12 Different Foods You Can Make With An Ice Cream Maker

Making ice cream at home is a game-changer. Not only can you enjoy the freshest ice cream imaginable, but you can control all the ingredients that go into the mix. It’s also fun to come up with all sorts of unique specialty flavors. If you have fun getting creative with this appliance, you’ll be thrilled to learn you can make more than just ice cream with this machine.

In addition to making various flavors of ice cream, you can use your ice cream maker to make other frozen desserts like gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, frozen custard, and sherbet. Ice cream makers can also make delicious frozen drinks, like slushies, frozen cocktails, and specialty frozen coffee beverages or horchata. Use the machine to make acai or smoothie bowls for a healthy frozen treat in the morning.

If you own an ice cream maker or have been on the fence about whether or not you should buy one, keep reading. These machines take up a bit of counter space, but once you learn all the different foods and drinks you can create with one, you might be more inclined to consider it a kitchen essential. Keep reading to learn all the unique and delicious foods and drinks you can make with an ice cream maker.

12 Foods And Drinks You Can Create With An Ice Cream Maker

1. Ice Cream

It should come as no surprise that the number one food you can make with an ice cream maker is ice cream. Not only can ice cream makers create creamy and tasty ice cream, but they can also make just about any flavor you can think of, including dairy-free options.

This is the beauty of the machine — its endless options. If you love coconut ice cream, but they never put enough fresh coconut in it for your liking, then you can fix this when you make your own. Want to try avocado or Earl Grey ice cream? You can make these unique flavors and more with your ice cream maker.

2. Sorbet 

Another popular dessert you can make with an ice cream maker is sorbet. Unlike ice cream, sorbet is fruit and water-based and contains no dairy. This means sorbet is typically dairy-free and vegan, making it a great homemade dessert for those with dietary restrictions. 

You can make this refreshing frozen treat with most fruits, including fruit you grow in the garden. Various berries, including strawberry and raspberry, are popular flavors, as are all types of citrus fruit. If you have a citrus tree, you should try making sorbet with your surplus of fresh fruit.

3. Frozen Yogurt

If you are looking for a healthier version of ice cream that is still creamy and delicious, you’ll be happy to know you can use your ice cream maker to create frozen yogurt. Since frozen yogurt uses yogurt instead of heavy cream as a base, it tends to be lower in fat.

This is great for those trying to lower cholesterol. Sometimes frozen yogurt has more sugar, but you can control this when you make it yourself. You can get just as creative with your frozen yogurt flavors as you can with ice cream. Just keep in mind this dessert tends to have an added tang from the yogurt.

4. Sherbet 

Sherbet is another delicious frozen dessert that is in the same family as ice cream, but has distinct characteristics. Unlike ice cream and frozen yogurt, which are dairy-based, sherbet is primarily made of fruit puree and other flavors. Dairy is secondary, but it helps make it creamy.

It is a great dessert for those who want a fruity dessert that isn’t quite as heavy as an ice cream. It’s also a fun and easy dessert to make with your ice cream maker when you run out of ice cream flavor ideas.

5. Slushies

You can make more than creamy desserts with an ice cream machine. There are also several tasty frozen beverages you can make, including homemade slushies. Newer ice cream makers often have a slush or frozen beverage setting, which makes things easy. 

If not, simply add your mixture into the ice cream maker and turn it on. Keep an eye on the concoction and remove it when it turns to its desired consistency.

Slushies at convenience stores, as refreshing as they might taste, are pumped with dye and artificial ingredients. When you make slushies with an ice cream maker, you can use fresh and natural ingredients.

6. Gelato

While you might not notice a big difference between gelato and ice cream, any dessert chef or Italian can tell you these two products are not the same. Gelato is lower in fat, which makes it more dense, and this also tends to allow the flavors to become more distinct.

If you want a lower fat content in your creamy dessert, give gelato a try. Making your own gelato can be a fun experiment, and it is much cheaper than buying it at a gelateria.

7. Smoothie Or Acai Bowls

Ice cream makers can also be used to get your day off to a healthy start. Smoothie and acai bowls are a delicious frozen way to start your day off in a healthy way. Some people opt to create these breakfasts using a blender, but the consistency can be lumpy or runny.

Instead, use an ice cream maker to create an acai or smoothie bowl with the perfect creamy yet solid consistency. Simply add all your pre-blended cold ingredients to the ice cream maker, and let it churn the mixture into a frozen masterpiece.

8. Frozen Cocktails 

Ice cream makers can even make some of your favorite adult cocktails. Are you a fan of frozen daiquiris and margaritas, but never seem to be able to make them as good as a restaurant? An ice cream maker, especially one with a beverage setting, is the perfect kitchen appliance for making amazing frozen cocktails.

The key is not to add too much liquor, as alcohol doesn't freeze. As long as you follow recipes properly, you can make expert frozen cocktails using your ice cream maker.

9. Specialty Iced Coffee 

If you love a Frappuccino, but don’t like spending close to $10 for a coffee, consider making your own frozen coffee drinks. Using an ice cream maker, you can make coffee slushies that resemble some of your favorite frozen barista beverages. 

Remember that using milk or cream will produce more creamy results. Top these drinks off with a bit of whipped cream, and you might not be able to tell the difference between your drink and the pricey store-bought one.

10. Frozen Custard

Frozen custard is a cold dessert that is wildly popular in certain midwestern states, particularly Wisconsin. But you don’t have to live in this region to enjoy this unique and delicious dessert. You can easily make frozen custard using your ice cream maker.

The key to making a good frozen custard with an ice cream maker is time. Once you mix your custard, allow it plenty of time to cool until it is just above freezing. This will make it much easier for the ice cream maker to turn it from a liquid to a creamy solid.

11. Frozen Horchata

Horchata is a delicious creamy drink that uses rice, nuts, spices, and various seasonings to create a festive beverage that is truly unique. It’s popular around the holidays, but can be enjoyed at any time.

Using your ice cream maker, you can make a frozen horchata that will be a hit at any summer barbecue or taco Tuesday. You can make this an adult beverage by adding rum or Irish cream.

12. Iced Hot Chocolate

One oxymoron of a beverage that has become quite popular in cafes, especially in the summer, is iced hot chocolate. This is a beverage that has all the flavors you love in hot chocolate, but in a smoothie or slush form.

You don’t need to pay a fortune for one of these artisanal frozen beverages either. You can make frozen hot chocolate with your ice cream maker. Make the hot chocolate as the recipe indicates, and then allow it to cool completely in the fridge. Then add the cold mixture to the ice cream maker until it has a smoothie-like texture. 

Summing Up Food You Can Make With An Ice Cream Maker

When you own an ice cream maker, your ice cream flavor options are truly endless. What’s even more exciting is that you can do so much more with this machine than simply make ice cream. 

You can make similar frozen desserts, including sorbet, sherbet, frozen yogurt, gelato, and frozen custard. There are also beverages you can make, including frozen horchata, frozen hot chocolate, and even frozen cocktails like margaritas and daiquiris. For those looking for a healthy option, try acai and smoothie bowls.

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