Looking for the best ice cream maker? No matter the recipe, these are the best home ice cream makers you can buy in 2024!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! 🍨
There’s nothing better than eating delicious, homemade ice cream on a hot, summer day! Whether you’re an ice cream addict or just enjoy making your own low-carb ice cream from time to time, a homemade ice cream machine is an awesome kitchen gadget worth splurging on. An ice cream maker also makes a fun gift idea for just about anyone too!
Looking for an easy way to store your homemade ice cream in the freezer? Try these highly-rated ice cream storage containers with silicone lids!
7 best ice cream maker models to buy:
1. The Cuisinart ICE21Rcan churn out your ice cream in 20 minutes or less!
Cuisinart ICE21R Ice Cream Maker – $58.96 shipped (regularly $69.95)
With the Cuisinart ICE21R 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, you can easily make your favorite frozen yogurt, sorbet, or ice cream at home in as little as 20 minutes! Just add ingredients, turn the machine on, and let the automatic churner do all the work for you!
“I’m obsessed with this machine! I’ve made at least 15 batches, if not more, of ice cream and I’m not stopping! The ice cream is everything I’ve been searching for in the stores but waaaay better. The machine churns out light and creamy ice cream each time!”
2. You don’t even need electricity to use the Play and Freeze Ball.
Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker – $50.13 shipped
Did you know there is a ball that makes ice cream? This sphere-shaped ice cream making machine is a blast! It works as its own ice cream freezer. If you have kids, it will give them a fun, hands-on experience with the properties of movement, freezing, and basic science principles, all while making ice cream! No electricity is needed – just put your ingredients in the ball, roll it for 30 minutes, and it will yield about 1 pint of ice cream.
“Fantastic way to make ice cream! I used a frozen custard recipe with heavy cream and no milk and the ice cream took only 10 minutes to make. You throw the ball back and forth (between two adults or strong youth – it’s like a medicine ball), then open and stir the ice cream. Then, 5 more minutes of tossing the ball and it’s done! Easy clean up too. What a great value!”
3. The Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker is another great option for kids!
Nostalgia 4-Quart Ice Cream Maker – $39.99 shipped
This Nostalgia ice cream maker is an affordable alternative to the popular Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker and the White Mountain Ice Cream Maker (often unavailable or sold out). It’s also similar to the old Rival or Donvier ice cream maker machines, but we like Nostalgia WAY better!
Reminiscent of an old-fashioned ice cream churner of the past, this 4-quart bucket-style homemade ice cream machine is a fast and easy way to make ice cream, frozen yogurt, or gelato. Simply add your ingredients into the aluminum canister, place in the middle of the bucket, layer with ice and salt, and allow the electric motor to do the rest.
The durable ice cream churn paddle produces delicious creamy homemade ice cream, while the easy-clean plastic liner provides simple cleanup. Plus, the 4-quart capacity is larger than most other ice cream makers on the market, so you’ll have enough for the whole family! 🙌
My Hip teammate, Jenna, has this ice cream maker and loves it! Here’s what she said about it:
“Now THIS is the ticket! I had to use this straight from the box. I washed it, poured in the custard mixture, topped it with layers of ice and salt, put the top on, and plugged it in. Viola! The motor never bogged down. When the ice cream was done, the machine stopped. Absolutely zero issues. It goes together easily, cleans up quickly, and functions flawlessly. I finally found a keeper!”
4. You can completely customize your frozen treats with the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence.
Making ice cream is a breeze with this Cuisinart ice cream maker! Just freeze the bowl overnight, add your ingredients, and churn for up to 2 quarts of delicious homemade ice cream. The automatic mixing paddle does all the work for you, and you’ll get to enjoy your frozen treat in only 25 minutes or less.
“This was the best kitchen gadget purchase I’ve made in a long, long time! LOVE this. I don’t know how they could even improve on this model. It works flawlessly for me. I use it to create healthy, homemade, keto ice cream and it has surpassed all of my expectations! We turn this baby on when we sit down to eat dinner and by the time we’re done with dinner, we have the most beautiful soft-serve ice cream waiting for us!”
5. Make more than just ice cream with the Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker. It’s one of our very favorite ice cream machines!
Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker
*Note that the Ninja CREAMi is often sold out, so be sure to consider other styles and models
This machine doesn’t just make ice cream and that’s why it’s one of the team’s very favorite ice cream makers! The Ninja CREAMi can make sorbet, gelato, and custard-based ice cream. It also can allow for mix-ins and can blend milkshakes.
Want a rich and decadent treat? This machine can do that. If you want a vegan, dairy-free, or healthy snack, the Ninja CREAMi does that also! You can even make a sorbet out of nothing but fruit. Hip2Save’s Lina has made protein ice cream with it and she says it can even remix leftovers!
You won’t find these results with another machine, because unlike standard ice cream makers, the Ninja CREAMi uses its own technology to shave and blend. The product comes with a recipe guide that includes 15 simple recipes to get you started. This compact ice cream maker fits right on your countertop and it is so easy to use. Kids will love it too! Just plan for some prep time as some ingredients may need to be frozen beforehand. It’s also worth noting the machine is a little louder than some of the others, but the result is worth it!
Here’s what Ninja customers had to say about their Ninja CREAMi:
“I LOVE this machine! I just got it and am on Weight Watchers so I wanted to make healthy sorbets and light ice cream. Well, I made my first sorbet using one can of crushed pineapple in its own juice and it was super delicious and oh so creamy. I can’t believe it..this machine is the answer to my dreams!!!”
“Listen, it’s simple. You can keep on spending five bucks or more for just a PINT of Ben & Jerry’s. Or a fortune on gelato, and other overpriced sorbets. Or, you can make one simple smart-money investment in an appliance like this. And this gadget will pay for itself many times over, with the money you save. It’s easily the best kitchen investment you’ll make all year.”
6. This Dash ice cream maker lets you create a single-serve portion!
Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker $39.99 shipped
You may get more bang for your buck buying one of the larger machines on this list. However, if you don’t have a lot of room for storage or you typically just need a single-serving of ice cream, you might consider buying the Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker. It’s a soft-serve ice cream machine that can also be used to make gelato, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. It also comes with a recipe guide and two easy-to-clean bowls. Plus, it can even double as a freezable mug!
“This is such a fun little machine! Works great. I made a copycat Wendy’s frosty using 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/3 cup skim milk, tablespoon of Hershey’s chocolate syrup, and splash of vanilla extract. The key is to freeze the bowl at least 24 hours or even longer. I initially had a fail at 20 hours. Then, just add ingredients, start churning, and 20 minutes later you have a thick frosty texture. If you wanted solid ice cream then place in the freezer until firmer. So easy!” – Lina, Hip2Save team
7. The Whynter Ice Cream Maker is the BEST team-favorite ice cream maker and it’s cheaper than Breville!
Whynter Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker – $283.33 shipped (regularly $339.30)
This 2.1-Quart Ice Cream Maker from Whynter features an extended cooling function that prevents the mixture from melting and a motor protection function that stops the motor from churning to prevent overheating or damage to the motor when the mixture becomes solid. This unit also includes an electronic timer, ice cream scoop, and easy-to-follow recipe guide. It’s a little similar to the Breville ice cream maker, but costs significantly less!
This is Collin’s favorite home ice cream maker! Here’s why…
“It’s not just me who loves this ice cream maker… it’s my whole family’s favorite machine, too! It’s seriously the BEST ice cream maker out there, and trust me – I’ve gone through a few. 😬This unit makes up to two quarts of delicious dessert in a single batch.
Aside from oh so delicious ice cream, it’s by far the easiest ice cream maker to use, and it literally takes an hour or less from start to finish. You just mix the ingredients, pour them into the machine’s container, press a button, and BOOM — homemade ice cream with barely any work. 🍨
And clean-up is a breeze, with the removable bowl and churn blade, leaving you more time to enjoy your dessert and less time cleaning the machine.
Even my team LOVES this machine! It’s perfect for those of us who eat keto since we can customize the recipes to use sugar alternatives to keep our keto lifestylesand sweet tooths happy — by the way, you NEED to check out this yummy raspberry cheesecake keto ice cream recipe! Oh my… 😍 – Collin
Our entire team loves the Whynter brand and we highly recommended purchasing one of their ice cream makers whenever you can get your hands on one!
Here’s what some users say about their beloved Whynter ice cream machines:
“I love being able to make my own ice creams at home with my Whynter Ice Cream maker and customize ingredients to make sure I know exactly what is going in it and how many carbs per serving. I used to have a Cuisinart ice cream maker and never used it because you had to freeze the bowl ahead of time, which I never remembered to do. With Whynter, it’s more expensive, but it has an actual compressor so you can make custom ice cream anytime. Plus, it’s so easy to clean!”
“Yes, Whynter! There’s no salt or waiting for a frozen bowl. It’s for sure the best!” – Lina, Hip2Save team
Need an ice cream recipe? Try making our homemade cake batter ice cream!
