Soft serve ice cream maker
Ideal for those who love the classic swirl of soft serve ice cream, offering a fun and easy way to create a nostalgic treat at home.
Kitchen & Coffee
Ice cream makers
6 kinds worth knowing, 7 picks, and what to check before you buy.
Ice cream makers mostly end up with families, parents who like weekend projects, and kids who want to pick their own mix-ins. The ones that get used are easy to set up, quick to clean and small enough to live in a cupboard instead of the garage. Before choosing, think about how the household eats dessert. A soft serve machine suits people who love swirling cones and toppings. A frozen yogurt and ice cream maker is better for someone who experiments with flavours, lighter bases and fruit. Also consider freezer space, counter space and patience. Some models need a bowl frozen overnight, while others are ready to go after a few minutes of churning.
Kind 1 of 6
Soft serve at home, straight from the spout
A soft serve ice cream machine churns a chilled base and dispenses it through a spout or lever. It makes the classic swirl that kids love to put on cones or in cups. It's a good fit for families who host sundae nights, birthday parties or summer barbecues. Before buying, check how many parts come apart for washing and whether the bowl needs to be frozen ahead of time. See how much it makes per batch, too. Some machines only make a few servings, which runs out fast with a crowd. Also check the height under the spout so a cone or bowl fits comfortably.
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Choosing the right ice cream machine
Ice cream machines fall into a few groups. Freezer-bowl models need a bowl chilled overnight. Machines with a built-in compressor can make batch after batch with no planning. Other models freeze pre-made pints of base. Built-in freezing suits someone who makes ice cream often and has room on the counter. These machines are heavier and bigger, so check the dimensions against the kitchen. For an occasional treat, a freezer-bowl machine is lighter and easier to store. Also check how loud the machine is, how long a batch takes and whether the lid lets you add mix-ins partway through.
Self-refrigerating ice cream machine
An excellent choice for serious dessert makers who desire the convenience of continuous batches without pre-freezing any components.
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One machine for frozen yogurt and ice cream
These machines handle more than one kind of base, so the same appliance can make ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet or a fruit-only dessert. They suit people who like to try recipes, households with different tastes and anyone who wants to use up fruit. Some are automatic and have preset programs for each type of dessert, which helps beginners. Before buying, check whether the bowl or container needs pre-freezing and how many settings actually come with it. Look at what's included, such as recipe booklets, spare containers or lids, which make a gift easier to start using on Christmas morning.
Frozen yogurt and ice cream maker
This versatile appliance suits health-conscious individuals and families who enjoy making a variety of healthy and indulgent frozen desserts.
Frozen dessert maker
This appliance is perfect for families and dessert enthusiasts who enjoy creating homemade ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt with minimal effort.
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What the well-made makers have in common
The makers people keep using have a few things in common. The paddle scrapes the bowl evenly, the motor keeps going as the mix thickens, and the parts are simple to wash. Gelato and sorbet makers are a good example. They churn more slowly for a denser texture, which suits a cook who cares about getting it just right. Before buying, look for a clear spout for adding mix-ins, a lid that stays in place and a bowl size that fits the household. A solid, simple machine usually beats one covered in features nobody touches after January.
Gelato maker
Perfect for connoisseurs who appreciate the denser, richer texture of authentic gelato and the refreshing lightness of sorbet.
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Small soft ice cream machines for home kitchens
Home soft ice cream machines are smaller versions of the shop dispenser, sized for a counter or a cupboard shelf. A compact maker suits apartments, small kitchens and anyone who makes a few servings at a time instead of big batches. It also works well for a couple, or for one parent treating one or two kids. Before buying, measure the storage space and check that the bowl fits in the freezer if it needs chilling. Look for parts that can go in the dishwasher, and a cord long enough to reach the counter outlet you'd actually use.
Compact ice cream maker
An excellent choice for individuals or small households with limited kitchen space who still want to enjoy homemade frozen treats.
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Electric makers and stand mixer attachments
An electric ice cream maker does the churning for you, which is the main reason home ice cream got so much easier than the old hand-crank buckets. For someone who already owns a stand mixer, an ice cream attachment is a good alternative. It uses the mixer's motor and a freezer bowl, and it takes up less space than another appliance. Before buying an attachment, confirm it fits their exact mixer model and bowl size. For a standalone electric maker, check how long a batch takes and whether it shuts off or signals when the mix is ready.
Stand mixer ice cream attachment
A practical addition for anyone who already owns a compatible stand mixer and wishes to expand its capabilities to include frozen desserts.
How to choose ice cream makers as a gift
- Check the freezer before choosing a freezer-bowl model, since the bowl needs a flat spot to chill overnight before each batch.
- Match batch size to the household: a small maker suits one or two people, while families need more per batch.
- Choose a machine with few parts to wash, because the hard-to-clean ones tend to end up in the back of a cupboard.
- For a stand mixer attachment, confirm the exact mixer model before buying so the bowl and paddle actually fit.
- Add a few cones, sprinkles or a simple recipe card so the gift is ready to use on Christmas Day.
Usually safe to skip
- Large machines with built-in freezing are a poor fit for small kitchens and often get put away in storage after the holidays.
- Novelty makers that only produce a spoonful or two tend to disappoint kids after the first try and rarely get used again.
- Hand-crank or ice-and-salt buckets usually miss for busy families because they take lots of effort and make a mess.
Questions people ask about ice cream makers
- What is the difference between a soft serve machine and a regular ice cream maker?
- A soft serve machine dispenses a lighter, swirled dessert through a spout, so it's great for cones and toppings. A regular ice cream maker churns the base in a bowl, and you scoop it out. That usually gives a firmer texture, especially after a short time in the freezer.
- Do ice cream makers need the bowl frozen ahead of time?
- Many do. Freezer-bowl models need the bowl chilled for many hours, often overnight, before each batch. Machines with built-in freezing skip that step and can make several batches in a row, but they are larger and heavier.
- Can an ice cream maker also make frozen yogurt and sorbet?
- Most can. Any machine that churns while it freezes will handle frozen yogurt, sorbet and fruit-based desserts, and some have preset programs for each one. Check the settings and included recipes if the person wants to try different styles.
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