A Snack that multi-tasks is our favorite kind of snack. These herbal snow cones are a triple threat of summer functionality: they hydrate, they nourish and they satisfy our toughest sweet tooth cravings while being nearly sugar-free.
This playful summer DIY comes from integrative health and food therapy specialist, Christine Dionese, whose healthy recipes are always functional and always this cute. Make these adorable cones with friends or children on hot days instead of dehydrating cocktails or sugary popsicles!
Most of the year you’ll hear me saying, “Avoid cold foods and drinks to protect digestion.” The exception to this is during the heat waves we know so well here in Southern California. During extended periods of heat, we sweat not only fluids, but nutrients. My herbal snow cones are an easy nutrient-dense treat to stay cool during those hot days! Pick a flavor that suits you from these three delicious combinations…
Supplies For Making Snow Cones
To Prepare: For best results in making the snow cones themselves, purchase an inexpensive snow cone maker – they’re available everywhere now. If you don’t have time to pick one up, you can put your high-speed blender to work – a Blendtec, Vitamix or Ninja will work – but not your regular blender.
Vitamix: Add several handfuls of ice, think one handful per snow cone, and enough water so you “raise” ice away from the blade. Choose the highest speed pulsing to create crushed, then snow ice.
Blendtec: No water necessary. Add several handfuls of ice, think one handful per snow cone and use the auto-setting (which shuts off after about 35 seconds).
Ninja: Add several handfuls of ice, think one handful per snow cone, and pulse until ice is crushed into snow.
To Assemble: I recommend having these tools on hand: ice cream scoop or rounded spoon, cylindrical cone cups, juicer (for red and blue snow cones) and a squeeze bottle to
Goji + Hibiscus Snow Cones
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp goji berry powder (can use goji berry tea)
1 Tbsp dried hibiscus (can use a plain hibiscus tea)
1 Tbsp white tea
6-8 oz filtered water
2 ¼ Persian or Kirby cucumbers (the ¼ is for garnish)
Directions:
Bring goji, hibiscus and white tea to a quick boil stirring with a whisk. Once boiling cover and remove from heat, keeping covered for 15 minutes. Transfer this mixture to a glass jar after 15 minutes.
Juice 2 small cucumbers, combine juice with above mixture, shake well and chill.
Chop ¼ cucumber for garnish.
Once chilled, add to a squeeze bottle, if you have on hand, or you’ll simply ladle mixture over ice.
Fill your cone with ice using your ice cream scoop. Squeeze or ladle mixture over ice.
Garnish with cucumber.
Butterfly Pea Flower Snow Cones
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp butterfly pea flower
6 oz filtered water
2 Persian or Kirby cucumbers
1 tsp raw honey (optional)
2 butterfly pea flower buds for garnish
Directions:
Bring butterfly pea flower and water to a boil, remove from heat, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Once steeped, transfer to glass jar and cover.
Juice 2 small cucumbers, combine juice with above mixture, shake well and chill.
Once chilled, add to a squeeze bottle, if you have on hand, or you’ll simply ladle mixture over ice.
Fill your cone with ice using your ice cream scoop. Squeeze or ladle mixture over ice.
Turmeric + Mint Snow Cones
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp tulsi tea
1 Tbsp baby rose buds (mei gui hua at the Chinese herb shop)
1 Tbsp chopped mint
1 Tbsp organic maple syrup
1 tsp powdered turmeric
8 oz filtered water
chopped mint, for garnish
Directions:
Bring all ingredients to a boil while whisking together. Once boiling, immediately remove from heat, cover and allow to sit for about 15 minutes. Taste should be “herby” and slightly smoky/sweet. Place in glass jar and chill.
Once chilled, add to a squeeze bottle, if you have on hand, or you’ll simply ladle mixture over ice.
Fill your cone with ice using your ice cream scoop. Squeeze or ladle mixture over ice.
Garnish with chopped mint.
