Vegan Soft Serve at Home? These Machines Make It Easy

Is there ever a wrong time to eat soft serve? That was a rhetorical question, but we’ll answer it anyway: no. With its silky, creamy texture, soft serve is perfect for cooling down during the summer or cozying up in the winter. It’s happiness in a cone (or a bowl, depending on your serving preference).

RELATED: These Ice Cream Makers Turn Any Kitchen Into a Scoop Shop

Sure, there are plenty of places to buy soft serve (you can find our guide to the best vegan soft serve in the US here), but it’s often easier and more rewarding to make it from scratch. When you DIY, you can also boost the nutrition by adding extra fruits, nuts, or dark chocolate, making your treat both healthy and indulgent. What’s not to love?

To make delicious soft serve at home, you’ll need the right machine. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best soft serve models on the market. Each one has strong reviews, so you can feel confident you’re getting great value for your money.

• Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Ice Cream and Soft Serve Maker ($324.99)
• HiCOZY F3 Slushie Machine & Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine ($399.99)
• Yonanas Classic Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Maker ($49.99)
• Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine ($198.96)
• ASTRALSHIP Slushie Machine ($209.99)

1 Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Ice Cream and Soft Serve Maker ($324.99)

Ninja’s Creami ice cream makers are among the most popular models on the market, and for good reason. They’re user-friendly, efficient, and can transform nearly any ingredient into a tasty dessert. For great soft serve, opt for one of the brand’s Scoop & Swirl models. This version includes six additional soft serve programs, and customers say that while it’s slightly noisy, it’s easy to clean, offers a wide variety of settings, and makes soft serve that rivals anything you’d get from a store.
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2 HiCOZY F3 Slushie Machine & Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine ($399.99)

HiCozy’s F3 machine is another great option for anyone who loves soft serve. Equipped with iWhirl Technology and a one-touch control panel, it’s easy to use and produces velvety soft serve, milkshakes, and smoothies. Customers say the model is efficient and quiet, and can turn out quality soft serve in about 30 minutes. It’s a bit more expensive than the Creami, but many say it rivals Ninja’s popular model in both performance and overall results.
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3Yonanas Classic Frozen Fruit Soft Serve Maker ($49.99)

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, this model from Yonanas can still deliver good-quality soft serve at a much lower price. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of pricier machines, but customers are generally pleased with how easy it is to use. Simply add your favorite fruit and enjoy homemade sorbets and soft serve. Craving Dole Whip? Just pop in some pineapple and let it work its magic.
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4 Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine ($198.96)

If you love soft serve and want to invest in a machine but aren’t quite ready for Ninja Creami or HiCozy prices, Cuisinart’s soft serve ice cream maker is a great option. It can make up to 1.5 quarts of soft serve in as little as 20 minutes, and it also works for sorbets, frozen yogurt, and frozen drinks. Customers are happy with its performance, noting that it’s easy to use, delivers silky-smooth soft serve, and is especially fun for parties. One drawback is that, like many bulkier soft serve machines, it does take up a fair amount of counter space, so just make sure you have enough storage space before you take the plunge.
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5 ASTRALSHIP Slushie Machine ($209.99)

Astralship’s Slushie Machine was once just for slushies (hence the name), but it’s since been upgraded with a new soft serve function, complete with a removable star-shaped nozzle for that classic swirl. It’s fast and quiet to use, and can also make frappes, milkshakes, and juices, depending on what you’re in the mood for. Customers say it’s a solid option for the price, looks sleek on the countertop, and is easy to set up and operate.
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