The Brilliant KitchenAid Gadget I’ve Been Using All Summer to Create Fluffy Shaved Ice (In Seconds!)

If there’s one food I could (and do!) eat every single day of the year, it’s ice cream. And when summertime rolls around, that extends to other frozen treats like freeze pops, snow cones, Italian ice, and shaved ice. The brutal humidity we’ve been experiencing in NYC has really had me craving any kind of sweetened water-based ice lately, so rather than spend my money constantly stocking up at the supermarket, I decided to buy the KitchenAid Shave Ice Stand Mixer Attachment so that I could make my own at home, anytime I want, and save a little bit of cash in the process. 

The Kitchn has written about KitchenAid’s Shave Ice Stand Mixer Attachment a few times, most notably when it’s on sale (which it currently is, for its lowest price ever!). Though the customer reviews are very positive, I personally don’t know anyone who owns it or has tried it. But since the price was right ($69.98 vs. the normal price of $93), I decided to take the chance. And after using the gadget for several weeks so far this summer, I can honestly say that my only regret is that I didn’t buy it sooner. 

The KitchenAid Shave Ice Stand Mixer Attachment is an accessory that you can add to your KitchenAid stand mixer to whip up a variety of shaved ice treats. The set includes the attachment unit, eight ice molds for making ice “pucks,” an ice cup and sleeve for holding the puck, and two detachable blades you can switch out to make shaved ice of different textures. One blade makes a more gritty, snow-cone-like ice and the other makes ice that is as fluffy as snow. The set also comes with a recipe book, but does not include any flavored syrups or juices, so you’ll have to buy those separately.

To make a single serving of shaved ice, start by taking one of the ice molds out of the freezer and let it sit for the recommended 10 minutes (the instructions say the ice should look a little watery and clear for the best shaving experience). Next, pop the puck into the ice cup sleeve, and click the ice cup into the base of the attachment. Turn a lever at the top of the attachment to lower the ice clamps, then turn the mixer on to the number 10 (highest!) setting. In seconds, you have a bowl full of shaved ice! 

A few important things to note: Be sure to secure the attachment tightly in place to the front of your stand mixer, otherwise, it may start moving, as mine did on the first try (whoops!). The attachment is a little bit loud, but it’s over so fast that it really isn’t an issue. And always use a larger bowl if you’re making fluffier shaved ice vs. grainy, as it piles up much faster and produces a slightly larger volume.

This thing really works, and it’s so fast and easy to make my own shaved ice at home. I keep the ice molds ready to go in my freezer at all times, so I can take out a puck when I’m in the mood for something cool (which is pretty much always). While I prefer the more fluffy, snow-like version of shaved ice, I like that I have the option to go more granular, should I want to experiment with different recipes and bases. 

It’s also great that the different parts of the attachment are super-easy to clean and don’t take up much space when not in use — a huge bonus since I live in a tiny kitchen. Best of all, the KitchenAid Shave Ice Maker Attachment saves me money, and since making homemade shaved ice literally takes seconds, I now plan to indulge all year round and not just wait till summer to enjoy this refreshing treat.

Buy: KitchenAid Shave Ice Maker Attachment, $69.98 (normally $93)