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Spiked Snow Cone Recipe Just in Time for the Fourth of July

July 4th is just a few days away, and like many other families, we’re planning our holiday celebration. Fireworks, barbecue, yard games…and spiked snow cones! Our yearly party is a cul-de-sac party with all age ranges in attendance, so we’re bringing out the water cannons and doing our best to stay cool. To help you do the same, I’m sharing my spiked snow cone recipe below! Made with Smirnoff Sour Watermelon Vodka and Watermelon Kool-Aid powder, you get a double dose of pucker with a kick!

spiked snow cone recipe

The cool thing to keep in mind is that this snow cone syrup recipe is that you can change it up easily. The sky is the limit on your flavors or flavor combinations. I started off by making sour watermelon, but you can easily modify the recipe depending on your preferences. I’m also making the snow cone syrup without any alcohol, since we’ll have some small children and other under-21 guests who will want to enjoy these icy treats, too.

If you are making these without alcohol, replace the vodka with water and put it all in when you cook it on the stove. (Be careful not to put the alcohol in the mixture when on the stove; heat reduces alcohol strength and can also be a fire hazard if you’re not cautious. We wouldn’t want to see either of those happen, right?)

spiked snow cone recipe

spiked snow cone recipe
4.41 from 5 votes
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Sour Watermelon Spiked Snow Cone Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 1 packet Watermelon Kool-Aid powder
  • 1/2 cup Smirnoff Sour Watermelon Vodka
  • Shaved ice

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar and water in small sauce pan. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Simmer on low another 3-4 minutes.

  2. Remove pan from heat. Sprinkle Kool-Aid powder over syrup and stir until completely dissolved to remove clumps.

  3. Mix in vodka. 

  4. Place in refrigerator to cool. (Or freezer if you monitor it .)

  5. When completely cold, pour over shaved ice in snow cone cup and enjoy quickly! It melts fast! 

Making the syrup takes less than 10 minutes, but since it needs to be cooled completely before use, be sure to make it ahead of time. You don’t want the adults…I mean, the kids…. getting impatient!

spiked snow cone recipe

The color starts out pretty dark but lightens when poured on the ice. The syrup is pretty potent, so don’t worry if it melts a little before you get to eat it. We found that the flavor was perfect when that happened! Otherwise, it can be pretty sweet. Be sure to tell people the these are spiked snow cones because it’s hard to taste the vodka!

spiked snow cone recipe

For this year’s fourth of July party, we’re making Spiked Sour Apple, Blue Raspberry Lemonade and Pink Lemonade flavors in addition to the Sour Watermelon. Other possible flavors you can interchange with Kool-Aid flavors in the spiked snow cone recipe would be: coconut rum and orange or cherry, rum and black cherry, raspberry vodka and raspberry with crushed rosemary in the syrup as it cooks, regular vodka and grape, cucumber lime vodka with lime and some mint in the syrup. There are so many other flavor combos possible! I am still trying to decide what I’d put with Fireball to have a cinnamon-y syrup!

Store the syrups in the refrigerator. Try to use within several days or the flavors can separate. Be sure to cap the containers tightly as sugar syrups can absorb refrigerator odors and they also evaporate easily.

spiked snow cone recipe

This idea was totally spontaneous, or I’d have gone a little further with fun ways to decorate your snow cones before serving. I was walking by the kitchen appliance section of Target when I saw the Sunbeam Snow Cone Machine on sale (from $29.99 down to $19.99) and I instantly thought how we’d never had snow cones at our parties. (You can also buy it here on Amazon. These are both affiliate links. I have the white one but Amazon also carries the pink one, and you can get fast or Prime shipping!) They’re something everyone likes, they don’t cost a lot of money to make and other than having ice on hand and making/buying syrups, there’s not much prep work. Thanks, Target, for inspiring what I think is going to be a big hit for the Fourth of July!

spiked snow cone recipe

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8 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    Making drinks without the alcohol would be a usual consideration for moms who have young kids and would be serving to guests under 21. Sour watermelon will be an interesting flavor. What if we use maple syrup or honey instead of sugar?

    1. Yep, that’s why I made sure to include how to do it without alcohol — our parties always have a mix of young kids and I want everyone to be able to enjoy them. I don’t know if maple syrup or honey would work, as the liquid may make them too liquid-y but maybe if you simmered them longer to counteract? Let me know if you try it and it works out!

  2. Oh my gosh! You’re making me want a snow cone maker so badly now! I LOVE watermelon snow cones and well, watermelon anything. Almost anything, hehe. I hope the cul-de-sac party and the spiked snow cones are a big success! I’m going to be in San Francisco in a boat out in the bay during the fireworks and I can’t wait!

  3. How fun are these?! One of my favorite things to do is stop at the flavored ice shop, but have never really thought about making them at home. I’m not much of a drinker, but we often have backyard BBQs. These would be such a fun addition for those who love a little something boozy (or those who don’t!) x

  4. 3 stars
    I was so close to buying a snow cone maker just the other day – for the kiddies. Now I think I may go back and make that purchase for the adults 🙂 Thanks for sharing such a fun recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    A childhood favorite with an adult twist, I love it! I can make these when I’m hosting an outdoor event, and I’m sure my guest would love them. I’d have to figure out how to explain to the kids why they can’t have any of these snow cones though…LOL

  6. 5 stars
    I’m totally loving this! Makes me rethink a snow cone machine now. Never thought of using it for adult drinks too. Duh me!

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