Instant Pot Shave Ice & Snow Cone Syrup [Recipe & Video} (2024)

Shave Ice Syrup is so simple and easy to make in the Instant Pot. For under $.50 and in less than 15 minutes, you can make any flavor snow cone syrup you want!

I have memories from elementary school eating grape snow cones on special days during the hot summer in Miami.

Blue raspberry was not a flavor back then.

Here in California, shaved ice stands have been so popular for as along as I have lived in Los Angeles. I think my first encounter was at Venice Beach circa 1985. Blue raspberry quickly became my favorite flavor.

Years later when I moved to the Valley, there was a indoor swap meet with a shave ice stand right outside the entrance. It was close to my house and made a great treat.

Imagine making your own flavors at home in your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker with only three ingredients.

Ingredients to Shave Ice Syrup

• Flavoring
• Sugar
• Water

Instant Pot Shave Ice Syrup can also be made on the stove and the directions are found below.

For those who need a sugar free option, check out my .

Instant Pot Shave Ice Syrup, which is the same as Instant Pot Snow Cone Syrup can be doubled or tripled to make a very large batch. If you are having a party at your house, this would be a great idea.

It’s so hot in the summer months and this is a great way to get water into the kids, as well as to enjoy a fun and delicious treat.

What is Shave Ice Syrup?

• Also called shaved ice.
• It is basically a flavored simple syrup, which has not been reduced down.
• It is also called Snow Cone Syrup.

I recently purchased a Little Snowy Shaved Ice Machine and it is truly the best machine I have ever owned. It uses ice cubes right from your own freezer, so there is no worry about having to first freeze water into disks.

It also makes the shaved ice in just a few seconds and you can make one serving after the next. You can use ice cube trays like these, if you do not have an ice cube maker wired into your freezer, these ice cube trays work well.

Make sure to keep the measurements of the water and sugar exactly as in the recipe card below.

Too much sugar will make a thick syrup, which does not pour well and is very cloying.

I own this set of liquid measuring cups and use them for this recipe as not only are they used for measuring the water, they are perfect for mixing up several flavors at once.

Pro Tip: Liquid measuring cups and dry measuring cups should not be used to replace each other. When directions call for “measuring cup” amounts, they are based on volume and not on weight.

Liquid measuring cups are almost always made from glass and are see-though, while dry measuring cups are often stainless steel, ceramic and plastic. For measuring the sugar, I use my stainless steel measuring cups.

For making just one single flavor of Instant Pot Shaved Ice Syrup, you can add the packet right into the cooking pot if you like.

Many like to make several flavors at once and add them after the shaved ice syrup has been made.

After I bought my Little Snowie, I bought this pack of flavors and felt that I could make any flavor I wanted to make, but cheaper.

The cook time is short. A longer natural release time is used to ensure that hot sugar water will not squirt out through the pressure valve or float valve.

What Bottles to Use for Instant Pot Shave Ice Syrup.

Squeeze bottles, which are BPA free are good to use as they are light weight and travel well for summer picnics.

Glass bottles work too (and really are preferred), however……………………

Because things can get slippery and kids may be around, I opted for the sturdy plastic bottles. Glass becomes slippery very easily and outside on a hot sunny day, you don’t want broken glass around anyone, especially kids.

The sugar syrup is wicked hot, so make sure to pour it away from you, unlike what Ed did in the above photo. In the video, you will hear me scold him for that. 🙂

If making a double or triple batch, pour the syrup into two or three mixing vessels.

When doing just one flavor, you can mix right in the cooking pot to save on extra dishes to wash.

How to Use Shave Ice Syrup?

• After using a shaved ice maker or snow cone maker, the syrup is pour over the ice for flavoring the ice.
• Multiple flavors can be used in one shaved ice cup.
• If you have a soda steam, you can add a little to a glass and then add the fizzy water and have a nice fizzy drink.

Funny how he chose blue raspberry for you all to see, huh?

Where to Store Instant Pot Shave Ice Syrup.

• The refrigerator will keep the shaved ice and snow cone syrup fresh.
• I recommend taking it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before using.

Instant Pot Shaved Ice Syrup is perfect for picnic days like Memorial Day, 4th of July, as well as for kids parties and barbecues.

Start the meal off with my Baby Back Carolina Style BBQ Pork Ribs, a side of Instant Pot Potato Salad andAsian Crunchy Noodle Salad with Peanut Butter Dressing.

Homemade Instant Pot Shaved Ice and Snow Cone Syrup, is truly delicious and so easy to make.

You can mix together flavors, add other flavor drops like this set of LorAnn flavors which have cotton candy, marshmallow and root beer to name a few.

Grab your Little Snowie Shave Ice Machine and make some shaved ice! This shave ice maker makes the fluffiest and best snow of any machine I have tried.

Pro Tip: When making shaved ice, one-inch ice cube trays work the best.

Blue raspberry, lemon lime and grape for me.

Ed has blue raspberry, lemon lime and cherry.

Of course, cute colorful, flower cups are always fun.

Watch the video below as I walk you through every step and detail of this recipe. I’ve given you a ton of information above, but sometimes a live visual of the process helps so you can follow along. I have my own cooking show on my YouTube Channel, so be sure to check it out and subscribe!

Watch my video and then scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card.

Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Shave Ice Syrup.

1. Use proper measuring vessels, as it is important to get the measurements pretty exact.
2. Swirl the sugar and water together before locking on the lid.
3. Wait about 10 minutes before pouring the syrup into the various flavors in your mixing bowls.

Ed is much more sophisticated than me here. He uses a spoon and I like to dive right in.

My favorite part. Get a blue tongue.

Stick it out and show everyone! 🙂 The child in me comes out.

Can Shave Ice Syrup Be Frozen?

• Yes.
• That is a great idea too, so that you can make full recipes of each flavor and save them for when you run out.
• It is also a good idea so that you can make in advance for parties!

Check back next week for a LOW CARB, sugar free version. As a diabetic, I assure you, this is a wonderful and fun snack to eat. It cures the cravings.

More Delicious Summer Recipes to Make:

• Low Carb Avocado Chicken Salad [Instant Pot]
• Pressure Cooker Watermelon Baby Back Ribs {Hard Rock Café Copy}
• Creamy Grapes Salad

Please tag me with colorful photos of you sticking out your tongues!

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

• Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
• KoolAid Packets
• Squeeze Bottles BPA Free
• Little Snowie Shaved Ice Machine
• One Inch Ice Cube Trays

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