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Who doesn’t have happy childhood memories of tucking into a snow cone, savoring those last few mouthfuls of melted ice and thick, sweet syrup at the bottom?
Whether you’re reliving your childhood or are new to these iced treats, snow cones are still a popular delicacy loved by many.
But what is the best syrup to put on a snow cone? The best snow cone syrups are packed full of natural juicy fruity flavor, with the minimum number of additives and artificial ingredients. They should also be suitable for anyone following a specific diet, such as gluten-free or vegetarian.
Looking for the ultimate syrup to top your snow cone? Read on to find out what makes the best snow cone syrups, and find out our picks for the best snow cone syrup brands.
What Are Snow Cone Syrups?
A snow cone is a cup filled with crushed ice, topped with a sweet flavored syrup. Snow cones have been around for over 100 years, and the range of flavors has expanded massively over the years.
If you’re wondering if a snow cone is the same as shaved ice, there are some slight differences. Shaved ice is ice that has been finely shaved to create a snow-like texture, whereas a snow cone contains larger chunks of crushed ice.
The main difference is that in shaved ice, the syrup topping is absorbed by the snow. In a snow cone, the syrup coats the ice, but it is not absorbed.
How To Choose The Best Snow Cone Syrups
If you are on the hunt for the best syrup for your snow cones, here is what you should take into consideration:
Flavor
Let’s face it, we’re tucking into a snow cone because we love the flavor, right? But you don’t want to be disappointed to find your favorite flavor isn’t quite as you expected!
If you want to recreate your number one snow cone at home, you will need syrup with an intense and rich flavor. Some snow cone syrups can taste quite chemically, while others are very natural and fruity.
Thickness
The idea of a snow cone syrup is that it can be drizzled onto crushed ice, oozing slowly down towards the bottom of the cup as you eat the ice.
If the viscosity of the syrup is too thin, it will quickly pool at the bottom, leaving you eating unflavored ice at the top.
A good snow cone syrup should be the perfect consistency to give you a bit of flavor with every spoonful. And of course, you should have a little bit at the bottom for those last few delicious mouthfuls!
Additives
You might be trying to avoid specific types of additives, or simply just looking for the most natural product available.
It pays to investigate the additives contained in snow cone syrups, as some will include artificial colors, flavors, and other ingredients.
Snow cone syrups tend to be very bright in color, creating that colorful treat we all enjoy. The quickest way for a manufacturer to create this vivid color is by using artificial ingredients.
Snow cone syrups made with natural ingredients will not have the same intensity of color but will be better for your health.
Dietary Requirements
If you are on a particular diet then it is important to buy the right snow cone syrupto suit your needs:
- Vegan & vegetarian: Some snow cone syrups are suitable for vegetarians and vegans as well as non-vegetarians. However, check the packaging carefully, as some syrups may contain ingredients that make them unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Ketogenic diets: If you have picked a sugar-free snow cone syrup because you are on a ketogenic diet, check that your choice contains zero carbs. Some sugar substitutes contain carbohydrates, while others do not.
- Sugar-free diet: If you suffer from medical conditions such as diabetes, you may be trying to avoid sugar. Check if your sugar-free snow cone syrup contains carbohydrates, as these may be turned into sugar in the body, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Type Of Bottle
It might sound odd, but it is a good idea to buy snow cone syrup that comes with a non-drip easy-pour cap! This thick and brightly colored syrup will soon make a horrible sticky mess if it drips down the outside of the bottle.
Luckily, snow cone syrup manufacturers have come up with some innovative solutions to this problem, so the days of sticky red and blue marks on your pantry shelves are no more.
Shelf Life & Bottle Size
Be realistic about how often you’re going to treat yourself to a snow cone—not many of us would eat one every day!
Some snow cone syrups come in larger bottles which will give you a lot of servings, but if the shelf life is not very long you could end up throwing a lot of it away.
A better option is to buy smaller bottles of snow cone syrup, such as those contained in multipacks. This gives you a far better chance of enjoying every last drop of syrup before it goes past its use-by date.
Of course, there are plenty of other ways to use snow cone syrup if you’re worried it might not all get used! These great flavors can work in a variety of drinks, as well as sweet dishes and desserts.
The 9 Best Snow Cone Syrups
No ice treat is complete without a sweet syrup, and making sure you purchase the right one is essential. Here are our top picks for the 9 best snow cone syrups!
| Rank | Product | Flavors |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nostalgia Premium Snow Cone Syrup Party Kit | Blue Raspberry, Cherry, & Cotton Candy |
| 2. | Reàl Fruit Infused Flavoring Syrup | Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach, Blueberry, Black Cherry, & Crisp Apple |
| 3. | Hawaiian Shaved Ice Syrup Pack | Cherry, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Tiger’s Blood, Lemon-Lime, Pina Colada, Strawberry, Banana, Root Beer, & Watermelon |
| 4. | Jordan's Skinny Syrups Classic Syrup Sampler | Caramel, Butter Toffee, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Salted Caramel, & Mocha |
| 5. | Wäbry Organic Strawberry Syrup | Strawberry |
| 6. | Torani Assorted Summer Syrup Flavors | Lemon, Lime, Coconut, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, & Tangerine |
| 7. | Hypothermias Shaved Ice Snow Cone Syrup | Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, & Banana |
| 8. | Shaved Ice Syrups Snow Cone Flavors | Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Lemon-Lime, Root Beer, Fruit Punch, Bubble Gum, Lemonade, Watermelon, & Cotton Candy |
| 9. | Snappy Blue Raspberry Sno Cone Syrup | Raspberry |
1. Nostalgia Premium Snow Cone Syrup Party Kit
Flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, & Cotton Candy
Take a trip back to your childhood with this triple pack of classic snow cone syrups!
This aptly named pack of syrups contains three of the original and best flavors, perfect for a trip down memory lane.
The bright colors are fun and vibrant, adding a splash of blue, red, or orange to your snow cones.
If you are making snow cones for a kid’s party, this kit also includes cups and straws, ideal for serving up carnival-style snow cones to your party guests.
The bottles are fitted with easy-pour lids, so you won’t get sticky dribbles of syrup all over your kitchen surfaces.
These snow cone syrups are not going to tick many boxes when it comes to healthy eating, but let’s face it, they’re not a healthy and nutritious snack anyway!
2. Reàl Fruit Infused Flavoring Syrup
Flavors: Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach, Blueberry, Black Cherry, & Crisp Apple
These delicious syrups contain real fruit!
Each one is packed full of premium fruit from the world’s best fruit-growing regions.
In this pack, you get 6 different flavored syrups.
These include strawberry, raspberry, peach, blueberry, black cherry, and crisp apple.
They are perfect for flavoring snow cones, and can also be used to make co*cktails and fruity drinks.
Although these snow cone syrups contain real fruit, they do still contain some artificial colors and preservatives. So they are not a completely natural option, but really do taste like a freshly squeezed fruit puree!
Each flavor comes in a squeezable bottle with a volcano-shaped spout for drip-free pouring. When the bottle is nearly empty, the spout can be removed to scrape out the remaining contents, helping to eliminate waste.
3. Hawaiian Shaved Ice Syrup Pack
Flavors: Cherry, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Tiger’s Blood, Lemon-Lime, Pina Colada, Strawberry, Banana, Root Beer, & Watermelon
The Hawaiian brand has long been the market leader in snow cone and shaved ice toppings, and with good reason!
No other brand has such a comprehensive range of flavors, and this 10 pack allows you to sample some of the best in their range.
In fact, the flavor list of this sample pack reads just like a snow cone menu at a fair or carnival: cherry, grape, blue raspberry, tiger’s blood, lemon-lime, pina colada, strawberry, banana, root beer, and watermelon.
Each bottle will make 8 snow cones, giving you the opportunity to try each one several times and pick your favorite.
Hawaiian snow cone syrups are all free from dairy, eggs, wheat, flour, and starch.
They do not need to be refrigerated after opening and are a handy size to store on a pantry shelf. This colorful array would look great at a summer party, baby shower, or children’s carnival!
Oh, and in case you are wondering, the tiger’s blood flavor is a blend of watermelon, strawberry, and a hint of coconut – absolutely delicious!
4. Jordan’s Skinny Syrups Classic Syrup Sampler
Flavors: Caramel, Butter Toffee, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Salted Caramel, & Mocha
Who said that snow cones were just for kids?
Check out these great syrup flavors, perfect for a grown-up version of these refreshing iced treats.
This pack contains 6 sample-sized bottles of syrup flavors, so you can try them all and pick your favorite. They are all available individually in full-size bottles when you’ve decided which one comes top of your list.
The flavors in this sampler include caramel, butter toffee, vanilla, hazelnut, salted caramel, and mocha. They will taste great on a snow cone, and can also be used as an addition to coffees, desserts, and breakfast oatmeal.
And best of all, these innovative syrups contain zero calories, no sugar, and are free from carbs. They are keto-friendly and kosher and are suitable for anyone on a gluten-free diet.
5. Wäbry Organic Strawberry Syrup
Flavor: Strawberry
Organic snow cone syrups are a rare find, and this is a real gem! This strawberry syrup is certified as organic and is completely free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
It is also vegan and gluten-free and contains just 1 gram of sugar per serving.
One thing we love about this syrup (apart from the fabulous flavor) is that it was created as a result of a parent’s quest to provide her child with an organic and natural fruit syrup.
Even the name “Wäbry” stems from the attempts of a toddler to say the word “strawberry”—how adorable!
Wäbry Organic Fruit Syrups are sweetened with stevia and erythritol and do not contain any corn syrup. They taste great drizzled onto a snow cone, and can also be used as a topping for pancakes, waffles, yogurt, and oatmeal.
As well as being one of the healthiest snow cone syrups available, this innovative product is also helping people in need! For every bottle sold, a nutritious meal is provided for an orphaned child in need.
6. Torani Assorted Summer Syrup Flavors
Flavors: Lemon, Lime, Coconut, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, & Tangerine
This is a great selection pack of syrup flavors for both adults and children to enjoy.
The Torani Summer Selection includes 6 medium-sized bottles of carefully crafted syrups, each one with an intense and authentic flavor.
In this pack, you will receive one each of the following flavors: lemon, lime, coconut, blue raspberry, watermelon, and tangerine. Each one has a great juicy, fruity taste, with a fresh fragrance.
You can almost taste the sunshine in each fruity syrup!
If you’re a fan of Torani syrups, they now have an incredible 150 different types to choose from. When it comes to snow cones, we think this summer selection will hit the spot every time!
7. Hypothermias Shaved Ice Snow Cone Syrup
Flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, & Banana
This 6 pack is a great introduction to snow cone flavorings that will keep your family well-supplied.
In this pack, you get 6 great flavors: blue raspberry, cherry, strawberry, grape, watermelon, and banana.
Many snow cone syrups today are made with corn syrup, which is considered to be one of the unhealthier types of sweeteners. The Hypothermias range is sweetened with pure cane sugar, a more natural and healthy option.
These versatile syrups can also be used to make flavored drinks, such as fizzy soda, sparkling water, fruit smoothies, and ice cream sundaes. They also taste great on pancakes, crepes, and waffles.
8. Shaved Ice Syrups Snow Cone Flavors
Flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Lemon-Lime, Root Beer, Fruit Punch, Bubble Gum, Lemonade, Watermelon, & Cotton Candy
We think the playful packaging of these snow cone syrups will keep any child happy, whether big or small!
This multipack comes in 12 fun flavors, including fruit punch, root beer, and cotton candy.
All the old favorites are also included, such as blue raspberry, cherry, and strawberry.
These handy-sized bottles do not need refrigerating and can be stored on the pantry shelf for up to 2 years. They are free from artificial sweeteners and have an easy-open twist cap system.
9. Snappy Blue Raspberry Sno Cone Syrup
Flavor: Raspberry
Planning on serving snow cones at a school fair or summer party? Then you’ll need to up your game and look into buying snow cone syrup in larger quantities!
This one-gallon blueberry syrup will provide a generous splash of flavor for over 120 snow cones, enough to keep you in business for a good while.
Larger containers are not just for when you want to cater to a big crowd, as this can also be a more economical way to buy snow cone syrup for your family.
And when you realize that snow cone syrup has many other uses, you’ll soon work your way through this giant bottle!
The blueberry flavor works really well in shakes and smoothies, and can also be used to flavor ice cream, pancakes, and waffles. Cake and batter mixes can all be enhanced with a splash of snow cone syrup, as can co*cktails and fruity drinks.
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