I Finally Bought the Cuisinart Soft Serve Machine, and I’ll Never Eat Store-Bought Ice Cream Again

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It’s perfect for summer.

Food & Wine / Madison Woiten

Anyone who knows me knows I have a sweet tooth — in fact, I usually eat dessert twice a day, once after lunch and again after dinner. And while I’ll happily eat up a box of cookies or dig into a chocolate cake if I’m presented with one, ice cream is my greatest love. The jingle of the Mister Softee truck is like a siren song during sweltering summer days, and I find it almost impossible to pass by one without stopping for my requisite chocolate-vanilla twist.

In past years, I’ve tried my hand at homemade ice cream using various methods, but I’ve never found a way to replicate the light, airy texture of my favorite soft serve. That is, until now. I tried Cuisinart’s ice cream machine that makes soft serve in as little as 20 minutes, and now I’m never going back to store-bought.

Amazon

This ice cream maker is so easy to use. It took me less than five minutes to assemble after taking it out of the box and it was ready to use as soon as the interior bowl was frozen. All I have to do to use it is place the bowl in the freezer for 16 to 24 hours, pour in my base, and wait for the machine to work its magic. It churns batches in just 20 minutes, according to the brand, but I’ve found I can cut that time nearly in half if I pre-freeze my base for about 10 minutes.

If I could create the perfect ice cream maker, this would be it — and not just because of how quickly it works. I also love that the appliance allows me to customize each bite with my favorite mix-ins and toppings. The top of the machine features three small compartments that I can fill with crushed Oreos, mini M&Ms, sprinkles, and other delicious toppings. It even comes with a condiment chute that directs the toppings to the bowl or cone, which helps me avoid making a huge mess.

Thanks to the machine’s smart design, I can dispense ice cream and toppings at the same time, so the pieces get mixed in with the base rather than just sitting on the top of my swirl. Best of all, the base features a mini hot plate and metal cup, which are perfect for warming up chocolate, caramel, and hot fudge to drizzle on top. It even has a retractable cone compartment.

This ice cream maker features a window that lets me monitor my ice cream as it churns, so I can always achieve my desired texture. So far, I’ve only used mine to make basic soft serve, but according to the brand, the machine can also make frozen yogurt, sorbet, sherbet, and even milkshakes. I plan to spend my summer perfecting all of them.

While my favorite trucks still have their allure when I’m out in the summer sun, I’ve found myself passing them by to save my appetite until I get to the best new ice cream shop in town — my own kitchen. Soft serve ice cream is the most delicious way to beat the summer heat, and the Cuisinart Mix It In machine makes it easier than ever to customize my perfect batch. Head to Amazon to snag yours today.

Amazon

At the time of publishing, the price was $170.