The 8 best ice cream gadgets
Want to know how to make homemade ice cream without getting hot under the collar? We have the scoop on the best kitchen gadgets to keep you cool all summer.
All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more and read about how we write BBC Good Food reviews.
Making your own ice cream is a satisfying endeavour. Not only can you play around with flavours and serving ideas – such as an epic ice cream sandwich or sensational freezer cake – you can swap ingredients and make healthier versions, like our banana & peanut butter ice cream that's made with almond milk and frozen fruit. Then there's the wonderful world of ice lollies to explore. Whatever your frozen treat of choice, there's a dizzying array of ice cream products to help you create your freezer masterpiece. We've picked our top products for ice cream lovers, from inexpensive scoops to fancy equipment. For more, read our full review of ice cream makers.
Kenwood compact ice cream maker
This ice cream maker is fantastic value and has a small kitchen footprint. The machine is simple to assemble and easy to operate. Overall, a good little starter machine. For more, read our full review of the best ice cream makers.
Available from Amazon (£24.99)
Lakeland frozen dessert maker
A revelation for the health-conscious, this machine makes ‘ice cream’ and sorbet from frozen fruit. We tried frozen ripe banana and the taste and texture made it hard to believe that this pud wasn’t packed with double cream and sugar. Frozen berries created a more sorbet-like consistency. Simply freeze the fruit, leave it out for a few minutes then churn it through the grinder for a real treat that’s ready in a flash.
Available from Lakeland (£19.99)
Cuisipro snap-fit rocket pop moulds
These cute little lolly makers can be layered up with soft ice cream and refrozen for maximum effect or simply add a little juice for a no-fuss iced treat. They stand up in the freezer easily and the snap-fit design means you can do as few or as many as you want. We liked the hidden spaceman on the stick, only to be discovered once you’ve eaten your lolly. Perfect for kids! For more, read our full review of the best ice lolly moulds.
BergHoff ice cream scoop
Oh, the horror when you just can’t wait to get stuck into your ice cream, but it's rock solid! You risk damaging your kitchen spoons, however this solid one-piece scoop with a pretty retro-coloured, comfortable handle does the job. It digs in with ease and creates a neat ball, even when faced with a particularly solid mass.
Gourmet Gadgetry vintage ice cream cone & waffle maker
Surely making the cone is a step too far? Not when it can be ready in a couple of minutes. All you need to do is combine a few basic ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs, milk, butter and vanilla), spoon on and this nifty gadget produces beautiful, old-fashioned waffles in no time. Shape them around the roller and you’ve got fresh cones for serving your homemade ice cream. Impressive.
OXO Good Grips ice cream scoop
We’re not fans of overly complicated ice cream scoops, but OXO Good Grips can always be relied on for sturdy, practical utensils. This ice cream scoop doesn’t disappoint, producing a lovely ball of the sweet stuff that’s easy to release. It also comes in handy when serving up that perfectly round scoop to accompany desserts at dinner parties.
Villeroy & Boch La Classica ice cream spoon
If you take your ice cream seriously then a dedicated ice cream spoon isn’t a luxury too far. This beautiful stainless steel utensil from Villeroy & Boch has that satisfying ice cream parlour shape, ideal for shovelling in your favourite flavour but with much better eco credentials than its disposable counterpart. Consider carrying it with you on your next visit!
Available from Villeroy Boch (£12.90)
Unicorn mix sprinkletti
No ice cream is complete without some sprinkles for the finishing touch and this sprinkletti is bang on trend. We’ve gone a little unicorn food crazy here at Good Food, so as a gift to ourselves we’ll be brightening up our ice cream bowls with this edible confetti. Sweet!
Available from Cake Stuff (£3.85)
For more product picks, visit our reviews section.
More on ice cream
The best ice cream makers
The best ice lolly moulds
How to make ice cream video
10 ways with ice cream sandwiches
Easiest ever banana ice cream video
Our top ice cream recipes
Tips for making perfect ice cream
This review was last updated in December 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Have you stumbled across an amazing ice cream gadget that you have to tell the world about? Leave a comment below...
Comments, questions and tips
