These gizmos make preparing homemade ice cream a snap, starting at $40

I scream for it, you scream for it … and this wildly popular appliance will satiate your sweet tooth in between trips to the Good Humor truck this summer. It churns out not just ice cream, but sorbet, milkshakes and more — just add your ingredients, freeze overnight, press a button and ta-da! Plus, you’ll be able to customize your creation with your favorite mix-ins.

Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida tested it out and was able to whip up treats he describes as “easily as good as anything I’ve had from a store or pint.” He adds, “There’s a certain mad-scientist joy that comes from creating or discovering a delicious recipe. I think it’s especially great for the health-minded, as it affords total control over your ingredients.”

Check out his full Ninja Creami review for more.

Not ready to splurge on the Creami? This fan favorite pays for itself in just a few uses and mixes up frozen desserts in under 30 minutes. It can churn up to two quarts at a time, features a spout for pouring in nuts, candy, fruit or any other additions and has a small countertop footprint.

“We love this ice cream maker so much, we actually purchased another one as a gift,” shared a delighted dairy devourer. “Easy to use, easy to clean and the ice cream possibilities are endless. We love trying different mix-ins, such as cookies, brownies, cake, candy, etc. The vanilla recipe only requires five ingredients, whereas the store-bought ice cream has at least 20. We have not bought ice cream in a store since buying this machine.”

Step aside, coffee and tea — this might be the best use of mugs since hot chocolate was invented. If the thought of making ice cream at home is intimidating, these have your name on them. Really, they couldn’t be easier to use — just make sure your mug(s) are frozen for at least 24 hours, then mix up your ice cream base (there’s a recipe book included). Once your mug is sufficiently chilled (you want it to be really cold), you’ll add your base to the mug, pop on the top (it’s got a motorized paddle inside), turn it on and it’ll start churning away. You can also add mix-ins of your choosing via the pour chute while it’s running, and in about 20 minutes, you’ll have ice cream.

“This is great,” raved a satiated snacker. “You don’t have to make a ton of ice cream. Just enough for one person. … Storage is easy; you can leave the mugs in the freezer if you want and they will always be ready to go whenever you want to make some ice cream. This was a great buy.”

You’ll be bowled over by how easy it is to make ice cream from scratch with this doodad — just add your ingredients and the rest is hands-off. Of course, you’ll need a KitchenAid stand mixer in order to use it, and it’s compatible with all tilt-head models aside from Minis, as well as most of the brand’s bowl-lift mixers. (Be sure to check out the Amazon product page for specifics.) In addition to the bowl, this kit comes with a dasher — the part that actually mixes and churns the ice cream — as well as everything needed for quick assembly.

The manufacturer recommends freezing the bowl for at least 24 hours before starting your homemade dessert journey. Once it’s nice and cold, you’ll be able to add all of your ingredients — don’t forget the mix-ins — and let the machine do its thing. Within about 30 minutes, you’ll have a custom creation that just might have you swearing off Baskin-Robbins for good. Oh, and if you or someone in your family has dietary restrictions, this gizmo makes it super easy to accommodate them.

“This is my fourth!” exclaimed a very loyal customer. “This ice cream attachment is so wonderful that I buy [it] for gifts! I have been using my personal one for over a decade and always get ‘better than Häagen-Dazs’ comments. It freezes fast enough that the ice crystals are very small and keep the ice cream smooth.”

Okay, not to knock the other frozen delicacies out there, but soft serve is the best, right? If you agree with me, this machine is your ticket to enjoying a cone of that blissfully smooth specialty in the comfort of your own kitchen. With not one, not two but three condiment containers, everyone will be able to create their dream dessert, and there’s even a warming cup for dispensing hot fudge and the like. Carvel who?

“This ice cream maker is so easy to use, and best of all, easy to clean up,” gushed a (now) popular grandparent. “Great for family gatherings or small parties or an after dinner snack. … The grandkids love how it comes out like at the ice cream store across town.”

Not a fan of dairy? How about a good old-fashioned cone of shaved ice to make you feel like a kid again? This appliance is teeming with retro vibes and can make up to 20 servings at a time. Bring it out at your next picnic and guests will go wild. 

“I love this machine so much,” swooned a happy host. “I put my ice cubes in and it shaved the ice perfectly in 1, 2, 3. This makes the perfect consistency for shaved ice topped with syrup. It’s an excellent low-cost way to treat your guests this summer. Would definitely recommend.”

Forgoing added sugars has never been so tasty (or easy), now that this clever invention exists. It makes sorbet-like treats out of frozen fruit for an easy, nutritious and satisfying snack. Keep things simple with one ingredient (the chilled fruit!) or play around with the 36 recipes that come with the machine. Just pop your fruit chunks into the chute at the top, then “plunge” them down into the masher/churner. Done!

“My favorite purchase this year,” declared a devotee. “This makes the absolute most delicious dessert and snack. … Took a bit of experimenting, but I discovered that you have to be careful to get the right bananas, freeze them at the right time, thaw them for the right amount of time. All of the details are included in the instructions, just be sure to follow them carefully to get your treat to come out right. Super fun and healthy fruit dessert. Easy to clean — just disassemble and throw a few plastic parts in the dishwasher and use it again the next day.”

Now, you’ll need something to eat your cold creations out of, and since you’ve already gone and made ice cream from scratch, why not treat yourself to a fresh cone too? The store-bought versions have nothing on a warm waffle, and with this little press, you can makes ’em in both cone and bowl form, thanks to the included attachments. Plus, it can be stored vertically to save space in your cabinet when not in use. 

“This is a game changer for gluten-free friends,” shared a wheat watcher. “I used the recipe that comes in the instruction manual with my regular gluten-free mix. The cones turned out like ice cream shop-quality. Even my non-gluten-free friends loved it. In just three minutes, you have a nice cone … I imagine, of course, it works just as well with regular flour.”

Now, not all ice cream-serving tools are created equal. I prefer this style because it helps soften ice cream while you scoop via the warmth from your hands. The shape allows you to get a nice, round ball of ice cream, which makes for very aesthetically pleasing sundaes. Oh, and you don’t have to worry about wearing out your fingers by pressing down on a lever to release. I got mine from my favorite ice cream shop in New York City, and if it’s good enough for the pros, it’s good enough for me. 

“My son bought me this ice cream scoop when he saw me struggling with another style and realized that my arthritis was causing me a lot of pain,” wrote a pleased parent. “This one is fantastic — no pain! I’m giving this to my friends as they reach 70, whether they have arthritis or not; it’s a beautiful design and scoops exceptionally well.”

Want to keep your ice cream from melting too quickly? These thoughtfully designed vessels boast double-wall insulation to keep things cold so you can savor the sweetness longer. Because they’re made of stainless steel, they’re virtually indestructible — and once winter rolls around? They’ll keep soup hot too.

“I bought these bowls for my ice cream-loving husband,” said a thoughtful spouse. “Not only does the ice cream not melt quickly, his hands don’t get cold from holding the bowl. He has repeatedly commented that these were the best birthday present he’s ever received! If you love ice cream, or know someone who does, these are a must-buy!”

In the (rare) event that you have leftover ice cream, you can use this adorable duo to store it in the freezer until your next craving strikes. The reusable tubs hold a quart each and come in different colors so it’s easier to tell the vanilla from the butter pecan. Since they’re microwave-safe, you can also use them for storing and heating up hot foods. 

“These containers keep homemade ice cream fresh,” declared a satisfied stockpiler. “I have not had a problem with ice crystals forming. The silicone lid is easy to put on and take off, even when cold. The container base is sturdy and easy to clean. I’ve used these for about four years and have not had any issues. In my opinion these are the best containers on the market for homemade ice cream and I will buy them again .

Can’t forget the toppings! Rainbow sprinkles are the way to go, if you ask me. I try to avoid artificial food coloring when I can, and these plant-based sprinkles are plenty vibrant — they’ll liven up any dessert you make this summer. Plus, I love how their crunchier texture contrasts with smooth ice cream.