Making a snow cone at home, let alone an alcoholic snow cone, can feel incredibly out of reach. But you don't need a fancy machine or any expensive equipment to reach those frosty, boozy dreams. Explore a few recipes to make a range of tasty and exciting adult snow cone flavors that'll make you feel like a kid again.
Icy, Alcoholic Snow Cones
There are several ways to make the melty shaved ice that a snow cone has that makes it so perfect. While these recipes call for different approaches, they all yield delicious results. You may freeze the ingredients and break up the ice to mimic shaved ice, or you can also make shaved ice by crushing the ice in a blender or using an at-home ice shaver machine.
If you decide to follow the freezing method, keep a ratio of 2:5 when it comes to freezing. Typically, a 1:5 ratio is followed for booze to freeze thoroughly, but you don't want a solid block with these. This means for every two parts of alcohol, add a five-parts of mixer, including juice, simple syrups, or water. You'll be breaking up the mix to enjoy in a snow cone after the ingredients freeze for approximately four to six hours or overnight in a pan.
For those using a blender or ice shaver, add the ice to the snow cone, mix up your liquid ingredients, and then pour it over your snow cone. If at any time you want yours to be a little sweeter, drizzle a little simple syrup over your snow cone just before serving.
Wintery Blue Lagoon
Cool off even faster with a classic Blue Lagoon, only frozen over ice. This tasty snow cone pairs well with an unprecedented heatwave -- or anytime you need to cool down.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces blue curaçao
- ¾ ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ cups shaved ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, blue curaçao, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- In a paper snow cone or glass, add shaved ice, packing firmly.
- Strain into cone over shaved ice.
Yellow Snow Bird
Deviate from your usual Yellow Bird in a martini glass to channeling your inner snowbird by enjoying it as a snow cone.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce gold rum
- ¾ ounce pineapple juice
- ½ ounce orange juice
- ¼ ounce Galliano
- 1½ cups shaved ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gold rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and Galliano.
- Shake to chill.
- In a snow cone or glass, add shaved ice, packing firmly.
- Strain into cone over shaved ice.
Midori on Ice
Take your Midori sour for a walk right into a snowcone. If you're not one to enjoy Midori cocktails on the regular, this one will surprise you with just how tasty it is when chilled.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Midori
- ½ ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces crushed ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Midori, vodka, lime juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- In a snow cone or glass, add shaved ice, packing firmly.
- Strain into cone over shaved ice.
Adult Rainbow Snowcone
Consider this the Long Island of the boozy snow cones, but only because it calls for so many ingredients to achieve that stunning rainbow hue.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce grenadine
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce sour apple liqueur
- ½ ounce blue raspberry vodka
- 1½ cups shaved ice
Instructions
- In a snow cone or glass, add shaved ice, packing firmly.
- Carefully add each ingredient on a different section of the shaved ice, one at a time, careful to only slightly overlap.
Pineapple Upside Down Snow Cone
The only thing upside down about this alcoholic snow cone is the flavors of this tastes-just-like-pineapple-upside-down-cake concoction.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- 1½ cups crushed ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, and pineapple.
- Shake to chill.
- Add grenadine to the bottom of a snow cone or glass and then shave ice, packing firmly.
- Strain into cone over shaved ice.
Frozen Negroni
Turn the bitter Negroni into an ice-cold cocktail with nothing more than some shaved ice magic.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce Campari
- ¾ ounce gin
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- 1½ cups shaved ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Campari, gin, sweet vermouth, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- In a snow cone or glass, add shaved ice, packing firmly.
- Strain into cone over shaved ice.
Cosmo Snow Cone
Call it a cosnocone or whatever you wish, but the classic cosmopolitan martini gets a chilly upgrade that could make this your favorite version.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce citron vodka
- ½ ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ cups shaved ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citron vodka, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- In a snow cone or glass, add shaved ice, packing firmly.
- Strain into cone over shaved ice.
Boozy Snow Cones for the Adults
These tasty treats aren't just for the little ones anymore. With a splash of liquors and a few mixers, this playground delight becomes an adult way to cool off. Block out a little time on your calendar to maximize your summertime alcoholic snow cones. If you're looking for more inspiration, consider transforming your favorite highball or flavorful margarita into an ice cold cone.
