The Top Alternatives to Ninja Swirl
Best Overall Option
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine (1.5 quart) – $69.95 (save $20)
Best Enhanced Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine (2 quart) – $129.95
Best Stand Mixer Ice Cream Attachment
KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment – $79.95 (save $40.04 + receive a $4 Amazon credit)
Best from Ninja
Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker – $166 (save $33)
Best Affordable Ice Cream Maker
Dash Deluxe Gelato & Ice Cream Maker – $59.99
Let’s be real, ice cream is vital in our lives. Can you picture a balmy summer night without enjoying a bowl as dessert? It simply doesn’t make sense. Whether it’s relishing a banana split after a significant achievement, adding a scoop to warm pie, or indulging in a pint right from the freezer: these are all delightful experiences. But if you’re not keen on spending top dollar at your local artisan ice cream shop or watching your ice cream melt during the ride home, why not create it yourself?
Incorporating an ice cream maker into your kitchen gadgets will never let you down. Crafting ice cream at home provides limitless flavor options while catering to any dietary needs. Go dairy-free, gluten-free, or nut-free while designing your personal flavors to your preferred level of sweetness.
We genuinely adore the Ninja Swirl (and the Ninja Creami as well). The Ninja Swirl earned a prestigious Mashable Choice award from Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than stepping out on a late summer evening to treat myself to a cone of soft serve. It’s something you can’t replicate at home, unlike a pint of ice cream you purchase at the grocery store. But now, with the Ninja Swirl, I don’t need to go out for soft serve,” Mangino stated in her review.
However, we’re not fans of the cost, and the top Ninja Swirl alternatives provide a more budget-friendly option for your homemade ice cream cravings.
While the Ninja Swirl can produce both soft serve and hard, scoopable ice cream, the $348 price is daunting. The device is often out of stock and rarely found on discount. Mangino also points out that it occupies a substantial amount of space on your kitchen counter.
With National Ice Cream Day approaching on Sunday, July 20, why not treat yourself to an ice cream maker that will offer endless pleasure and a cooling dessert? Here are some of our preferred Ninja Swirl alternatives that might suit your kitchen and wallet better.
Best Overall Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine (1.5 quart) – $69.95 at Amazon (Save $20)
What we appreciate: The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine consistently produces outstanding ice cream, delivering 1.5 quarts of perfection each time. This versatile appliance can create ice cream, sorbet, gelato, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and even frozen beverages. All for under $90, it embodies the quintessential summer treat-maker that sticks to a pocket-friendly price. This model is currently available for under $70 at Amazon.
Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Werth shares, “This is the ice cream maker my mom has relied on for years, and it’s fantastic. I highly suggest finding a good chocolate malt recipe and making a pint with your mom.” You can whip up ice cream in 20 minutes or less with this maker. Simply pour in the ingredients through the feeding spout, press the “on” button, and let the powerful motor and mixing paddle handle the churning. Cuisinart even provides a recipe book to kickstart your creativity, though a key advantage of making ice cream at home is crafting your own unique creations.
Best Upgraded Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine (2 quart) – $129.95 at Williams & Sonoma
What we appreciate: Capable of producing four pints with every batch, the 2-quart Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine is ideal for entertaining a group or a family that enjoys Friday night ice cream gatherings. It operates with a straightforward on-off dial and a double-insulated freezer bowl to yield perfect ice cream in under 30 minutes. If ice cream isn’t your preference, this machine can also create frozen drinks, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or gelato. Just add all your favorite ingredients (or follow a recipe from the included inspiration book) and start the machine. When it’s time to clean up, you’ll appreciate how easily the freezer bowl detaches. Additionally, the