When it comes to shaved ice and snow cones, everyone has a different opinion on the best way to consume it. Some prefer their shaved ice with just basic flavored syrups poured on top, while others prefer the works—syrup and a combination of all sorts of additional toppings, like fresh fruits and ice cream. All over the United States and across the world, you’ll find very different and sometimes peculiar toppings that are typically associated with each region.
Here are just a few of our favorite and popular shaved ice toppings, which you can try at home or serve at your own shaved ice stand.
Sweet Cream (Condensed Milk)
Condensed milk is whole milk combined with cane sugar, with most of the water removed. Shaved ice business owners quite commonly offer this as a topping. After you prepare your shaved ice, pour an ounce or two on top very carefully, as it can quickly get messy. You can make your supply of sweet cream last longer by diluting it with evaporated milk. Typically, the ratio is 2 cans of evaporated milk to 1 can of condensed milk (this can be adjusted as necessary). When added to a sweeter flavor, sweet cream gives shaved ice the creaminess of a homemade ice cream. Some of the shaved ice syrup flavors that that we’ve found pair well with condensed milk are vanilla, banana, strawberry cheesecake, coconut, chocolate, butterscotch and egg custard. Acidic flavors, on the other hand, tend to curdle when combined with cream.
Sour Spray
If you’re a little more daring, and would like to treat your taste buds to a sweet AND sour combination, then we suggest that you add the tangy sour spray on top of your shaved ice. With just a few squirts of this tart spray, you and/or your shaved ice customers will be left totally tongue-tied! We carry sour spray in compact 2-ounce bottles, which provide enough for 100-150 servings of shaved ice. If you think you have the courage, try pouring some Sour Grape or Sour Cherry syrup flavors over your shaved ice before you add some sour spray. SUPER SOUR!
Pineapple Topping
Out of all the fresh fruit toppings most often used around the world, pineapple is definitely one of our favorites. This is because Hawaii is famous for its juicy pineapples, so few other fruits put the ‘Hawaiian’ in ‘Hawaiian Shaved Ice.’ The bright, refreshing flavor pairs well with syrups like coconut, orange, strawberry-banana, and mango.
We hope that these have given you some inspiration to experiment with your own shaved ice flavors and toppings. Do you have some favorites that you would like to share with us? If you have any recipes or ideas, please feel free to share them with us on social media and we just may feature you in a future blog post! Visit us again here at Hawaiian Shaved Ice, and we’ll keep you posted on the latest in the world of shaved ice and snow cones.
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