1Cuisinart Ice Cream Deluxe maker
Homemade ice cream tastes better than almost anything from a tub, and this machine makes it easy. Freeze the bowl overnight, pour in the mix and it churns up to 2 litres of ice cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt in about 25 minutes. Mix-ins go in through the lid while it churns, and the bowl, lid and paddle come apart for washing.
Pros
- Makes up to 2 litres.
- Ready in about 25 minutes.
- Add mix-ins while it churns.
Cons
- The bowl needs freezing the night before.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Cuisinart UK product page ↗
2Zeroll Original ice cream scoop
Rock-hard ice cream bends cheap scoops. The Zeroll has a heat-conducting fluid sealed in the handle that uses the warmth of the hand, so it glides through and releases cleanly. It's one solid piece of aluminium with nothing to break, made in the USA.
Pros
- Glides through hard ice cream.
- Nothing to break.
- Made in the USA.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Zeroll product page ↗
3Tovolo Glide-A-Scoop tub
Homemade ice cream needs a good home in the freezer. Tovolo's tub has insulated double walls to fight freezer burn, an airtight lid and a long shape that makes scooping easy. Tubs stack neatly too.
Pros
- Keeps ice cream fresher.
- Easy-scoop shape.
- Stacks in the freezer.
Cons
- Holds 1.5 quarts, so a big batch needs two.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Tovolo product page ↗
4Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker
The Ninja CREAMi works differently from a churn. They freeze a tub of mix overnight, then the machine spins it into ice cream, gelato or sorbet in a few minutes. It has seven programmes, handles low-sugar and dairy-free recipes, and stirs in chocolate chips or nuts. Three tubs come in the box, so they can keep several flavours on the go.
Pros
- Seven programmes, from gelato to milkshakes.
- Good for low-sugar and dairy-free recipes.
- Three tubs included.
Cons
- Each tub needs freezing for a day first.
- Loud while it runs.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Ninja UK product page ↗
5Hello, My Name Is Ice Cream by Dana Cree
Dana Cree is an award-nominated pastry chef who explains the science behind ice cream, so readers understand how sugar and air change the texture. Then come more than 100 recipes, from classic vanilla to sherbets, frozen yoghurt and clever mix-ins.
Pros
- Explains the science simply.
- Over 100 recipes.
- Great mix-in ideas.
Cons
- More technical than a basic recipe book.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Clarkson Potter product page ↗
What to buy someone who loves ice cream
Ice cream lovers who already buy plenty of tubs often love the idea of making their own. The best gifts for ice cream lovers are a home ice cream maker, a proper scoop and a good recipe book. Check they have freezer space for a bowl. A scoop makes a perfect small gift.
How we picked these gifts for ice cream lovers
We picked each product for what ice cream lovers enjoy and because it makes sense as a present. The order is our own choice. The pros and cons come from published product details, not customer reviews.
Amazon shows the current price and delivery. Where we've checked that the US listing is the same product, the US link goes there. Otherwise you'll get the UK listing, labelled as such. More about our research.
