 2023

Hi, I'm confused how the recipe starts w 1 cup water, but you ladel out 2cups of syrup. I know u triple the recipe bit even then there wouldn't be 2 cups of syrup for each 3 flavors. I apologize if I'm misunderstanding something. To be honest, I just made my syrup. It's cooling now (1 cup water, 1.5 cups sugar). It just tastes so sweet, & doesn't seem to be alot at all. I guess I'm comparing it to the actual Kool Aid drink directions that add another cup of water. ??? But we don't want they bc we want it to be a syrup, not a drink, right? Lol.

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Thursday 7th of September 2023

Hi Tina, For simple syrup, which is what we are making before adding the Kool Aid, it is always a 2 to 1 ratio. So for 1 cup of water you add 2 cups of sugar. In the recipe post I state that I triple the recipe and this gives me enough syrup to make 3 different flavors of syrup, 2 cups per flavor. I apologize for the confusion. The recipe card is for one single batch of syrup. The syrup is supposed to be sweet because we are adding it to a LOT of frozen water. Lol. You are right we want a syrup and not a drink. It also doesn't take much to make a flavored snow cone. I hope you enjoy this recipe. It really is my favorite snow cone syrup. Enjoy! Norine

Best Ice Crushers for Party and Home Use in 2021 - Kitchen Gadgetful

Saturday 11th of September 2021

[…] ice crusher is not only suitable for making snow cones and frozen drinks at home. Thanks to its incredible efficiency, this crusher is ideal for producing […]

Alex

Friday 14th of May 2021

hahaha You cracked me up with your jokes...I'll try this out.

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Monday 17th of May 2021

Hi Alex! I'm glad I made you smile! Enjoy this recipe. It's my very favorite for snow cone syrup! Come back again soon! Norine

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