Whether you use snow or blend up some ice these Natural Fruit Syrup Snow Cones are so easy and fun to create!
Make a variety of syrups with whatever fruits you have and mix up an array rainbow-colored flavor combos! Or, make spiked snow cones that are just perfect for snow days. I’ve included directions for both juuuust in case 😉
Snow cones for snow days (or everyday!)
We have been experiencing the craziest weather lately here in the Pacific Northwest, like most parts of the country. And I’ve currently lost count of just how many days my front yard has been covered in decent snow pack and making me feel like I’m working from the middle of a ski lodge.
Especially since they both come complete with just about the same amount of whining and screaming children. And wet snow clothes strewn about.
And now you’re beginning to see why the spiked version of this homemade snow cone is necessary 😉
But even if you’re not full fledged in the middle of a two week stretch of school cancellations and snow days these snow cones are delicious!
How to make Natural Syrup Snow Cones
Making snow cones with real snow is a fun activity but you can make them year round in the kitchen too.
Ingredients
- fresh fruit snow cone syrup – simple syrup, or bar syrup, commonly used in cocktails, is a 2/1 mix of sugar and water. This version is made with fresh fruit for delicious flavor and beautiful natural color. As are all of my favorite homemade syrups, actually. .I shared a watermelon version years ago with the Watermelon Shaved Ice. And a ginger version in both the Peach Tea Ginger Smash and the Ginger Sparkler champagne cocktail. Then there’s Blackberry Mint Bar Syrup that makes an appearance as an addition to the mocktail and cocktail bar at a fun Greatest Adventure Baby Shower.
- snow or crushed ice – No fresh, clean snow? Make snow cones without snow with a blender! Fill your cup with ice and blend (or process with food processor) on highest setting until consistency of shaved ice. Add a little water to the mix if you’re having trouble to help smooth it out.
Natural Snow Cone Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 medium clementines peeled and segmented
- ¾ cup blood orange juice from about 2 oranges, fresh squeezed
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen berries blackberries, blueberries, loganberries and raspberries or any mix
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan bring clementine segments, ½ cup of sugar and ½ cup of water to a simmer. Cook, smashing segments with a potato masher or wooden spoon, until sugar dissolves and clementines release their juices. Simmer until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep while cooling slightly. Then pour through fine mesh strainer into a jar or syrup dispenser and continue cooling.
- Wash out saucepan and repeat with the berries, ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water. Bring to a simmer and continue cooking until reduced and slightly syrupy, about 5 minutes. When reduced press on the berries when pushing through the strainer to extract all the liquid. And place in jar to cool.
- Rinse out saucepan again and repeat with blood orange juice and remaining ½ cup of sugar, using no water this time as the juice is enough liquid. Strain to remove any lasting orange pieces and let cool in jar.
- Once cool, scoop shaved ice or snow into a large drinking glass or parfait cup and drizzle with your choice of fruit syrup.
Notes
Nutrition
enjoy!
TJ
The ingredients list sugar twice, should one of them be water?
ONE armed MAMA
Yes! I sure did. Thanks for catching that. I’ve updated the recipe.
Irene Serrato
My homemade fruit syrup is watery and not like syrup!!
ONE armed MAMA
Hi Irene! I’m so sorry this wasn’t what you were expecting. Typical simple syrup or ‘bar syrup’ is thicker than this fruit snow cone syrup. Typically simple syrup is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water but this is more 1 to 1 part after simmering depending on how ‘juicy’ your fruit is. If you’d like it to be thicker you can simmer again with another 1/2 cup of sugar then cool. Hope this helps!
Alice Carroll
I like the idea of incorporating ginger to snow cones to add a little bit of sophistication to its flavor. I’m planning to buy a snow cone machine soon because I’d like to experiment with cold dessert while summer is still not over. Hopefully my kids would like them and help me with ideas on what fruits should I used as sweeteners.