Ninja’s Swirl ups the ante for ice cream machines by also allowing you to make soft serve or frozen yogurt at home. It normally costs $349.99, but now you can pick one up for $299.99 at Amazon, its lowest price to date. It’s the first time the ice cream maker has gone on sale since it was released in February.
The Swirl is an extension of Ninja’s popular Creami line of ice cream machines, and it works the same way as when making hard-packed ice cream. You prepare your ice cream base, transfer it into one of the included pint containers, freeze the base overnight, and attach the container to the Swirl to churn. If you’re making soft serve or frozen yogurt, you attach the pint container full of your churned base to a nozzle attachment, lock it into place in a slot to the left of the Swirl’s control panel, and pull down on the handle.
Part of the Ninja Swirl’s appeal is that it has all the functions of the Creami, which means it’s compatible with the same recipes, including non-dairy, high protein, and low-calorie variations on the classics. There’s an active community on Reddit that’s constantly experimenting with recipe tweaks, ingredient swaps, and different flavor combinations. If you’re new to ice cream making, it’s helpful to know where to look when you’d like to try something different, or want to accommodate an allergy.
The Ninja Swirl is your best option for making ice cream at home. Cuisinart’s ICE-48 is less expensive, but it can’t make hard-packed ice cream. The Swirl would also make an excellent holiday gift for the adventurous home cook in your life if you want to save money by shopping early.
