This two-ingredient Kool-Aid Shaved Ice and Snow Cone Syrup is a game-changer for homemade slushies! For another delicious homemade drink for any party or hot summer day, check out this Party Slush recipe.
I’m an avid shaved ice and snow cone lover! So much so, that as a child, my biggest aspiration in life was to work at a shaved ice shack!
My dreams finally came true at the age of twenty-four. My husband and I had been married for about a year and were finishing up our undergrad degrees at Utah State University. We both worked while we were in school, but during the summer, we took off from classes and both decided to add a second job to earn more money.
Kid-Friendly Snacks
- The BEST Toddler Muffins
- Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Refrigerator Bran Muffins
- Healthy Banana Snack Cake
- No-bake Peanut Butter Energy Bites
- Snicker Bar Rice Krispies Treats
You’ll never guess what job I went for. That’s right! The Slush Shack. The woman who interviewed me was quick to tell me that most of the other people working there were between 14 and 17. Ha!!! I didn’t care. The only thing I wanted to know was if I could eat all of the shaved ice I wanted while I was at work.
The answer was “yes,” and I still count it as one of the best summers of my life.
That fall, however, when I started seeing an OBGYN because I was pregnant with my first child, it was embarrassing to admit to him that the reason I looked so familiar was that I worked at The Slush Shack he frequented with his kids.
So now you know that I’m one million percent obsessed with shaved ice!
Two summers ago, I saw an infomercial for a Ninja Blender System. I had been wanting a heavy-duty blender for a long time and was still trying to swallow the four- and five-hundred-dollar price tags. I just couldn’t do it!
The Ninja System was advertised for about $200 and came with a food processor attachment and some smoothie/magic bullet-type attachments. I was already 80 percent sure I was going to call and buy it, but then they pulled out a fancy little trick it could do. Before I knew it, I had dialed the number and was on the line with a representative.
“What was that trick?”
They took ice cubes, put them in the blender, hit HIGH, and voila! It turned into fluffy snow, perfect for delicious shaved ice.
SOLD!!!!
I’ve had other little gadgets that were supposed to make shaved ice. Ugh! Some worked better than others. They all had things that made them a total pain and were just one more gadget that only got used once a year (if it was lucky).
I love that my Ninja is always on my counter, and I can whip up snow cones for the kids in less than two minutes on hot summer days.
Years ago, a good friend taught me how to make Kool-Aid Snow Cone Syrup, and now I keep Kool-Aid packets on hand so I can keep the shaved ice comin’!
All you need is some sugar and a Kool-Aid packet of your choice.
HOW TO MAKE Kool-Aid Shaved Ice and Snow Cone Syrup
- Add Kool-Aid, sugar, and water to a clear squeezable bottle, put the lid on, and shake until all the sugar is dissolved.
- If you don’t have a bottle, you can whisk it in a bowl until all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Squeeze or pour the syrup over shaved ice.
- Store leftover syrup in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy!
Also, can we talk real quickly about how much it costs to buy myself and all four of my kids shaved ice these days? Kool-Aid packets are generally between 20 and 25 cents each. I can make snow cones for everyone and their friends for about 50 cents. WINNER!!!
Tips for making Kool-Aid Shaved Ice and Snow Cone Syrup
- Condiment bottles work great for mixing and storing the syrup. I found some little bottles at my local grocery store that work great for mixing the syrup and keeping it in the fridge. Before I had clear plastic bottles, I just used a big cup or whatever I had around. I have also seen similar ones at Walmart.
- I’m not sure if all heavy-duty blenders can turn ice cubes into snow, but if you have a Ninja, you’ve gotta try it! So fun! And if you don’t…grab some ice from Sonic–they have the yummy, little ice–and pour some syrup over that for a refreshing and hydrating treat!
- I like to make two or three flavors at a time so the kids have a variety of flavors to choose from.
Chef’s Tools:
More Refreshing Kid-Pleasing Drinks
- 1 packet of Kool-Aid of your choice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- Add all ingredients to a clear squeezable bottle (condiment bottles work great), put the lid on, and shake until all the sugar is dissolved.
- If you don't have a bottle, you can whisk it in a bowl until all of the sugar is dissolved.
- Squeeze or pour the syrup over shaved ice.
- Store leftover syrup in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy!
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wowie! this grandma says thank you so so much. purchased the snow cone machine $70 purchased the cups and straws another $8….and now I can make the syrup myself. thank you thank you thank you….grandma barb
Barbara, You are so welcome! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me! You are going to have some very happy grandchildren!
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe for snow cone and shaved ice syrup! My grandson received an ice shaver as a gift…with one flavor, we wanted more than bubble gum flavor. Lol.
We live about 45mi from an actual grocery store, luckily the little country store (5mi) carries Kool-Aid packets (but not for a quarter😏 LOL).
Again, thanks for sharing the recipe. 😋
This makes me so happy! I grew up in a very small community and know all about not being able to get everything you want/need locally and definitely not being able to get things like shaved ice. So glad you found this recipe and can enjoy it with your grandson.
Thanks for sharing this. My kids thank you too.
Awesome! So glad they like it!
how do I get mines unstuck cause it will not open
Hi Joyce, what is stuck?
My grandma made slushies all the time when I was a kid. Since my surgery and no longer being able to drink soda pop. I’ve been craving grandma’s slushies. Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipe. I just love it.
That is so awesome, you are welcome. Hope your recovery goes well.
How many servings can you get from one packet of kool aid?
It really depends on how big you make the Shaved Ice Cups. If I use regular paper cups I can usually get 6-8 from one packet.
I am using 6 ounce cone cups how many servings for that?
Hi Nicholas, I would guess that one packet of koolaid prepared could do 6-8 of those.
How long can you store the homemade syrups in the refrigerator?
Hi Diana,
At least 3-4 weeks. 🙂
At a 1:1:1 ratio, how is the flavor and the sugar level? Seems like that has to be on point, otherwise it will be watered down rather quickly. Seems like a 2:2:1 or even a 2:1:1 ratio would be better.
We really enjoy it the way it is written, but I’m sure doubling down on the sugar and flavor could make it even more delicious.
The way it is written it says to put a whole sugar packet and a whole cup of sugar in a condiment bottle. Is that right? It seems like half the bottle will be filled with sugar.
Hi Amy, It’s one envelope of koolaid with one cup of sugar. Not the sugar type of koolaid powder. If you have that kind just do a cup of that with a cup of water.
Ahhh thank you so much!!! I’d been on the fence about buying a shaved ice machine and syrups. Glad I was able to do this with things I have at home already. All I had to get at the grocery store were the squeeze bottles & kool- aid packets!
Awesome! So glad you found the recipe! My kids love it when I make these!
Great recipe. I prepare about 8 syrups for a fund raiser! Kids love it!
What a great idea! Love it! Thank you for coming back and leaving a comment!
Can you use Splenda instead of sugar?
Hi Tricia, I haven’t tried it, but I bet it would work great. You would just need to know the substitution ration for sugar to Splenda.