The Best Ice Cream Makers for Making Delicious Frozen Desserts

The nation’s freezers are stocked with more dairy-free ice cream options than ever before. From Ben & Jerry’s to Häagen-Dazs, you can take your pick from delicious, velvety frozen treats every time you head to the store. In fact, in 2023, the global vegan ice cream market was valued at more than $685 million, and it’s expected to keep growing. 

But while it’s undeniably convenient to grab a tub of your favorite dairy-free ice cream when you’re in the grocery store, making your own is arguably more fun. It’s also more creative (you have full control over the ingredients, flavors, and mix-ins and experiment with seasonal fruits, different spices, or even savory ingredients), fresher, and often healthier, too.

When you whip up your own ice cream at home, you can choose high-quality natural ingredients, control the sugar content, add healthy ingredients (like nuts and fresh fruit), and avoid the use of additives, artificial colors, and preservatives. If you’re feeling inspired to start creating your own ice cream concoctions, we’ve found five ice cream makers to get you started below.

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Brilynn Ferguson

Can you use dairy-free milk in an ice cream maker?

Yep, you can definitely use dairy-free milk in an ice cream maker. It doesn’t matter which you prefer, all will work just like cow’s milk. That said, you might want to opt for an extra-creamy option for a better texture. Coconut milk, cashew milk, and almond milk are popular choices for homemade vegan ice cream. You can also increase the fat content of your ice cream by adding nut butters or even avocado.

For flavor and ingredient inspiration, we have plenty of vegan ice cream recipes in our database. There are so many delicious options to choose from, but a few favorites include Dairy-Free Key Lime Pie Ice Cream, Creamy Coconut Cashew Matcha Ice Cream, and Vegan Double-Chocolate Cherry Chunk Ice Cream.

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5 ice cream makers to check out 

Cuisinart

1 Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine, $69.95

This model from Cuisinart features a new patent-pending mixing paddle, which, according to the brand, means it can whip up your favorite frozen desserts, including sorbet and frozen yogurt, in just 20 minutes (or less!). It’s easy to use thanks to the wide feeding spout and can hold around six one-cup servings in the double-insulated freezer bowl. Reviewers say it’s “easy to assemble, use, and clean” and it “churns effectively without human help.”
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2 Hamilton Beach Electric Automatic Ice Cream Maker & Frozen Yogurt Machine, $62.99

With its four-quart capacity, Hamilton Beach’s electric ice cream maker is a great choice for those looking to make enough ice cream to feed the entire family. It’s fast, efficient, and easy to clean, too. Reviewers say it’s “great value,” “beyond superb,” and “as modern an ice cream maker as you need.”
Find it here

3 Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker, $54.99

For a fun, early 1900s-inspired design, check out Nostalgia’s Electric Ice Cream Maker. It has a four-quart capacity, can whip up a frozen dessert in 20 minutes, and comes in several different colors, including Light Wood, Dark Wood, and White Wood. Reviewers say it’s “good quality,” “easy to clean,” and “well-made with good materials.”
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Ninja

4 Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker, $199.99

A little more expensive than others so far on the list, this 800W model from Ninja can make everything from ice cream to milkshakes to sorbet, thanks to the customizable texture settings. According to Ninja, it can transform your ingredients to cream in just “minutes” thanks to its signature Creamerizer Paddle. Reviewers say it’s “impressive,” a “powerhouse,” and “well worth the price.”
Find it here

Dash

5 Dash My Pint Ice Cream Maker Machine, $21.99

If you’re not serious about making your own ice cream yet, you probably don’t want to splash out on an expensive machine. Instead, experiment with this machine from Dash for just over $20. It can make single servings of ice cream in less than 30 minutes, and its compact design means it’s easy to store and clean. Reviewers say it’s “easy to set up” and perfect for making soft-serve and frozen yogurt. 
Find it here

Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.