Some of our earliest childhood memories revolve around food, and one of the best treats on a hot summer day was a Sno-Cone. A snow cone maker would grind solid blocks of ice into a grainy slush, then the vendor would scoop the ice into a paper cone. The final touch was the liberal pouring of a flavored syrup, often in Day-Glo colors. The most popular kid on the block during the summer owned a Snoopy or Mister Freeze snow cone maker, which uses a manual crank to produce the slush.

A snow cone maker is primarily a single-purpose machine which uses an electric motor and grinder blade to crush ice. Sometimes, standard ice cubes are fed into the snow cone maker through a curved feeder, much like a meat grinder. Other snow cone maker models use solid blocks of ice which are pressed into the grinding mechanism from above. The crushed ice is stored either in a glass bin below the grinder or in insulated tubs. The vendor uses a metal scoop to form the perfectly round top of a traditional snow cone.

The snow cone maker has been a part of the frozen novelty family for decades. Snow cone concession stands are often seen at circuses, county fairs, beaches and other public attractions. In many places, the traditional snow cone flavors have been augmented with more exotic varieties and local favorites. Vendors have also been known to pour their syrups in artistic designs. Investing in a snow cone maker or its cousin, the Hawaiian ice shaver, has proven to be a worthwhile venture for certain small business owners.

A snow cone maker can be an elaborate commercial machine, but it can also be a product suitable for small children to operate. Snow cone maker kits are often sold in department stores, in either the toy or small appliance department. These snow cone maker kits usually feature a manually-powered ice grinder, a supply of paper cones, a serving scooper and several small bottles of flavored syrups. Snow cone syrups are also available through mail order or online through a number of 'fun food' suppliers. Torani syrups, offered in coffee shops, can also be used in conjunction with a snow cone maker to create a refreshing frozen treat.