I tried the new Ninja Creami Swirl that users are calling 'a dessert game changer' - Here's my honest review

Daily Mail​

22-05-2025

Imagine a world where ice cream was at the tips of your fingers 24/7... Well, you don't have to because thanks to Ninja the dream has become reality.
The viral Ninja Creami ice cream maker has been a hot ticket item since its launch in July of 2021, with millions of shoppers flocking to try it. But, if you thought the delectable Creami machine was good, wait till you try its new partner in crime— the Ninja Swirl.
Ninja® CREAMi® Swirl 13-in-1 Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine
Serve up a good time with the kitchen appliance that is changing dessert forever.
Back in July 2021 the original Ninja Creami was launched but fans have a whole new way to enjoy this summer with the Ninja Creami Swirl!
This innovative device makes delectable pints of scoopable ice cream, sorbet, Fro-Yo, and more instantly — and even soft serve.
$350 Shop
Launched in February 2025, the new Ninja Creami Swirl is an ice cream innovation like no other. Taking after its big sis, the Ninja Creami, this device makes perfectly smooth ice cream at the touch of a button but with a twist (literally!).
I decided to take the wildly hyped kitchen appliance for a test drive myself to see if it lived up to not only its proceeding fame but the proven track record of its original iteration.
As a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur, I of course tested the Ninja Creami in 2021. Although it certainly did make delicious ice cream, I can't say I was blown away. However, I went in with high hopes for the new and noticeably larger Swirl.
HOW I TESTED
I started my Ninja Creami Swirl test the same way I would normally use the Creami, by creating a vanilla ice cream base in one of the Ninja Pints to freeze overnight. Both version of the machine come with an included recipe book for ease which I truly appreciated.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Shopping Finder US (@shoppingfinderus)
The only major difference I noticed during this stage was unlike the other machine's pints, these had a notable protruding nozzle for connecting to the soft serve port later on (but it caused no change in prep time!).
There is a reason the Ninja Creami Swirl is blowing up on social media, and it's due to its 13 different modes. You can make ice cream, gelato, milkshakes, and now even soft serve. The original iteration of the machine in its deluxe form only has 11 modes leaving out soft serve, custard, etc.
I prepped by vanilla ice cream on the 'soft serve' mode which roughly takes four minutes of mix time (nearly identical to the timing of the original Creami). To get the full effect I decided to also do a mix-in of Lucky Charms!
What I found exciting was this feature still functioned the same way for soft serve dispensing as it had in the pint version from the original Creami. My mix came out seriously seamless in just one minute too!
Of course, the real test came at the dispensing time. The Ninja Swirl is known for one major thing and it's the handle dispenser. Surprisingly, despite my worries, setting up the soft serve function was easy as pie. All I had to do was take my blended pint, snap it into the port on the front of the machine, pull the lever to dispense — and enjoy! (No, seriously, it was that simple!).
At first bite I definitely noticed there was a more 'melty' consistency, unlike the typical thicker blend of the Ninja Creami modes. I enjoyed the fact that the soft serve feature truly MADE soft serve right down to the texture — it made the legitimacy of the overall machine more solid for me.
PROS
Growing up in Vermont, my summer traditions consisted of visiting 'Cremee' stands (aka soft-serve but better!), and thanks to the Ninja Creami Swirl, I now have a way to bring home to me even in New York City. Users online said it was, 'a dessert game changer,' and now I seriously see why.
The pros were clear to me from the first use: experience, flavor, and clean-up.
As someone who deeply enjoys a sweet treat after dinner I found the Ninja Swirl exciting, fun, and downright delicious! The process is an activity in itself and the clean-up is near to none (at least for a single adult whom lives alone).
CONS
All in all I do not have any major complaints against the Ninja Swirl other than cost. There is no denying that at $350, this device is not cheap.
The cons? Price and size. The Ninja Swirl is significantly larger than the Ninja Creami and heavier, making it a device that is much less moveable. If you struggle with counter space this device is NOT for you (let's just say I had to say goodbye to some beloved mugs to make this work!).
Furthermore, the price as it stands now for some may not be that worth it. The only thing the original lacks is a soft serve dispenser and the modes that come with it otherwise the two are identical.
IS IT WORTH IT?
At first, I was intimidated by just how many modes there were on the Ninja Swirl, but after a few uses, it became second nature. By far, the stand-out feature of the Ninja Swirl is its interactive soft-serve dispenser. Powered by a handle on the right side of the machine, I was able to serve myself my ice cream directly onto a waffle cone!After trying out both the
After testing the machine against its original iteration, I can confess the Swirl is worth the hype for one reason — nostalgia! I can picture my younger brothers having a blast with it all summer long and have a feeling even my partner and I will have fun using the playful dessert creator.
However, if soft serve is not your jam the original Ninja Creami more than suffices. The key difference between the two models is the interactive soft serve dispenser which for me made the extra money worth it. But for those looking to just whip up delicious ice cream in any form efficiently the much cheaper Ninja Creami is our recommendation.
This viral countertop 'dessert game-changer' is easily the best kitchen product we have tried in 2025 thus far. We can guarantee that you won't have mixed feelings about ordering the Ninja Swirl by Creami because well — we didn't! Shop it now ahead of summer on Ninja's website, Amazon, or Best Buy.