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Home » Recipes

How To Make Real Food Snow Cones!

Little girl holding real food snow cones in bright colored cups and straws.

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Making a Real Food Snow Cone honestly couldn't be any easier. Think about it - a snow cone is basically just ice (that's definitely real) topped off with highly processed syrup (that's definitely not real).

Typical list of ingredients in Snow Cone Syrup: Water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, artificial flavor, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate (preservative), sodium saccharin, xanthan gum, FD&C blue #1.

There's just no need for all these unwanted additives and chemicals when you can simply pour an organic juice concentrate mixture or homemade berry sauce over all that shaved ice instead!

You could use an ice cream scooper to make a nice round top on these snow cones, but this is how they come out of the machine. My daughters didn't seem to mind at all. :)


Now you could make the "shaved" ice in your blender (I've tried it before and while it's more like crushed ice it definitely works), but I've actually become fond of the inexpensive little snow cone machines that are available these days.

I host a little backyard end-of-school-year party for our neighbors every year, and I always whip out my little snow cone machine for the kids. It only makes 2 at a time so they all line up and patiently wait for their turn. In the end it's a fun little activity - and treat! - that they always enjoy.

I've tried a couple different machines and this is the one I currently like and use. So don't delay... collect your supplies so you can get started!

Real Food Snow Cones from 100 Days of #RealFood

Real Food Snow Cones

Making a Real Food Snow Cone honestly couldn't be any easier. I'll never go back to the store-bought syrups that are loaded with artificial ingredients. It takes only two simple and clean ingredients to make your own snow cones.
3 Reviews / 5 Average
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 10 minutes mins
Course: Treats
Cuisine: American
Method: Freezer Friendly
Diet: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Peanut/Tree Nut-Free
Print Recipe
Servings: 2 scones
Save Recipe Saved!

Ingredients
  

  • ice
  • 2 oz frozen fruit juice concentrate (any flavor (or use homemade berry sauce - link to recipe is in notes))

Instructions
 

  • Make the "syrups" by mixing together 2 parts fruit juice concentrate with 1 part water. The berry sauce is ready to go as is and can be thinned out a little with water if desired.
  • Shave the ice in your blender or snow cone machine. Arrange the shaved ice in the snow cone cups. Use an ice cream scooper to achieve a nice rounded top (if desired). Pour the juices/sauces over top, insert a straw and enjoy!

Notes

  • Special equipment needed: blender or snowcone machine, plus cups and straws
  • Check out the recipe for berry sauce here - Homemade Berry Sauce
  • We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Real Food Snow Cones
Amount Per Serving
Calories 45 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 191mg5%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 107IU2%
Vitamin C 39mg47%
Calcium 9mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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12.2K shares

About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Jacque says

    March 29, 2023 at 4:20 pm

    Can you resend the maker you use? The link doesn't work anymore.

    Reply
    • 100 Days Admin says

      March 30, 2023 at 8:50 am

      Hi, it's coming up on our end. This is the machine Lisa uses, however, it is discontinued: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KKXHTC?tag=100dayofreafo-20
      -Nicole

      Reply
  2. Patty Stone says

    May 09, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    If you have a ninja chopper you can freeze chunks of fruit like blood orange and cherry and then just run them through the ninja frozen for fruit ice that looks like colored son and is 100 percent fruit. I found this out when I was too impatient to wait for the blood orange to thaw to add to a chicken marinade so I ran it in my ninja. I hate to take out more orange from the freezer because I ate it. Also, I really hate endorsing products but I tried this with another blender I borrowed that was montel and it was not as powerful as my 29 dollar ninja.

    Reply
  3. Nadia says

    September 15, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    Yum! My family also uses fruit concentrate, and we also use condensed milk drizzled on top! For something more summer fair festive, I buy premade syrups from http://www.realhawaiianice.com -- their tiger's blood flavor is my favorite! I also love toppings like mochi and sweet red bean, which are popular in Asia :D

    Reply
  4. Leslie says

    June 18, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    If you have an ice shaver (I bought one through pampered chef), You can also dilute the juice and freeze in cups and put that through shaver.
    We've used instant flavored coffees before and frozen them and put them through the ice shaver...YUM!!

    Reply
  5. Stacy says

    May 30, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    What exactly is frozen fruit juice concentrate? I mean, how is it sold in the grocery stores? The only thing I can think of is the frozen juice that comes in a can in the freezer section that you dilute with water to make juice. Is that it?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      June 02, 2015 at 1:24 pm

      Hello Stacy. Yes, that's it or you can find some concentrates in boxes in the juice section of your grocery store.

      Reply
      • Teresa says

        June 25, 2018 at 7:27 pm

        Fruit juice concentrate is not that healthier. It’s packed with added sugar.

  6. Helen says

    May 05, 2015 at 2:09 am

    Where did you find the plastic snow cone cups pictured? Thanks, Helen

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      May 18, 2015 at 1:35 pm

      Hi there. You can click on the words above to take you to the product links or click here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/?sShop=snow+cone&allshopcats=all. I do not think Lisa has a link for the silicone cups, however. I would just Google them or look on Amazon. :)

      Reply
  7. Graham Mcauley says

    March 15, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    5 stars
    Snow cone machine and snow cone maker from Snowycones are a new and exciting product in the UK Buy or Rent Snow Cone Machines and products
    snow cone machine

    Reply
  8. Jay says

    August 31, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    COOL! I love the flavor

    Reply
  9. Sara Sweet Surprise says

    August 02, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    It looks to be 106 grams of sugar. Which is over 1 CUP of sugar per 10 OZ. YIKES! I'm still searching for a substitute. Maybe Trop 50? My quest continues.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Sara Sweet Surprise says

    July 29, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Hello Amy~can you tell me how many grams of sugar this recipe would contain? I know with some "natural fruit juices" they can vary but, I've not found any under 28 grams of sugar. Which is equal to a can of soda pop.

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      August 02, 2014 at 8:51 am

      Hi Sara. It would depend on the amount of concentrate you use. Here is an example of a nutrition break down of an orange juice concentrate: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1974/2. Hope that helps. ~Amy

      Reply
  11. Tera says

    June 08, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    Just what we needed this summer! We have really cleaned our diet and menu and are a VERY clean eating family. Our children do very well for the most part, but summer snow cones are a must and I don't want to neglect them!

    Reply
  12. Misty says

    June 05, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    Fruit juice concentrate also contains sugar and high fructose corn syrup!!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      June 07, 2014 at 10:25 am

      Hi Misty. You can find fruit concentrates that are 100% juice and have no added sugars. ~Amy

      Reply
  13. barbara says

    June 05, 2014 at 9:58 am

    If you have a good blender, you can also freeze watermelon chunks and crush those. There are so many ways to enjoy snow cones without the weird ingredients.

    Reply
  14. april says

    June 05, 2014 at 9:40 am

    I use organic fruit nectars--the 32 oz bottle takes about 1/2 c. of sugar--heat till sugar dissolves, re-bottle, and cool thoroughly. So far this summer we've managed sour cherry, peach, and blueberry. YUMMY!

    Reply
  15. Cindy Twigg says

    June 05, 2014 at 5:51 am

    You just talked me into buying a sno-cone machine!!!

    Reply
  16. Kerry says

    June 04, 2014 at 9:11 pm

    i was so excited about trying this recipe that i ended up finding the 4 pack of jelly belly cones with the straws at target for about half the price they were on amazon

    Reply
  17. Mariah says

    June 03, 2014 at 10:43 am

    I've been looking for a recipe for homemade popsicles..The ones I've found online have tons of sugar in them. Do you have any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      June 05, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      Hello Mariah. This should help: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/06/07/cool-summer-treat-makeover/. ~Amy

      Reply
  18. Stacy says

    June 01, 2014 at 12:50 am

    1. How long will it keep in the fridge?
    2. Can I freeze it?
    2. How do I make fruit juice concentrate or do I buy it??

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      June 04, 2014 at 12:57 pm

      Hi Stacy. You can buy concentrated fruit juice in the freezer section. Are you asking how long it will keep? ~Amy

      Reply
  19. Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow says

    May 31, 2014 at 6:02 pm

    5 stars
    Wow I would have never thought of making snow cones at home. I love frozen treats to help keep the kids happy (and so I don't lose my sanity!). Here's a raspberry banana sorbet that we make on a weekly basis to beat the heat: http://naturalchow.com/2014/05/vegan-raspberry-banana-sorbet/

    Reply
  20. Kerry says

    May 30, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    where can we get those neat sno cone holders? they look like reusuable ones.

    Reply
    • Holly says

      May 31, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      Here's one on Amazon:

      http://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Snow-Cone-Cups--SIT10833/dp/B004CGAVSO/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1401554445&sr=1-1&keywords=snow+cone+cups

      Also: http://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Belly-Silicone-Swirl-Straws/dp/B008Z348JI/ref=sr_1_8?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1401554581&sr=1-8&keywords=snow+cone+cups

      Reply
    • Shannon says

      June 05, 2014 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      Kerry,

      I actually was walking through Target today and found some on an end cap for $3.50. Might want to check it out.

      Reply
    • Kate says

      May 15, 2015 at 3:37 pm

      Try these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008Z348JI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1431718555&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=silicone+sno+cone+cups&dpPl=1&dpID=41U8f6cgA4L&ref=plSrch

      They are cheaper and are eligible for Amazon prime.

      Reply
  21. Matt Robinson says

    May 30, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    I love this healthy alternative, Lisa. My boys LOVE snow cones, so they will really like these. Thanks!

    Reply
  22. Allison says

    May 30, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    My kids love snow cones. I like to freeze organic fruit juice in ice cube trays and just pop those in the blender for an instant snow cone. So easy!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 30, 2014 at 4:42 pm

      That's a great idea Allison! I'll have to try that :)

      Reply
    • Kelly says

      June 04, 2014 at 10:47 pm

      Great idea! I have a ninja I'm going to try that with the honest kids lemonade!!!!

      Reply
  23. April says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    Now if only there was a healthy version of the condensed milk I like to pour on top!

    Reply
  24. Maggie says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    How do you make or where do you buy a healthy frozen fruit juice concentrate?

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 30, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      They have organic frozen fruit juice concentrate at our health food store.

      Reply
  25. Courtney @ Family Gone Healthy says

    May 30, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    I will have to try this at work! I have been munching on plain ice chips from the machine at the hospital (to combat morning sickness), but adding fruit juice to make it a sno-cone would be delicious!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 30, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      Yes, this version is good enough for grown ups! And congrats - if by morning sickness you mean you are pregnant! :)

      Reply
  26. Cindy says

    May 30, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Would a Margaritaville machine work for this?

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 30, 2014 at 3:34 pm

      I've never used one of those...sounds like a fun experiment to me! :)

      Reply

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