The Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker (ICE-70P1) is the best ice cream maker for most households. It offers a large traditional batch size, automatic controls, and dedicated ice cream, gelato, and sorbet settings. But it uses a freezer bowl, so you must plan ahead. For a self-chilling machine, choose the Breville Smart Scoop; for a wider range of frozen treats, choose the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe.
For most households, the best ice cream maker is the Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker (ICE-70P1). It combines a relatively large batch size with automatic controls, dedicated ice cream, gelato, and sorbet settings, and a straightforward freezer-bowl design. The catch is important: you must freeze the bowl ahead of time.
That requirement separates it from the Breville Smart Scoop, which has a built-in compressor, and from the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, which processes individual frozen bases rather than churning a liquid mixture in the traditional way. The right choice depends less on a single test score than on how you want to prepare dessert.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11| Pick | Machine type | Capacity or format | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart Cool Creations ICE-70P1 | Freezer bowl | 2 quarts | Most households and larger traditional batches | Bowl must be frozen in advance |
| Cuisinart ICE-21P1 | Freezer bowl | 1.5 quarts | Value shoppers and occasional users | Smaller capacity and advance planning |
| Breville Smart Scoop BCI600 | Compressor | Traditional churned desserts | Spontaneous batches and repeated use | Higher price than freezer-bowl models |
| Ninja CREAMi Deluxe NC501B | Frozen-treat processor | Pre-frozen containers | Variety, mix-ins, and single-serve experimentation | Not the same workflow as a conventional churner |
| KitchenAid KICA0WH | Stand-mixer attachment | Up to 2 quarts | People who already own a compatible KitchenAid mixer | Requires a compatible mixer and a frozen bowl |
| GreenPan Frost | Built-in chiller | Frozen desserts and drinks | Soft serve, slushies, and frozen beverages | Broader appliance, not a direct substitute for every churner |
Best overall: Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker
The Cuisinart Cool Creations 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker is the strongest all-purpose recommendation. Good Housekeeping named the ICE-70P1 its Best Overall after testing more than 25 ice cream makers, evaluating factors including texture, taste, noise, setup, cleaning, and controls.
Cuisinart lists a 2-quart capacity, automatic operation, dedicated settings for ice cream, gelato, and sorbet, an LCD countdown timer, automatic shutoff, an ingredient spout, and an included recipe book. Those features make it a sensible conventional machine for families or anyone who expects to make frozen desserts regularly without paying compressor-model prices.
#1 Best Overall
- 2 QTS. IN 1 CHURN — The family-batch churner delivers enough for everyone to scoop without negotiating. The 2-quart double-insulated freezer bowl churns a full round in one go, including seconds and leftovers. Make up to 2 quarts per batch for family dessert nights.
- AUTOMATIC CHURNING: The heavy-duty motor handles the churning for homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, or frozen drinks. Choose recipes that yield up to 2 quarts of finished dessert.
- THE SPOUT STAYS OPEN FOR MIX-INS — Add chocolate chips or finely chopped mix-ins through the ingredient spout during the final five minutes of churning. Enjoy soft-serve texture in as little as 25 min. from a pre-frozen bowl. Simply pre-freeze the bowl and allow about 24 hours for the bowl to freeze completely. Then, turn the power dial and let your ice cream machine do the rest.
- FROZEN DESSERTS AT FAMILY SCALE — Make ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, and frozen drinks with one simple appliance. With no electronics to learn, this frozen yogurt machine offers a perfect capacity-to-simplicity ratio. The 2-quart capacity gives you ½ quart more capacity than a 1.5-quart model.
- EASY CLEAN-UP WITH COMPACT STORAGE — The bowl, lid, and paddle rinse clean by hand, while the brushed stainless steel and plastic base wipes down easily. Push unused cord into the base for storage. Food-contact materials are BPA-free, and the machine includes a limited 3-year warranty.
It is still a freezer-bowl machine. Before churning, the bowl needs to be frozen, and it must fit in your freezer. That means it is not the best option for an unplanned batch unless the bowl is already cold and ready. Cuisinart lists replacement lids, paddles, and freezer bowls for the model, which is useful for long-term ownership and repairability.
Why choose it
- Largest capacity among the main freezer-bowl recommendations in this guide.
- Dedicated programs for ice cream, gelato, and sorbet.
- Automatic operation with a countdown timer and shutoff.
- Traditional churning workflow without the cost and weight of a compressor appliance.
What to consider first
Do not buy it if you have no practical place to freeze the bowl. Also remember that a machine’s stated capacity does not eliminate the need to leave room for expansion while the mixture churns. For a household that makes only occasional small batches, the ICE-21P1 may be the more economical choice.
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Best value: Cuisinart ICE-21P1
The Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 is the simpler pick for occasional users. Cuisinart lists a 1.5-quart capacity, a double-insulated freezer bowl, a large ingredient spout, and a mixing paddle designed to make frozen treats in 20 minutes or less.
Its appeal is uncomplicated operation: freeze the bowl, add the prepared base, start the machine, and add ingredients through the spout. It is a good fit when the lower purchase price matters more than maximum capacity or immediate, back-to-back batches.
The trade-off is the same freezer-bowl limitation as the ICE-70P1, with less capacity. You need freezer space and advance preparation, and you cannot expect the same spontaneity as a self-chilling compressor machine.
Best compressor machine: Breville Smart Scoop
The Breville Smart Scoop BCI600 is the clearest choice for people who do not want to freeze a bowl ahead of time. Its built-in chilling system lets the machine cool itself, making it better suited to spontaneous desserts and multiple batches in one session.
Breville describes 12 hardness settings covering sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato, and ice cream. It also offers pre-cool, manual and automatic operation, and a keep-cool function that maintains the dessert for up to three hours.
That convenience comes at a substantial price premium over freezer-bowl models. The Smart Scoop makes the most sense for frequent users, households that make several flavors at once, or cooks who value repeatable settings more than a lower upfront cost. If you make ice cream only a few times a year, the compressor may be unnecessary.
Best for frozen-treat variety: Ninja CREAMi Deluxe
The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe NC501B is best understood as a versatile frozen-treat processor, not simply a traditional ice cream churner in a different shape. You freeze a prepared base in the designated container first; the machine then processes it into the selected texture.
Ninja lists 11 programs, including ice cream, sorbet, gelato, Italian ice, slushi, frozen yogurt, and frozen drinks. That range makes the Deluxe especially attractive to people who want to experiment with different formats, incorporate mix-ins, or prepare smaller portions rather than make one large churned batch.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe workflow is its defining trade-off. It does not provide the same “pour in a liquid base and churn it immediately” experience as a conventional ice cream maker, and freezing the base remains part of the process. Choose it for format variety and experimentation, not because you expect it to behave exactly like the Cuisinart or Breville.
Rank #2
- SUPERIOR FUNCTION: This Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine makes delicious frozen treats in as little as 20 minutes.
- CAPACITY: Create 2 quarts of your favorite ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, or sorbet with this ice cream machine.
- MUST-HAVE FEATURES: LCD screen, 3 settings with multiple speeds, and a countdown timer with auto shutoff make for an easy-to-use homemade ice cream maker and frozen yogurt maker machine.
- INCLUDED: The Cuisinart ice cream machine includes a lid with an ingredient spout and integrated measuring cup for easy pour with less spill and online recipes.
- LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: The BPA-free Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine comes with a limited 3-year warranty.
Best for KitchenAid owners: KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment
The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment KICA0WH is worth considering when you already own a compatible KitchenAid stand mixer. It uses the mixer as its motor and can make up to 2 quarts of ice cream, gelato, or sorbet, so you do not need another standalone motorized appliance.
The bowl must be frozen for 24 hours before use. Compatibility is not universal: KitchenAid’s guidance excludes the Artisan Mini 3.5-quart model and certain KPM5 bowl-lift models. Check your exact mixer model before purchasing; “KitchenAid stand mixer” alone is not enough to establish compatibility.
This attachment is most sensible when you already have the mixer, adequate freezer space, and a preference for storing one less appliance. If you do not own a compatible mixer, buying the attachment plus a stand mixer is unlikely to be the economical alternative to a dedicated ice cream maker.
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Adjacent option for soft serve and frozen drinks: GreenPan Frost
GreenPan Frost belongs in a slightly different category. GreenPan describes it as a frozen-treat machine with a built-in chiller that can make frozen desserts in as little as 15 minutes without freezer-bowl preparation. Its broader appeal is the ability to handle soft serve and frozen drinks as well as ice cream-style desserts.
Choose Frost when slushies, frozen beverages, and soft serve are central to what you want to make. If your goal is simply classic churned ice cream, the Cuisinart or Breville recommendations are more focused comparisons. Availability, price, and stock should be checked before publication or purchase because those details change.
How to choose the right type of ice cream maker
Choose a freezer-bowl machine if price and simplicity come first
Freezer-bowl machines such as the Cuisinart ICE-70P1 and ICE-21P1 are the conventional choice for people who have freezer space and can plan ahead. They are generally easier to understand as a workflow: freeze the bowl, chill the base, churn, and then harden the finished dessert if desired.
The compromise is preparation time. The bowl must be fully frozen before churning, and storing it in the freezer can consume meaningful space. Keep the bowl frozen between uses only if your freezer has room and the manufacturer permits that storage arrangement.
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A compressor machine chills its own bowl or chamber. That removes the separate bowl-freezing step and makes consecutive batches more practical. The Breville Smart Scoop adds automatic hardness settings and a keep-cool function.
Expect to pay more and dedicate more counter or cabinet space to the appliance. Compressor convenience is difficult to justify for an occasional user, but it can be valuable when advance planning is the main reason you rarely make frozen desserts.
Choose a frozen-treat processor if variety matters more than traditional churning
The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe suits readers who want ice cream alongside sorbet, gelato, Italian ice, slushies, frozen yogurt, and frozen drinks. Its pre-freezing workflow also makes it natural to prepare several containers ahead of time and process them when needed.
Do not compare it solely by the advertised container size with a 1.5- or 2-quart churner. The machines process frozen bases differently, and serving size, preparation schedule, and desired texture all affect which format is more convenient.
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- MADE FOR BEGINNERS — The Cuisinart ice cream maker machine for beginners who want real churned ice cream from one switch and refuse turning dessert into a project. Start with a fully frozen bowl and chilled mixture, then use one-switch operation to churn your own frozen treats.
- ONE SWITCH SIMPLICITY — Flip the switch and the double-insulated freezer bowl churns ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet the traditional way. The motor rotates the freezer bowl while the paddle mixes and aerates the ingredients.
- MIX-INS THROUGH THE SPOUT — The easy-lock transparent lid has a large ingredient spout, so chocolate chips, fruit, and candy drop into the churn at the right moment without lifting the lid or stopping the batch.
- DESSERT ON DEMAND — Frozen treats churn in as little as 20 minutes when using a pre-frozen bowl, fast enough to start at dinner and serve at movie time. Features all BPA-free parts, 1.5 qt. batch scale, and a 3-year warranty.
- EASY PREP AND CLEAN-UP — The double-insulated freezer bowl typically needs 16 to 24 hours in the freezer before churning. Hand-wash the bowl. The lid and paddle are top rack dishwasher safe and the base easily wipes clean. The BPA-free parts come apart in seconds, and the plastic housing base wipes down easily.
Choose an attachment only if you have the right mixer
A stand-mixer attachment can save space and avoid purchasing a second motor, but only when the existing mixer is compatible. Verify the model and bowl configuration before ordering, then account for the attachment’s 24-hour bowl-freezing requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Questions to answer before buying
- How much freezer space do you have? A freezer-bowl machine and the KitchenAid attachment need room for a large bowl. The CREAMi requires space for its prepared containers. A compressor machine avoids bowl pre-freezing but still requires storage space.
- How often will you make dessert? Occasional users should favor a simpler freezer-bowl model. Frequent users may benefit from the Breville’s self-chilling design.
- Do you need one large batch or several flavors? The ICE-70P1’s 2-quart format favors larger traditional batches. The CREAMi Deluxe is more naturally suited to variety and experimentation.
- Do you want classic ice cream only? If so, prioritize a conventional churner. If you also want slushies, frozen drinks, or soft serve, consider a broader appliance such as GreenPan Frost.
- Are you buying an attachment? Confirm the exact KitchenAid mixer model, particularly if it is an Artisan Mini or a bowl-lift model.
- How much preparation are you willing to do? Every category involves some planning: freezing a bowl, chilling a base, freezing a CREAMi container, or assembling a compatible attachment. The difference is where that planning occurs.
Accessories, replacement parts, and recipes
Before choosing a machine, check whether the manufacturer still lists the parts most likely to matter over time. Cuisinart lists replacement lids, paddles, and freezer bowls for the ICE-70P1. Replacement-part availability is worth checking for the ICE-21P1 and Breville as well, especially if the machine will be used frequently. Inventory can vary by country and can change over time.
A physical recipe book can be more useful than another accessory if you are new to frozen desserts. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home includes 100 recipes for ice creams, yogurts, and sorbets. Use recipes designed for your machine’s capacity and follow the appliance instructions for maximum fill levels and processing times.
How the editorial testing was conducted
Good Housekeeping reports that its Kitchen & Cooking Lab has tested more than 25 ice cream makers. Its cited roundup says testers made vanilla ice cream and peach sorbet, assessing smoothness, thickness, taste, noise, setup, cleaning, and controls. Batches were sampled immediately and again after overnight freezing.
Those observations belong to Good Housekeeping’s testing process; they should not be read as independent hands-on testing conducted for this guide. Product prices, stock, retailer listings, editorial award labels, replacement-part inventory, and KitchenAid compatibility should all be verified at publication time.
Our verdict
Buy the Cuisinart Cool Creations ICE-70P1 if you want the broadest, most conventional recommendation: a 2-quart capacity, automatic controls, and multiple dessert settings at a position below premium compressor machines. Choose the Cuisinart ICE-21P1 to spend less, the Breville Smart Scoop to avoid freezer-bowl preparation, the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe for frozen-treat variety, and the KitchenAid KICA0WH only when you own a compatible stand mixer. Treat GreenPan Frost as an adjacent soft-serve and frozen-drink option rather than an automatic replacement for a traditional churner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ice cream maker for most people?
The Cuisinart Cool Creations ICE-70P1 is the best overall choice for most households. It offers a 2-quart capacity, automatic operation, and dedicated ice cream, gelato, and sorbet settings. Its main limitation is the need to freeze the bowl ahead of time.
What is the difference between a freezer-bowl and compressor ice cream maker?
A freezer-bowl machine must have its bowl frozen before churning. A compressor machine chills itself and can generally be used without that separate pre-freezing step. Compressor models are more convenient but usually cost more.
Is the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe a traditional ice cream maker?
No. The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe processes a previously frozen base in a container. It offers programs for several frozen treats and drinks, but its workflow differs from a traditional machine that churns a liquid base.
Will the KitchenAid ice cream attachment fit any KitchenAid mixer?
Check KitchenAid’s compatibility guidance for your exact mixer. The official guidance excludes the Artisan Mini 3.5-quart model and certain KPM5 bowl-lift models. The attachment’s bowl must also be frozen for 24 hours.
The Bottom Line
Best overall: Cuisinart Cool Creations ICE-70P1. It is the strongest general-purpose choice for a relatively large traditional batch, provided you have freezer space to pre-freeze its bowl. Choose the ICE-21P1 for value, Breville Smart Scoop for compressor convenience, Ninja CREAMi Deluxe for format variety, and KitchenAid KICA0WH only with a confirmed compatible mixer.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
