6 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Snow Cones This Summer

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I’ll be the first to say it: Shaved ice is a boring dessert. Compared to ice cream, the frozen treat lacks variety and creativity. While it's likely that its simplicity is what makes it so beloved, sometimes, you need a little something more. Don’t worry, I have some fun recommendations that will give this treat the upgrade it deserves—and have you coming up with new snow cone ideas all summer long.

Start With the Right Ice Base

While Reese Witherspoon recommends making snow cones with real snow, if you are craving fluffy ice in the summertime, chances are, nature is not going to be making any for you. It might seem like you need a fancy machine to make your snow cones perfectly soft, I’m here to tell you that this is not the case. For perfect shaved ice, I recommend letting your ice thaw for 5 minutes out of the freezer so it is not too hard and not too soft. Have patience, and once it has reached the right snowy texture, use a bowl or spoon to pack your ice together for a store-bought snow cone feel.

Toss in Some Candy

Growing up in Texas, nothing screams summer to me more than a slushie from the fast-food chain Sonic. While my take that a grape slushie is the best flavor is already highly controversial, even more strange is that I love to add Nerds to my slushies, one of Sonic’s specialties. I won't make you add grape flavor to your snow cones this summer. But, I do recommend copying this menu item by topping your shaved ice off with your favorite fruit flavored candy, such as Pop Rocks or Skittles. Now, your snow cones will never get boring.

Add Pickles

You heard me. While it might seem a little strange, a snow cone with pickles is a common snack in the Southwest. In fact, it's one of Selena Gomez’s favorite summer desserts. The mix of sweet and salty adds a new dimension of flavor. The brine from the pickles gives this summer treat an electrolyte boost, perfect for a hot summer day. The pairing has recently gone viral on TikTok, and the videos even make me, a former pickle skeptic, very intrigued. Does this prove that the infamous pregnancy craving for pickles and ice cream isn’t so crazy after all?

Layer Up

There is nothing worse than reaching the bottom of a snow cone and realizing there is no syrup left at the bottom. No matter how much syrup I drizzle over the top, it feels like it never sinks all the way down. While it might seem simple, I recommend implementing a layering technique. When used with one of these other tips, this assembly method is perfect for mixing a variety of flavors and ingredients. Fresh fruit, ice cream, condensed milk, or whipped cream would all layer perfectly in your snow cone to add a little pizazz to your dessert.

Make it "Dirty"

By now, we’ve all probably seen the viral Dirty Soda Trend on TikTok that mixes soda, syrup, and heavy cream to make a flavored soda. With a base of ice and syrup, snow cones are already halfway into dirty soda territory. Why not take it a step further by topping your soda with a splash of soda and heavy cream, as well? I’m thinking of a Shirley Temple snow cone with cherry syrup and Sprite or a Diet Coke snow cone with lime syrup. Orange soda with a splash of heavy cream would make an exceptional Creamsicle snow cone, as well. The possibilities are truly endless. Then, when the shaved ice inevitably melts, you will have an ice cold dirty soda to sip from a straw.

Create Your Own Syrup

We all know the classic, bottled snow cone flavors like cherry, watermelon, grape, and blue raspberry. These syrups turn your mouth an ultraviolet shade and leave you with a sugar high to last for days. I’m all here for it. But, if you are looking for a way to make a snow cone without buying any new ingredients, try making your own syrup. Blend up some fruit with some sugar, as this recipe recommends, to make fresh, homemade syrups that will impress any summer party guest and keep you from ending up with a blue tongue.

Read the original article on All Recipes.