9 of the best ice cream makers for that perfect summer scoop

Best for: A brand-new all-in-one dessert maker

New to the market, Tefal’s Dolci ice cream maker is here to make dessert nights a whole lot more exciting. This clever little machine doesn’t just make ice cream – it can do sorbet, gelato, frozen yoghurt, smoothies, milkshakes and even cocktails, all with the press of a button. Its smart 1-Step Perfector technology means you only need one spin for that smooth, creamy texture (no fiddly re-freezing required).

Clean-up is quick thanks to the auto-rinse mode, and the three bowls make it easy to whip up a batch just for yourself or enough to share around. As a sweet bonus, every Dolci comes with three tins of Nesquik (chocolate, strawberry and banana) so you can start experimenting as soon as it arrives.

It’s already winning over early buyers, too. The Dolci holds a 4.6-star rating from 96 reviews, with 91% of reviewers recommending it. Shoppers consistently call out how “easy to use” it is, along with the “perfect texture” results and simple clean-up, with several saying they’re using it weekly, if not more.

Key features:

• Brand-new release with 10 dessert and drink settings
• Available in black and white colours
• Smooth, creamy results in one spin with 1-Step Perfector tech
• Auto-rinse function makes cleaning simple
• Add in your favourite toppings and mix-ins
• Includes three bowls, lids, spoon and 50 digital recipes
• Comes with three bonus Nesquik tins

Also available at:

• $299 (usually $349) from The Good Guys
• $349 from Bing Lee
• $382.46 (usually $449.95) from Myer

Best for: Maintaining the perfect temperature

This innovative ice cream maker claims to be the first to automatically sense the hardness of the mixture based on your selection. As a result, the Breville Smart Scoop can keep your creations at the perfect temperature for up to three hours. 12 hardness settings let you customise every batch, while the Mix-In feature turns ice cream into a canvas – think chocolate chips, fresh fruit, or even your favourite swirls. Prefer total control? Switch to manual mode and play around with your favourite desserts!

“There is absolutely nothing I dislike about this ice cream maker,” said one Australian customer who rated it five stars on Amazon. “The ease of use is incredible, the ice cream and gelato texture is just so good and what makes it so easy to use is it offers an automatic as well as a manual option.”

Key features:

• 12 automatic hardness settings for sorbet, frozen yoghurt, gelato and ice cream
• Pre-cools mixture to the right temperature
• Keeps desserts chilled and churned for up to three hours
• Add mix-ins like chocolate chips or fruit
• Choose from four pre-programmed settings or manual control
• Includes removable bowl, paddle and cleaning brush

Also available at:

• $449 from Bing Lee
• $479 from The Good Guys
• $499 from Breville

Best for: Perfectly personalised ice cream

Whip up creamy ice creams, refreshing sorbets, dreamy milkshakes and more in minutes with the cult-favourite Ninja CREAMi. Seven one-touch programs perfectly balance speed, pressure and timing to transform frozen bases into silky-smooth treats every time, no hand-mixing required. Whether it’s a decadent chocolate gelato, a tropical mango sorbet, or a boozy adult shake, dessert has never been this easy (or indulgent!).

“This ice cream maker is a game changer,” wrote one of 443 reviewers on the Ninja website (currently sold out). “It’s a simple, smooth, effective gadget and very straight forward to use. You make your mix, freeze, churn and scoop. The paddle effectively churns your ice cream base to perfection. The great aspect with the ice cream maker is that you can do a smoothie bowl, gelato, milkshakes and it has seven pre set programmes not just for ice cream. You can also add mix ins and the containers that come with the maker are BPA free.”

Key features:

• Seven pre-set functions
• Creamify technology for smooth, creamy texture
• One-touch programs for easy operation
• Customisable treats: vegan, keto, dairy-free and gluten-free options
• Dishwasher-safe components
• Re-spin function for softer, creamier results

Also available at:

• $299 (usually $399.98) from Amazon
• $349 from The Good Guys
• $349 from Betta
• $359.98 (usually $399.98) from Ninja Kitchen (SOLD OUT)

Best for: Gourmet creamy ice cream

Churn a perfect batch of gourmet creamy ice cream or lush frozen yoghurt every time with Cuisinart ice cream & gelato maker. You also get a specially designed gelato paddle that creates authentic, silky gelato, plus an ice cream paddle for classic creamy scoops.

Shoppers are raving about this machine at Kitchen Warehouse (currently sold out), saying how exciting and easy it is to use. One wrote: “I’ve made some fabulous ice creams and sorbets,” while another said, “Oh why did I wait! Love it, family love it and I’m now taking orders for their own special flavour of ice cream.”

Many reviewers love the simple operation and the ability to make healthier, homemade versions. Several also highlight how easy it is to clean, though a few note it’s important not to overfill the bowl to avoid messes. Impressively, 97 per cent of 408 reviewers gave it a five-star rating.

Key features:

• Fully automated ice cream maker with compressor
• Includes two paddles for making ice cream and gelato
• No need to pre-freeze the bowl
• 60-minute countdown timer with touchpad controls
• 10-minute Keep Cool feature after mixing
• Transparent lid for adding ingredients or checking progress

Also available at:

• $548.29 from Amazon

Best for: Soft serve on demand

If you’ve ever wished you could recreate that perfect swirl cone at home, this is the machine to do it! This brand new machine from Ninja combines the beloved Ninja CREAMi functions with a new soft serve capability, so you can go from classic scoops to silky swirls in minutes. Imagine creamy gelato, fruity sorbets, soft serve sundaes or even high-protein frozen snacks, all at the push of a button. It comes with handy tubs and swirl nozzles so you can dispense directly into cones, bowls or cups (up to four small serves per tub).

The Ninja Swirl already has a 4.5 star rating from over 225 reviews on the Ninja site. One recent customer said: “I use it everyday and am amazed everytime. Some of the foods I didn’t expect to taste so amazing was banana on its own (comes out creamy and like ice cream) and pineapple tin (unbelievable). I am giving an honest review and not endorsed.”

“The quality of the machine is excellent. I’m very happy with it. In winter it might get a break but I intend to use it three seasons in a year.”

Key features:

• Seven classic scoop functions plus soft serve
• Creamify Technology for ultra-smooth texture
• Customise with mix-ins like choc chips, fruit or nuts
• 2 x 470ml tubs with nozzles and storage lids included
• Swirl press dispenser for cone-ready soft serve
• Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free parts for easy cleaning
• Includes 20+ recipe ideas

Also available at:

• $477 (usually $549) from The Good Guys
• $499 (usually $599.99) from Myer
• $499.99 (usually $549.99) from Ninja Kitchen

Best for: Family-sized portions

From a simple vanilla bean ice cream, a tangy mixed berry dream or a more gourmet salted caramel, the possibilities are endless with this machine. Perfect for families or dessert lovers, the generous 2L bowl means there’s plenty to go around, while the double-wall design keeps your mixture cold for faster, smoother churning.

“This ice cream maker did not disappoint,” shared a recent reviewer on the Baccarat website. “We originally purchased this to make non dairy ice cream. It has worked a treat. Now our children can eat ice cream like everyone else. We used almond milk, almond butter or cashew butter, carob powder, peppermint oil and vanilla essence. No sweeteners added. So easy and so yummy. I’ve just ordered a second one so we can make dairy ice cream at the same time. Very happy customer.”

Key features:

• Create gluten-free and dairy-free frozen desserts with your choice of ingredients
• Soft serve ice cream ready in just 20 minutes
• Large 2L capacity for family-sized batches
• Digital control panel for easy operation
• Double wall bowl retains cold longer for faster chilling
• Stainless steel finish is stylish and easy to clean

Also available at:

• $259.99 from MyHouse
• $259.99 from Robins Kitchen
• $259.99 from Big W

Best for: Bigger homemade batches

Planning a sundae bar or just want to keep a tub of homemade ice cream in the freezer at all times? This KitchenAid attachment clicks straight onto your stand mixer, turning it into a frozen dessert powerhouse. The large 1.9-litre bowl can dish out creamy ice cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt in under half an hour, enough to serve a crowd or stockpile for later. The redesigned bowl stays colder for longer, helping you get a smooth, scoopable texture every time.

This attachment has a 4.5 star rating based on over 1.1k reviews on the KitchenAid website. One person shared: “I am completely addicted and cannot stop making ice cream with my ice cream bowl attachment. So easy to use, keep clean and makes perfect ice cream.”

Another said they have owned this attachment for just over a month and have used it twice weekly since purchasing. “It is so easy to use and within 20 minutes I have soft serve home made ice cream. For firmer ice cream you just need to place it in a container in your freezer for a couple of hours.”

Key features:

• Transforms your KitchenAid stand mixer into an ice cream machine
• Makes up to 1.9L of ice cream, gelato, sorbet or frozen yoghurt
• Churns frozen desserts in under 30 minutes (after 16-hour bowl freeze)
• Redesigned bowl keeps mixture colder for longer
• Open bowl design makes it easy to add mix-ins
• Includes bowl, dasher and drive assembly
• Compatible with most tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers (excluding some models)

Also available at:

• $179 (usually $209) from Bing Lee
• $189.95 (usually $209) from Kitchen Warehouse
• $209 from David Jones
• $209 from The Good Guys

Best for: Multi-tasking with your stand mixer

Already own a Kenwood Chef XL? This clever attachment transforms your mixer into a fully functional ice cream and sorbet maker. Simply pop the bowl in the freezer, then churn your mix with the included paddle for smooth, creamy results in as little as 30 minutes. With a one-litre capacity, it’s great for making small-batch desserts without artificial additives – perfect if you prefer natural, homemade treats.

“Very happy with the ice cream attachment,” wrote a five-star reviewer at Bing Lee. “Easy to attach once you read the instructions, carefully.” A second person said: “Awesome machine. Makes yummy ice cream and other desserts.”

Key features:

• Converts your Kenwood Chef XL mixer into a frozen dessert maker
• Makes ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt in 20-30 minutes
• One-litre capacity, great for smaller households
• Freeze bowl before use, then churn and serve straight away
• Choose soft serve style or pop back in the freezer for a firmer texture
• Includes freezer bowl, Kenlyte mixing bowl, paddle and lid
• Easy to clean and lightweight design

Also available at:

• $88 from Amazon

Best for: Saving bench space

Small but mighty, this compact ice cream maker proves you don’t need a big machine to get the best results. Perfect for beginners or experts, it churns ice cream, sorbet and gelato in just 15-30 minutes. With a large 1.5-litre freezer bowl, one-switch operation and non-slip feet, it’s easy to use and it comes with recipe ideas to get your creative flavours flowing!

“Seriously happy with this,” said a Kitchen Warehouse reviewer (currently sold out). “It’s an affordable starter ice cream machine, perfect for people like me who want to try making ice cream but don’t want to splash out the big bucks. I’m having so much fun trying different flavours! It’s really easy to use and churns beautifully creamy ice cream. Absolutely thrilled. Can’t go wrong with this one.”

“Bought a week ago and so far it’s perfect,” wrote another customer. “Instructions are clear, the included recipes work quite well, and the machine does exactly what it says it does. It is a little bit small, so not great for bigger families, but it’s great for myself and partner.”

Key features:

• Compact design
• 1.5L freezer bowl requires at least eight hours of freezing before use
• Easy-to-use with a simple on/off switch and transparent lid to monitor churning
• Non-slip feet for stable operation
• Includes a pouring chute for easy serving
• Made from durable ABS and polypropylene materials