These Snow Cone Machines Will Give You Nostalgia in All the Right Ways

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If you were born during the summer months, surely you remember the star of your childhood birthday parties: snow cone machines. Those ones were probably industrial-sized and could pump out hundreds of pounds of crushed ice per minute, but all we remember is the refreshing taste of the freezing-cold treat. There’s no rule stating that shaved ice soaked in fruity syrups is strictly for kids, so now that summer is underway, why not grab yourself a well-to-do snow cone machine?

We’re not talking about the giant ones you see at carnivals. We’re talking about compact ones that are so small you can stick them in your kitchen cupboard. What’s more, all snow cone machines do is crush ice to create snow-like fluffiness, so whether you actually use them for snow cones is up to you. Personally, we’re making as many frozen margaritas as we are snow cones, but to each their own.

The best part? Almost all of our top picks are well under $100, so there’s no need to splurge or go all out on an appliance you’ll only really use during the warm months. One of our favorites, for instance, is an $80 attachment that hooks onto the KitchenAid standing mixer. No matter which one you decide to get, we promise that it will give you some serious nostalgia. So go ahead, get one of these snow cone machines that are as affordable as they are adorable. If you have kids, we can almost guarantee that they’ll fancy themselves little chefs after they take a crack at these appliances.

Shave Ice Attachment

If you already have the iconic KitchenAid standing mixer, you may as well grab the shaved ice attachment—especially since it's super easy to use and pretty affordable. Though all shaved ice is relatively the same, the stuff that comes out of this attachment feels a little fluffier in texture. Just mount it directly to the power hub of your stand mixer, use any of the four included ice molds to freeze anything from water to coffee, select your preferred texture, and start shaving. If you're making snow cones, be sure to pick up your favorite syrups or fruit juices to make them taste a bit more flavorful than, well, ice. One reviewer commented, "Our kids love this shaved ice maker. They've been making shaved ice all year 'round. Sometimes even just plain ice with no syrup. Would absolutely buy this attachment again."

Shaved Ice Maker

This shaved ice maker is available in three punchy colors and white, but we're loving the nostalgia-inducing aqua shade pictured. Technically, we're focused on snow cone makers, but this nifty little machine, which includes a 40-inch cord, can make anything from flavored shaved ice to frozen margaritas. One happy customer adds, "Purchased this as a gift for a 10 year old girl. It is used almost daily and has taken a lot of abuse in the last month or so - she even took it in to school to make shaved ice for her class. Despite all of the usage, it is still functioning properly, easy to clean and looks new. I cannot recommend this enough as a gift for this age group."

Home-Pro Shaved Ice and Snow Cone Maker

If you live in a small space and will not sacrifice your frozen beverages and treats, opt for a tiny snow cone machine like this one from Hawaiian Shaved Ice. It's designed for in-home use and will produce ice that's so soft and delicate, it actually looks and feels like snow. Though you can use ice cubes from your freezer, we'd recommend opting for ice made with the five included ice pucks.

Ice Shaver

Unless you're whipping up batches of snow cones every day, feel free to go for an affordable one with an old-fashioned crank. It's barely eight inches tall, so storing it in a small cupboard when you're not using it is pretty easy. It's also easy to use: Just pop ice into the top basin, push down with one hand, and crank the handle with the other. Over the course of the next few minutes, the clear, plastic basin will start to fill with shaved ice. One customer noted, 'Do you love eating ice but hate the idea of it chipping your teeth? You NEED this. It makes a big gas a station cup FULL of delicious shaved ice. Great for a cool treat in the summer if you add some syrup over it or as I like to do use a little bit of my kiddos favorite juice to make it a bit healthier!"

Snow Cone Maker

When we picture a classic snow cone machine, this Cuisinart one comes to mind. It's clad in a cherry red metal body that comes complete with a sizable dishwasher-safe snow bin. It may look old school, but it's easy to use. All you have to do is lift the handle, feed the machine ice cubes, and slowly push the handle back down. The machine will take care of the rest! Did we mention that it can make four cones worth of shaved ice in under a minute? A happy reviewer said, "Is perfect easy to make snow cones and the more important thing my son love it !!"

Snow Cone Maker

This Nostalgia snow cone maker looks like something the Jetsons would whip out on a hot summer day from their Skypad apartment. The bulk of this snow cone machine is made of plastic, but the most important element is the blades, which are made of stainless steel. The hero of this one is the drip tray that sits beneath the snow bin. It catches all of the melted ice so you don't have to make a mess whenever you're in the mood for something chilled.

Ice Shaver Machine

This VEVOR ice shaver machine may be the most high-tech option on our list. It features a powerful motor that can crush up to 265 pounds of ice per hour, courtesy of the triple-blade design. Technically, it is designed for commercial use, but anyone can buy it, so if you're wondering why anyone would need to crush that much ice in such a short amount of time, that's why. Here's the coolest part: If the ice cubes get jammed in the blades, which can happen in any snow cone machine, just press the reverse button, and they'll be wiggled free in a matter of seconds.

Snow Cone Machine

This snow cone machine may be a bigger spatial commitment than the compact ones you can store in your pantry, but just look at it and tell us it's not worth it. It may be tall, but it's only 24 inches wide, so when you're not using it, you can just wheel it into a little nook in the garage. As you can see, it holds more than enough crushed ice to keep the party going all day, so there's no need to worry about getting too many "orders" for the cart to keep up with. It also comes with a paper cone dispenser to make serving easier too. A customer who left a five-star rating even said, "Our families new party must have. I researched a little bit for months trying to pick a snow cone machine. When summer hit and my granddaughter was having her fourth birthday party I went for this shaved ice machine. I thought it would be a fun item and great treat. Turned out to be a hit and everyone loved it. Makes great “Shaved Ice” quickly and easily. You basically drop in the ice and in seconds you have soft fluffy snow. My granddaughter loves them!"

What should I look for in a snow cone machine

What you should look for in a snow cone machine depends on what you'll be using it for. For instance, if you will use it to whip up a few snow cones every now and then, a compact one for under $100 will do the trick. The key element you should consider is size. Again, unless it's something you'll be using constantly, opt for a small one that you can store easily. We wouldn't suggest getting one any bigger than, say, a toaster, if you're not going to be using it all the time.

How do I clean a snow cone machine?

Luckily, the only thing that goes into snow cone machines is ice, so there isn't usually a lot of mess involved. That said, because the ice is shaved, it melts fast, which can be a pain to clean. Opt for snow cone machines with a water tray, which catches all of the melting, unused ice. Most snow cone machines come with a plastic basin that is dishwasher-safe. If not, though, simply fill it with soapy water and wipe any mess away.

Why trust us?

Summer happens to be House Beautiful's associate shopping editor Jessica Cherner's favorite season, so she knows a thing or two about how to prepare for it. Getting a good snow cone machine is definitely in the top five must-have essentials for warmer months. So when she started her search for the best snow cone machines, she searched high and low for various sizes, styles, and price points.

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