The Best Ice Cream Maker Brands for All of Your Favorite Frozen Recipes

Buy from Walmart, $75

No ice? No problem when Cuisinart is your sous chef. The ICE 21P1 comes with a double-insulated freezer bowl to eliminate the need for ice. Features include a lock transparent lid with large spout, so ingredients can be added mess free, and it also has new patent-pending mixing paddles to create your dessert in 20 minutes or less. It can also make sorbet and frozen yogurt!

Promising review: “Making ice cream at home is no longer a chore. Ingredients are simple, and very little prep is needed. Ice cream really does churn in 15 to 20 minutes, and the amount this makes is perfect for my husband and I to have during the week. When I was a kid making ice cream was kind of a production, so I never was interested in making my own until I got this item as a work anniversary gift. Now we’ll probably never buy ice cream again! “

Buy from Kohl’s, $260

If you don’t have counter space to spare, this compact top ice cream maker machine is for you. It’s made by Ninja, so you know it’s high quality, plus it comes with all of the bells and whistles you could want. It has seven one-touch programs to combine different pressures and speeds as you mix. I love the re-spin function, which really comes in handy when adding ingredients like candies into your concoction but prefer a smoother consistency instead of chunky. The steel blades are no joke for shaving ice, and the container, lid, and paddles can be tossed into the dishwasher for easy clean-up. Although it’s on the louder side, unless you’re planning to make dessert late night, does it matter? According to this happy customer, not at all!

Promising review: “I try to manage my weight, and I love soft serve ice cream. Now I can make my own healthy version whenever I want. Yes, it’s noisy but works pretty quickly. It has totally been worth it! You can make sorbet, gelato, and ice cream. It’s very sturdy and well made.”

Buy from Amazon, $484

This monster machine makes monster size treats, so it’s ideal for party hosting or whipping up large amounts. The smart machine has a pre-cool setting to keep frozen desserts at their ideal temperature, as well as automatically sense what you’re making based on the hardness. The mix setting allows different ingredients to be added as you work, which means if you like brownie chunks instead of specs in your blizzards, the machine can make it happen. Your dessert can be left in the machine (which continues to churn) up to three hours. It also comes equipped with four pre-programmed settings to optimize control of the culinary process.

Promising review: “This beast is so easy to use and works so well! I’m on the keto diet and my husband is not. I’ve prepared different types of ice cream for both of us, and everything has turned out amazing! The parts are really easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean! I like the little hatch door for adding your additional ingredients near the end of the process. I like the “pre-freeze” and “keep cold” functions [too]. I love that you can easily choose the softness/hardness setting based on what kind of frozen treat you are making.”

Buy from Walmart, $80

This is one of the top ice cream maker machines to consider if you like other frozen desserts like frozen yogurt or sorbet. It’s fully automatic, has a heavy duty motor, and even comes with a handy recipe book. You’ll need to make sure your freezer is at 0 degrees to get the double-insulated bowl ready for use, but according to happy Walmart customers, it’s worth the wait. The ingredient spout is on the larger size, which is great for avoiding spills while adding toppings. Once you’re set up, it should only take 20 minutes to create the vanilla soft serve or chocolate sorbet of your dreams.

Promising review: “I am amazed by how easily this machine makes the most delicious ice cream I’ve ever had. Also, it’s wonderful to know exactly what ingredients go into it! No more chemicals or additives. I still have a lot of recipes I want to try with this machine, but it’s hard to move on when the ones I’ve already tried are so [good!]”

Buy from Amazon, $45

This affordable ice-and-salt style ice cream maker machine is super easy to use. An open lid allows ingredients to be added mess-free, plus it’s electric! Add the ingredients, turn it on and in less than an hour you can enjoy sorbet, frozen yogurt and of course, the creamiest ice cream! An old fashioned hand crank at the top works for crushing Reese’s Pieces, nuts, or whatever else you want in the dessert, and the interior bowl is removable, so what isn’t eaten right away can be frozen for later.

Promising review: “It’s a great little machine for the price! Churns the ice cream beautifully, smooth and creamy. Would definitely recommend for a small group of people.”

Buy from Wayfair, $333

If you’re like me, you can’t predict when a hankering for Cherry Garcia will emerge. This, understandably, makes working with a freezing bowl a bit problematic. While they’re not hard to use, the wait time can be annoying, especially if you want ice cream in an instant. What makes this one of the top ice cream maker machines is that it has a built-in compressor freezer, so it can always be used — even at a moment’s notice. Make frozen yogurt, gelato, sorbet — whatever. It’s all possible with this 2.1 quart, stainless steel machine. Although it’s on the larger size, I think it’s neat to have an ice cream maker on display, and if you can’t stand the space it takes up, store it in a cupboard or the pantry when not in use.

Promising review: “To put it simply, I love it. Very good machine and so simple to use. Maybe too simple! I like the way it has its own compressor so there is nothing to freeze and wait on to chill for the next batch. Made delicious fresh strawberry daiquiris before dinner and it churned up a sinful ice cream for dessert while we were eating. It’s a keeper!”

Buy from Amazon, $178

Did you know some people don’t like soft serve? I know, not relatable! It’s so delicious and smooth, and easy to make with this Cuisinart machine. It’s fully automatic, and comes with a double-insulated freezer bowl that makes 1.5 pints of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream. Three different levers work to add mix-ins of choice, and there’s even a compartment on the side for ice cream cones. It works for any type you like — FYI — so if you prefer waffle or flat bottom, it still works.

Promising review: “Awesome! My husband and I love it. We have tried all different recipes (some good, some not so much) and are staying to the basics in the recipe book…We bought an extra bowl so we keep going with different recipes and fill up the freezer with our favorite dessert.”

Buy from Walmart, $71

You may have had one of these old fashioned ice cream style machines as a kid, but trust me, this one is better. Instead of churning the ice until your forearms burn, the Nostalgia Ice Cream Maker lets you plug it in and does all the hard labor. Yes, you’ll need a lot of ice to get started, but the ice cream will come out thick and delicious. The dasher remains still while the canister rotates, so you won’t have to hold it steady, plus the bright blue color is sort of fun. The ice cream machine makes up to four quarts, so they’re will be plenty to go around — twice!

Promising review: I am very happy with my choice of this compact maker. I’ve had a manual one in the past and found the hand churning a chore after a while. The Nostalgia Ice Cream Maker works very well, just as described… The ice cream comes out creamy, has a thick consistency right out of the machine, and tastes like the best store-bought minus the gum, fillers and other stuff. I do slightly cook the egg base before churning as suggested in the recipe booklet. I find the directions true, and the machine auto-stops when done after about 30 minutes. The noise is like that of any mixer.”

Buy from Walmart, $250

There’s no need to choose between gelato, frozen yogurt or ice cream with this 7-in-1 dessert-making machine. You can really have it all! It keeps whatever you make cool for four hours, so there’s no need to rush to get everything back in the freezer, and it also comes with an ice cream scoop, as well as a spatula. If you’re at a loss of what to make first, check out the included recipe book.

Promising review: “The ninja creami breeze has been such a fun addition to the kitchen. I’ve made several variations of sherbet and ice cream so far and they have all been wonderful. I’ve done a twist on pineapple whip, strawberry mango and most recently chocolate. The machine itself could not be easier to use. You simply switch out the kids on the container and select how you want to prepare it. I did find that sometimes conditions are a bit powdery the first spin but adding a little water and doing a re spin does the trick and it’s amazing!“

Buy from Amazon, $100

Many of you own a KitchenAid mixer, which means you have almost everything to make a big dish of homemade ice cream. The missing ingredient is this mixing bowl attachment. It makes up to two pints — just enough to get started — and is simple to use once everything is set up. It comes with a two-sided adaptor, so it works with bowl-lift models as well as full-sized tilt-head stand mixers, and just needs to be adjusted in a few places to start. You’ll have to freeze the bowl 24 hours prior, so we suggest keeping it stored there even when not in use. Although we know it’s a little pricey for a single bowl, considering it can also be used to make gelato and frozen yogurt, it basically pays for itself.

Promising review: “The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker attachment is a great addition to any 5-6 quart KitchenAid mixer. With its easy-to-use design, you can create delicious, homemade ice cream, gelato, or sorbet in no time. The attachment is easy to install and operates smoothly, allowing you to create a variety of frozen treats without the need for an additional appliance. The included recipes provide a great starting point, but you can also experiment with your own flavors and ingredients. Overall, the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker attachment is a great investment for anyone who loves frozen desserts and wants to create them at home with ease.”

Buy from Amazon, $700

When most of us think of Vitamix, we think smoothies and shakes. However, the restaurant-quality blender also makes ice cream! Best part? No freezing bowl needed. The Ascent A3500 model has an ice cream setting, which spins the blades at the perfect speed to pulverize ice till smooth. Simply add it to the machine, along with your milk, cream, sugar and whatever else, and you’re minutes away from the dessert of your wildest craving. I seriously love this thing and have owned one for years. Is it expensive? Yes, but it’s versatile and can be used for even soups, to chop veggies — seriously, whatever you need, so it’s worth the investment!

Promising review: “The self cleaning pre-set has improved with the ascent series, and I love the timer has been added to customize recipes for the perfect blend. All of the recipes I’ve made so far [have come] out perfectly.”

Buy from Amazon, $41

If you’d like an ice cream maker but don’t want to spend big bucks, try this one from American. It’s under $50, includes a one quart quick freeze bowl, and whips up your frozen dessert in less than an hour. It’s lightweight, compact, and also pretty, so don’t be shy about leaving it on the counter. The bottom has rubber suctions to keep it steady, and the top also has an ingredient shoot for tossing toppings in without sending chocolate bits all over the kitchen.

Buy from Amazon, $700

Yes, this ice cream maker is the opposite of inexpensive. However, if you’re frequently trying to make bigger batches of ice cream, this is the one to go for. The stainless steel machine creates three quarts of the dessert with its easy set-and-forget operation. Simply pour the ingredients into the mixer, close the lid, turn the ice cream maker on, and come back later to sheer heaven. Made in Italy, the kitchen appliance doesn’t make gelato, unfortunately, but can whip up sorbet like nobody’s business.

Promising review: “This ice cream maker is simply the best, most professional one I’ve ever used — and I’ve used several. Admittedly, I never owned one of the industry standard ones ($4k-$10k ones), but for home usage, this one takes the cake EASILY. And honestly, it FEELS like an industry standard unit build and results-wise. Extremely easy to use; literally plug and play. In my opinion, it’s the best for clean up, and the results are ice cream parlor style.”