Are Snow Cones Vegan? Can Vegans Eat Snow Cones?

By: Daniel B.
Date: January 13, 2023
Time to read: 6 min.

Answer: Yes.

Snow cones are a great way to keep fresh and hydrated in the summer heat. In this article, we will address the following queries:

Are snow cone syrups vegan
Benefits of eating snow cones
Is shaved ice vegan

You can add a wide variety of syrups and flavors to snow cones. However, it is essential to have access to accurate information about the ingredients of vegan-friendly food.

Are Snow Cone Syrups Vegan?

Typical snow cone syrups are vegan-friendly, as they are free of animal products. However, there are syrups in the market that contain ingredients such as bone char and white sugar. Below is a list of organic snow cone syrups:

Organic Almond Snow Cone Syrup

This snow cone syrup has a nutty flavor and is vegan and gluten-free.

Organic Armaretto Snow Cone Syrup

This organic syrup also has a nutty flavor and a smooth texture. In addition, this syrup has a rich and sophisticated taste, so try it with snow cones.

Organic Apple Pie Snow Cone Syrup

This apple pie cone syrup is made from organic apples and is perfect for those hot summer days.

Organic Banana Snow Cone Syrup

This organic banana syrup is extracted from the best quality bananas.

Benefits of Eating Snow Cones

When summer rolls around, people look for ways to keep calm and hydrated. Snow cones are a perfect way of keeping yourself refreshed, and they can also be healthy for you.

Flavor for Every Type of Taste Bud

People enjoy different flavors, and snow cones come in several flavors, such as wedding cake, caramel cheesecake, and silver fox. So there is a snow cone out there for every taste bud.

Not Full of Sugar

Unfortunately, snow cones that do not fall under the sugar-free category can have up to 41g of sugar. However, there is good news, as sugar-free varieties of snow cones are readily available. Sugar-free snow cones have a different taste and texture than regular cones.

Can Be Healthy for You

One interesting fact that most people are unaware of is that ice can burn body fat. Ice does take its time cutting the fat; therefore, the process is slow, but the method is effective.

According to fitness experts, warming ice up to your body temperature will burn approximately a calorie per ounce. However, this means you will need to eat 1.5 tons of ice to burn a pound of fat.

Eating ice can also reduce your food intake by reducing portions. If you eat ice before a meal, you will eat less of the meal. Enjoying a snow cone after your workout allows you to refresh and recharge.

Not Expensive

The reality is that snow cones are just as costly as snacks and are more affordable in some cases. You can quickly get a snow cone for $2 or less.

You Can Make Them at Home

Yes, you can make snow cones at home; all you need is a snow cone machine. Snow cone machines come at different prices, and you can get some for $30 or less.

Is Shaved Ice Vegan?

One of the most popular questions about ice-related desserts is: are they vegan? Like snow cones, shaved ice is also vegan, containing water, flavored syrup, and fruit purees or fruit juices.

Non-Vegan Snow Cone Toppings

Before you order an ice-related dessert, please be vary of the following ingredients as they are not vegan-friendly:

Condensed milk
Evaporated milk
Ice cream
Marshmallow ice cream
Whipped cream

Condensed Milk

The main motive of veganism is to end animal cruelty, which is why consuming milk-related products is prohibited. Condensed milk, which is a canned variety of milk, is sweetened by sugar and thickened through the process of evaporation.

Condensed milk is a common topping for snow cones, but its ingredients are not vegan-friendly. Instead of regular condensed milk, try coconut condensed milk, which is 100% vegan.

Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is milk that is thickened through evaporation. This variety of milk is similar to condensed milk but is not as thick and sweet. Evaporated milk is a popular topping for snow cones and other ice desserts. A vegan substitute for evaporated milk is coconut milk (sweetened or unsweetened).

Ice Cream

Many Asian varieties of ice shavings and snow cones are paired with ice cream. Snow cones are also paired with ice cream in some parts of the world. For a vegan-friendly version of a snow cone, you will need to try out substitutes for ice cream.

Fortunately, there are now several vegan-friendly ice cream alternatives, such as:

Soy ice cream
Coconut ice cream
Almond ice cream
Rice ice cream

Marshmallow Ice Cream

Marshmallow ice cream contains eggs; therefore, it is not a vegan-friendly ingredient. However, you can also make your own vegan marshmallow ice cream at home.

Whipped Cream

Whipped cream is another milk-based product, so it is not a vegan ingredient. Avoid whipped cream and use vegan alternatives such as whipped coconut cream.

Vegan Snow Cone Toppings

Adzuki beans
Mochi balls
Shredded coconut flakes
Papaya
Mango
Blueberry
Passion Fruit
Pineapple
Sweetened coconut milk
Pickles
Granola
Sprinkles
Frosted flakes
Almonds

There are a ton of vegan-friendly toppings that you can add to your snow cone:

Adzuki Beans

For shaved ice or snow cones, adzuki beans are a perfect topping. These beans are boiled and sweetened with sugar. Adzuki beans are a popular snow cone topping among vegan dieters.

Mochi Balls

Mochi is a type of vegan dessert that is made from pounded glutinous rice. This dessert comes with the following fillings:

Sweet sauces
Matcha paste
Red beans

Shredded Coconut Flakes

Take a coconut, shred it and use it as a topping for snow cones.

Papaya

Papaya goes well with snow cones, and the cone will even taste better if you add some lemon and mint on top of the papaya.

Mango

Mango is a tropical favorite and has a smooth texture. Mango is an excellent topping for snow cones.

Blueberry

Combine blueberry with coconut milk (sweetened), and use it as a topping for snow cones.

Lilikoi (Passion Fruit)

Passion fruit is a popular topping for Hawaiian-style shaved ice and works well with snow cones as well. This fruit is sweet and blends well with the ice.

Pineapple

Pineapple chunks are an excellent topping for snow cones. You can also use pineapple juice topping and pour it over the snow cones. Combining snow cones and pineapple juice will give you a healthy boost.

Coconut Milk (Sweetened)

Coconut milk (sweetened) gives the snow cones a creamy texture. Drizzle the milk over the cones and top it with other toppings.

Pickles

Yes, pickles are a strange one, and you might wonder, how can pickles and snow cones work together? However, if you eat pickles regularly, you shouldn’t have a problem using them as a topping for snow cones.

There are various pickle snow cones available in the United States; it is called Picadilly Snow Cone.

Granola

Granola is a variety of beans and is rich in fiber. Use granola as a topping and give your snow cone a healthy boost.

Sprinkles

While most types of sprinkles are not vegan, you will need to be careful. First, study their ingredients; if they are safe, add them to your snow cone.

Frosted Flakes

Frosted flakes are not the healthiest ingredient on this list, but they are free of animal products. In Southeast Asia, it is common to use frosted flakes as a topping for snow cones.

Almonds

Almonds are incredibly healthy, as they are rich in fiber and protein. You can top your snow cone with almonds as well.

Best Snow Cone Machines

Conclusion

Eating snow cones is an excellent way of staying hydrated in the summer. However, when it comes to vegan dieters need to be careful about what they eat. The good news is that snow cones are vegan, and most snow cone syrups are vegan as well.

In this article, there is a list of vegan syrups that you can use as a topping for snow cones. You will also find a list of vegan and non-vegan ingredients in this article that you pair your snow cones with.

However, it is essential to know your ingredients well, and this article will provide you with the clarity you need.