Snow is the stuff of both dreams and nightmares. Growing up on the east coast, I could anticipate at least two or three days off from school every year due to impassable, slush-covered, perilously icy roads. In those early days before driving or work deadlines were a concern, snow days were gifts better than any mandated calendar holiday. Something about their randomness made them more special; the element of surprise was part of the fun.

With age came a creeping dread of the unknown, intolerance for the cold, and overall distaste for winter. I spent all of my adult life running from it, moving to the warmest places possible to avoid snow days at all costs. Snow is much more acceptable from afar, enjoyed on a TV screen or within a controlled environment. Case in point: Snow cones will always be welcomed with open arms as the best type of blizzard possible.

Nothing takes the edge off of a scorching summer day like a heaping spoonful of freshly shaven ice, ground as finely as a powdery snowfall. It’s brilliantly easy to make this refreshing treat at home! Special equipment is helpful for the best results, but you can absolutely get by with what you have, IE, a food processor or blender. A shave-ice machine will give you a fluffier texture while this alternative method will create a denser texture, more like a packed snow ball.

How To Make Snow Cones without a Machine

1. Chill the canister of your blender or food processor in advance to prevent the ice from instantly melting upon contact.
2. Use at least 2 cups of ice cubes per batch, but no more than 4 cups to make sure everything is evenly ground.
3. Pulse rapidly to break down the ice into smaller pieces, pausing to quickly scrape down the sides of the canister if it’s not all being incorporated.
4. Continue until the ice is finely ground and looks like snow, with no remaining lumps. Listen closely because the sound will change from loud clattering to a quieter, more even whirring.
5. Immediately transfer the powdery ice to a container and stash it in the freezer until ready to use.

The only thing more important than the ice is the flavoring! There’s no limit to the possibilities here, whether you want to work with only fresh, whole fruits or go avant-garde with extracts. Add more flair with natural food coloring, which could come out of a bottle or straight from nature. Just as a brief refresher course…

Quick and Easy Natural Food Coloring Options Include:

• Beet Powder or Beet Juice = Red
• Carrot Juice = Orange
• Turmeric = Yellow
• Matcha, Powdered Spinach or Kale, such as Green Vibrance superfood powder = Green
• Butterfly Pea Tea Powder AKA Blue Matcha = Blue
• Ube Extract = Purple

Bear in mind that any liquid colors should replace an equal measure of water to keep the sweetener ratio accurate. These will also be more likely to contribute stronger flavors, so make sure you’re ready to embrace those vegetal tastes or use stronger extracts to cover them up.

When you want a treat with no added sugar, snow cones are just the thing! Prepared sugar-free syrups are an easy, instant fix. For something homemade, just start with ripe, super sweet fruit, and accentuate the flavor with a touch of stevia or monkfruit as needed.

Is it possible to make snow cones or shaved ice without syrup in the first place?

Don’t let syrups limit your imagination. You can start with a full-flavored base by freezing juice, smoothies, and beyond to use as the finely shaved ice going into your cone. An added benefit to this approach is that the ice crystals stay lighter and fluffier since they’re not weighted down with extra toppings, while melting a little less slowly as well.

Instead of plain water, try freezing any of the following:

• Brewed and cooled coffee
• Matcha
• Fruit juice
• Smoothies
• Drinkable yogurt
• Non-dairy milk (plain, vanilla, chocolate, etc)

Snow cones are truly the best way to enjoy a snow day. They’re naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, with easy options for making them sugar-free, keto, and paleo-friendly. Best of all, you can enjoy your flurries while chilling poolside under the warm summer sun.

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Homemade Snow Cones

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Nothing takes the edge off a hot summer day like freshly shaved ice, ground as finely as powdery snow. It's brilliantly easy to make this refreshing treat at home! They're naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, with easy options for making them sugar-free, keto, and paleo-friendly.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 6 hours

Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

Simple Syrup with Flavor Extracts:

• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Cup Water
• 1 - 2 Teaspoons Flavor Extract or 1/8 - 1/4 Teaspoon Flavor Concentrate (Such as Vanilla, Almond, Root Beer, Mint, Chocolate, Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, etc)
• Natural Coloring (Optional)

Simple Syrup with Fresh Fruit:

• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Fruit (Blueberries, Raspberries, Pitted Cherries, Sliced Strawberries, Diced Mango, etc)
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon or Lime Juice

Sugar-Free Syrup with Fresh Fruit:

• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Fruit (Blueberries, Raspberries, Pitted Cherries, Sliced Strawberries, Diced Mango, etc)
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon or Lime Juice
• Stevia or Monkfruit, to Taste (Optional)

To Serve:

• 1 - 2 Cups Ice Per Person

Instructions

1. To make a simple syrup with flavor extracts, combine the sugar and water over medium heat in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, just until the sugar has dissolved. Turn off he heat and add the flavoring to taste, as well as coloring, if desired. Let cool completely and store in an airtight glass bottle. For best results, chill thoroughly before using on your snow cones.
2. To make a simple syrup with fresh fruit, combine the sugar, water, fruit, and lemon or lime juice over medium heat in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 5 - 8 minutes, until the fruit has softened. Turn off he heat and transfer to a blender or food processor. Puree until completely smooth. Pass through a strainer to remove any residual pulp. Let cool completely and store in an airtight glass bottle. For best results, chill thoroughly before using on your snow cones.
3. To make a sugar-free syrup with fresh fruit, combine the water, fruit, lemon or lime juice, and stevia or monkfruit over medium heat in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 5 - 8 minutes, until the fruit has softened. Turn off he heat and transfer to a blender or food processor. Puree until completely smooth. Pass through a strainer to remove any residual pulp. Let cool completely and store in an airtight glass bottle. For best results, chill thoroughly before using on your snow cones.
4. To serve, process the ice through a snow cone or shaved ice machine. If using a food processor or blender, see instructions above in the main text of the post. Drizzle over the syrup, to taste, and serve immediately.

Notes

When serving a crowd, prepare everything in advance. Keep shaved ice in a large container in the freezer until ready to use. Make sure all the toppings and bowls are cold so the ice doesn't instantly melt on contact.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

• 
  Bakto Flavors Natural FRUIT Flavors Collection - Set of 6
• 
  Green Sprouts, Fresh Baby Food Freezer Tray, Green
• 
  NOW Foods, BetterStevia, Organic Extract Powder, 1 oz

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

32

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 55Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 14gProtein: 0g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.