The Ninja Swirl by Creami Soft Serve Machine Makes Me So Happy
The process of deciding what to make can be overwhelming (especially if you're 7), so let me offer a few guiding principles. It's not a blender, so it's not designed to chop hard, loose ingredients, like ice cubes or straight frozen berries. Also, in our enthusiasm, we have done things like throw handfuls of soft, fresh ingredients into the ice cream as mix-ins. That affects the texture of the soft serve and makes it a bit more crumbly and less consistent, although my family insists that they don't mind.
Overall, I would say don't try to cheat and spin pints that aren't fully frozen, because the texture will be uneven. Smaller pieces tend to get shredded while bigger pieces, like chocolate chips, stay intact. However, if you do screw up and don't like the texture of something, you can usually fix it by pushing Re-Spin to make it smoother.
Photograph: Adrienne So Have Fun With It
The classic tart yogurt is probably my greatest success—I can't believe how much it matches the Pinkberry version. We also made chocolate and vanilla soft serve, both the advanced and easy versions, and mixed-in milkshakes.
I also experimented with several versions of Dole Whip. Ninja has its own carefully unbranded version called Tropical Fruit Whip that is a close approximation of what we ate in Hawaii; my husband liked a roughly eyeballed version of an Epicurious recipe. The Fruit Whip setting gave the dessert a much lighter and more airy texture than the frozen yogurt or soft serve settings. Overall, if you do follow the booklet recipes, Ninja's recipes tend to err on the sweeter side. Frozen bananas and pineapple are plenty sweet without honey.
Ninja also offers a whole series of diet recipes, which are the advanced CreamiFit recipes. These use substitutions like protein powder and unsweetened almond milk in lieu of whole milk, or agave sugar in place of granulated sugar. People's experimentation with these is what made the Creami internet famous several years ago. In Ninja's booklet, if not on the internet, the CreamiFit recipes have more complicated flavors, where you might not be sure if it's this particular brand of pistachio pudding mix that tastes like crap, or if this recipe is actually what tastes like crap.
Video courtesy of Adrienne So
My opinion on these recipes is moot, since telling anyone who eats diet ice cream that it doesn't taste like real ice cream is like telling a longtime vegan that seitan satay doesn't taste anything like meat. They don't believe you, and they don't really care anyway. So here we are—these recipes exist, and they work. I do, however, have to say that if you're thinking about this, freezing regular flavored yogurt results in the same nutritional value and is cheaper and easier.
That's the real fun of having the Swirl—not from trying to re-create recipes that are note-perfect but running off-the-cuff experiments on a Tuesday night when you've used up all the ingredients that you bought to test this thing and your sugar-addled children are just running around the house.
Chocolate milk? Sure. Lemonade sorbet? Go ahead! Every night, my kids warn me to make sure that there's something in the freezer for them to make the next day after dinner. Say, hypothetically, that you forgot to freeze any ice cream before a 10-year-old's sleepover party. Even just running to the store to pick up regular vanilla, waffle cones, and mix-ins was a hit. There's just something about a soft-serve machine that makes almost anything feel like a special treat.
In several weeks, most of the mistakes that I've made with the Swirl have been user error—by thinking that you didn't have to freeze it for the full 24 hours, or seriously overestimating my child's desire for salty ice cream. Today we drove past the closest frozen yogurt shop—a 20-minute drive that we almost never make because we are a biking/walking family—and I rejoiced that I could now re-create its sweet treats at home in my house. For that reason alone, the Ninja Swirl is the best thing I've tested in months.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
I tried Cuisinart's new frozen treat maker. It's the perfect small-space alternative to the Ninja Creami
If you enjoy dessert content like I do, then you know the Ninja Creami has been dominating social media the past few years. Not only does the countertop frozen treat maker regularly pop up on my TikTok For You page but plenty of my colleagues rave about both the original appliance and its newer iterations, like the soft-serve Ninja Swirl by Creami. Upon reading their glowing reviews, I was tempted to get my own Creami. The only issue was, I wasn't willing to sacrifice all that counter space for an appliance I probably wouldn't use every day. I'd resigned myself to passively consuming ice cream maker content (without the actual ice cream) until Cuisinart launched its own ice cream maker this summer: the FastFreeze. When I saw the device's compact 'wand' design, I felt seen. Finally, I could make my own customized frozen treats at home without having to worry about where I'd store yet another bulky appliance. For the past three weeks, I have been using it to whip up ice cream, sorbets, slushies and milkshakes. Now that I've emerged from my sugar-filled stupor, it's time to tell you what I think about the release. Cuisinart FastFreeze Ice Cream Maker The Cuisinart FastFreeze is a quick, easy-to-use and space-saving ice cream maker that creates the perfect-sized half-pint servings. The device comes in a standard white, though if you want to jazz it up, QVC has eight exclusive colors like Jade, Amethyst and Daffodil, all of which are on sale for $20 off. It's fast and easy to use The FastFreeze couldn't be easier to use. It comes with a manual that explains all five presets, which are located right under the manual power button at the top of the wand. There's a setting for each type of treat the device can make (ice cream, sorbets, slushies and milkshakes), as well as one for mix-ins (think nuts, candy and cookie dough). To use this product, you just set it to your desired preset, lock the wand in on top of the mixing assembly and press the power button. When it turns on, simply push the wand down slowly. Once the mixture is fully blended, the green sensor turns red, at which point you stop pushing down and guide the wand to slowly come back up. The process does require a little bit of elbow grease, but I wouldn't say it's hard. The brand claims this device makes ice cream in just three minutes, but I'd say mixing one container takes no longer than a minute, so it's even faster. Of course, the time depends on the treat. Slushies take longer because you're essentially mixing a solid chunk of fruit juice as opposed to a mixture of fruit and milk. Cuisinart's other ice cream makers feature freezable bowls in which you place non-frozen ingredients for mixing. In contrast, the FastFreeze uses a process similar to the Ninja Creami. Essentially, you place ingredients in the three included half-pint (and dishwasher-safe) dessert cups, freeze the cups for at least 24 hours and then use the device to blend the frozen mixtures. This obviously requires anticipating what desserts and flavors you'll want in advance, but I liked being able to create the mixtures and forget about them until I found myself craving something sweet within the next couple of days. And honestly, you could get away with freezing mixtures for less time, like 12 or even eight hours. The serving size is perfect Whereas the Ninja Creami uses pint-sized containers (or 24-ounce containers for the Creami XL Deluxe), the Cuisinart FastFreeze's containers are half pints. Unless I'm really indulging, I rarely eat a full pint of ice cream at once, but a half-pint is perfect for one sitting. During testing, I found myself looking forward to coming home from work, mixing whatever flavor I'd prepared the night before and enjoying a container of ice cream before getting ready for bed. It became my fun little end-of-summer ritual. What's more, the small containers don't take up a ton of space in my freezer, even when all three are in there at once. They fit nicely inside the small drawer next to my ice trays, keeping the two larger drawers underneath free for other frozen foods. I can create my dream ice cream flavors As soon as I knew I'd be receiving a sample of the FastFreeze, I opened Pinterest and TikTok to search for recipes. All the recipes I saved were for the Ninja Creami but still suitable for this appliance; you just have to slightly adjust the ingredient ratios. That said, the FastFreeze manual also provides good recipe inspo, like blueberry cheesecake frozen yogurt, a dulce de leche milkshake and a pink lemonade slushy. Up first, I was most excited to make my own mango ice cream. I love mango-based desserts, but most ice creams taste artificial or way too syrupy and not creamy enough. As a result, one of the first mixtures I made included mango chunks, a splash of cream, milk and a tablespoon of sugar. The final product was perfectly creamy and not too sweet — exactly what I've always wanted from mango ice cream. I also made a banana and protein powder ice cream, using the 'mix-in' preset to add mini Reese's peanut butter cups after the first mix. As for the other presets, the slushy and sorbet settings work fine, though I personally am not a fan of either type of treat. To make milkshakes, you just mix store-bought ice cream and milk, plus any other add-ins you want, so that one doesn't have to be frozen in advance. Truth be told, I found myself using the 'ice cream' preset most of the time because I found the results to be the tastiest. (Pro tip: I recommend using a teaspoon of Jell-O powder for creamier results and adding graham crackers as a mix-in for texture.) Prev Next It has a small footprint I was actually surprised by how small the Cuisinart FastFreeze is, even when fully assembled. The widest part of this countertop device measures a little over 4 inches wide, and it's not even as bulky as my bullet-style Ninja blender. During testing, I've been storing the FastFreeze on a 2-foot-long shelf in my kitchen, and I can still fit both my blender and mini juicer on the same shelf. In short, this item is delightfully compact and the perfect size for my tiny galley kitchen. The initial results were too icy Of course ice cream is icy, but most of the time, my creations had way too many ice crystals after the first mix. When I'd try a bite, the texture was borderline powdery. I easily fixed this by adding a splash of milk and mixing again, but I kind of wish the results were perfect the first time around. This even happened with my milk-heavy mixes, so it's just something to be aware of. The container is a bit too small for blending Although half a pint is the ideal size for eating, the small containers are a bit cumbersome when it comes to blending the frozen mixtures. Each container has an interior 'max fill' line, and if you fill the cup even a little bit above that line, the mixing assembly doesn't properly lock over the cup. Whenever this happened, I'd have to take a spoon and chip away at the top layer of the frozen mixture to get it down past the line. Additionally, the small capacity means you can't use a lot of each ingredient. I quickly realized this after cutting up a handful of strawberries, only to find that about half of them fit inside the container. On the bright side, though, you won't run out of ingredients too fast. I won't lie, I've had a lot of fun making my own ice cream these past couple weeks. My sugar intake increased drastically, but at least I had a valid excuse ('It's for work!'). Going forward, I probably won't use Cuisinart FastFreeze as frequently because, realistically, I only eat ice cream at home once or twice a month. Even still, I'm not upset because I can stow away the compact device in my kitchen cart so my counters stay clear. I think if I owned a larger frozen dessert maker like the Ninja Creami, I'd feel obligated to use it all the time because of how much space it takes up. But I don't feel that way with the FastFreeze. Despite the minor hiccups I encountered using this product, I'd say it functions very well overall. It's fast, the presets work as intended and you can literally make any flavor of ice cream — and other frozen desserts — you might want. What is the difference between the Cuisinart FastFreeze and the Ninja Creami? What is the difference between the Cuisinart FastFreeze and the Ninja Creami? The Ninja Creami and Cuisinart FastFreeze work similarly in that you have to freeze your dessert mixes for at least 24 hours (though you can get away with freezing them for a shorter period of time) before blending them. But while the Creami is a larger, stationary appliance that mixes on its own, the compact FastFreeze requires you to press down on the wand as it powers the mixing assembly's blades to blend the ingredients. Additionally, the Creami has more presets than the FastFreeze. Depending on the model, it can make treats like gelato and Italian ice in addition to your standard ice creams and sorbets. How much ice cream does the Cuisinart FastFreeze make? How much ice cream does the Cuisinart FastFreeze make? The FastFreeze makes half a pint of ice cream in one go, and it comes with three dessert cups. How long does the Cuisinart FastFreeze take to make ice cream? How long does the Cuisinart FastFreeze take to make ice cream? Cuisinart claims that the FastFreeze takes three minutes to make ice cream. Although the mixing time depends on the ingredients in your mixture and whether you add mix-ins later, I found it to work faster in most cases, blending my creations in under a minute. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, associate home and gifts editor Nikol Slatinska tested the Cuisinart FastFreeze over the course of three weeks to see if it's worth buying.
CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
Ninja Creami comes in new summer-ready colors to match your favorite sweet treats
Your favorite way to create a sweet treat from home just got a summer makeover: the Ninja Creami now comes in four fresh colors to bring some cheer to your countertops. Upon its launch, the ice cream maker rose to viral acclaim and frequently sold out. That frenzy may pick up yet again with the arrival of the kitchen appliance's all-new pastel colors, monochromatic options and color-blocked designs. Ninja Creami 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker The revamp of the Ninja Creami brings the same bells and whistles of its original, but in four creative colors: Orange Mango, Blueberry Mint, Strawberry and Coffee Cream. It also still comes with two 24-ounce ice cream containers. Just imagine swirling up fruit sorbets in the Mango Orange Creami, or churning out strawberry ice cream in the Strawberry our review When our testers finally got their hands on the coveted Ninja Creami over a year ago, they wished they'd had one sooner. CNN Underscored's home editor Amina Lake Patel dubbed it a 'fun and convenient way' to create homemade treats. You can customize ingredients too, turning anything into a creamy frozen treat. Its 11 functions make it easy to make everything from classic ice cream to refreshing sorbet. For example, the first recipe Lake Patel made in the Ninja Creami was a chocolate protein ice cream, using the mix-in setting to randomly combine a shake, a scoop of peanut butter powder, a scoop of chocolate protein powder and some chocolate instant pudding mix. She said it churned out a dessert with the consistency and flavor similar to a chocolate Frosty from Wendy's. A waitlist hasn't formed for the new Ninja Creami colors like its product launch once did, but you never quite know how quickly stock might run out once others catch on. So if you've been eyeing the Creami for yourself, these fun options are a great time to add some whimsy to your countertops and create homemade treats to match. Our team, consisting of senior editor Rikka Altland, editor Jacqueline Saguin and associate editor Elena Matarazzo, is passionate about unearthing deals we would be tempted to shop. We enjoy finding a great discount on a coveted item, especially one that's a best-tested pick by our experts, because it means we're helping our readers make savvy buying decisions.
Buzz Feed
09-08-2025
- Buzz Feed
22 Target Products That'll Actually Encourage Kiddos To Ditch The Screens And Have Fun Outdoors
A Throw Throw Burrito Extreme "Outdoor Edition" game where the object is to collect matching cards and, more importantly, throw giant inflatable burritos at each other. Seriously. That's the game! Promising review: "What's more fun than battling your friends with enormous inflatable burritos? We were all out of breath from laughing so hard! Love this game!" —DHPrice: $24.49 A three-pack of water-resistant, multi-colored Walkie-Talkies with 22 channels and weather alert radio functions, so the kids can play and the parents can keep tabs on them. Over and out! 3 AAA Batteries each (not included)Price: $49.99 A puppy-shaped bubble maker because if all it takes is just a few bubbles to capture a child's attention, then imagine what a whole jar and this robo-dog can do. Bubbles, do your thing! Requires four AA batteries. Promising review: "Amazingly easy to set up and makes a ton of bubbles. My 4- and 5-year-olds love it! It does go through the bubble liquid quickly, so buy the big bottles but it's still worth it, especially for the amount of bubbles it makes. There's a small lip so when you're done you can pour the leftover back in the bottle, no waste." —BusyMomPrice: $10 A Ninja tree-climbing kit so kids can get a grip while scaling their favorite oak or maple with far fewer cuts and scrapes than the classic method. Supports weights up to 230 pounds for both kids and adults. Includes 12 tree climbing holds, six ratchet traps, a drawstring bag, and a user manual. Price: $32.29 A Twister Splash water game that's a, well, twist on the classic game. They still have to contort their body (right hand red, left foot green), but this time they're getting sprayed with water and slipping all over the place. Promising reviews: "Great way to get kids outside and playing! It's easy to set up, and we had a lot of fun." —Julia KPrice: $15.99 A 25-pack of jumbo sidewalk chalk with a case and holder (so messy chalk doesn't get all over tiny hands) because nothing says time-consuming activity like creatively (and harmlessly) defacing neighborhood sidewalks and driveways with colorful doodles and graffiti. Promising review: "Chalk is wrapped in sections, making it easier to keep and use for the kids! The colors are bright, and the chalk holders are easy to use." —HollyPrice: $10 A Little Tikes Bluey Beach Day Sandbox with a removable lid that holds up to 100 pounds of sand. Perfect for reenacting the "Beach" episode and for keeping idle little hands very busy in the backyard. This set includes a Bluey sand mold/bucket, rake, shovel, seagull footprint roller, and crab sand $74.99 A water table to take the fun of bath time outdoors (or in the garage during winter) with rearrangeable maze pieces that create new waterfall effects (but mostly for splashing about without making a mess). Promising review: "Definitely a win in our home. It kept my 2-year-old quietly occupied while we got to enjoy some outdoor time in the sun. I actually set it up inside the kiddie pool for more fun." —JennaPrice: $79.99 A six-pack of reusable water balloons that only requires a bucket of water (or even a sink or tub) to load up. No more being asked to fill up and tie a dozen balloons that'll just end up in tatters on your lawn minutes later. Get those minutes back in your day. Promising review: "These beat regular water balloons — hands down! I couldn't believe how well these work. We set up two 5-gallon buckets full of water and had a great water fight — adults included! Where were these in my childhood?! Great invention!" —LeslienoelPrice: $10.99 A handheld flying Krypto because Superman's best friend isn't Jimmy Olsen but his doggo. No remote control needed, just use your hand to guide this tail-wagging super pet. Price: $26.99 A 19-piece nature exploration kit for taking the creepy out of creepy crawlies while teaching entry-level entomology. But we all know they'll just be running around swinging the nets back and forth. Includes a magnifying glass for close observation, a retractable net for catching insects, tweezers, and a carrying $42.85 (originally $47.13) A dueling stomp rocket double-launch set so not one but two kids can launch foam-tipped projectiles up to 200 feet in the air. No batteries or fuel are required, just a kid's unbridled energy to jump on things! Promising review: "I became 'Greatest Aunt of All Time' after getting this for my nephews (ages 4 and 5) last Christmas! They loved it so much. Even big sister (age 7) and all of us adults (ages 30+++) got in on the fun. I STILL get regular videos from my brother and sis-in-law of the kids stomping these rockets! It's a simple toy, super easy to put together, but it's endlessly fun! And selfishly, it's very funny to see them figure out the coordination to STOMP the air pedal just right. There were many, many BIG stomps that landed on concrete at first, but they never gave up!!!" —alysonstarksPrice: $19.99 An extra-large picnic blanket to ensure that there's always a dry, mud-free place to sit or lie down on when the kids are outdoors. Promising review: "This picnic blanket is perfect for our family outings to the park and beach. The size is fantastic, providing plenty of space for everyone to sit comfortably. The waterproof material is a huge bonus, as we never have to worry about damp ground or any spills ruining our picnic. The design is also really cute and unique, adding a fun touch to our outdoor adventures. Overall, we love this blanket and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quality, versatile outdoor mat." —Target CustomerPrice: $24.99 (originally $41.99) A Koosh Kornhole set that's a brighter and more colorful way to get the kids playing this classic backyard game. Comes with six neon Koosh balls, which are way more fun to toss than a dusty old beanbag. Promising review: "So much fun for young and old. We couldn't stop playing. We bought two so we could play like the original Kornhole. It is fun either way." —Doc Price: $19.99 A Razor A Two-Wheel Kick Scooter because every kid needs a set of wheels, especially ones that remind you of your childhood too! Promising review: "Perfect for my 11-year-old. He loves going to the skate park and using it." —JmarquezPrice: $25.49 (available in two colors) A battery-operated upgrade of the '90s classic skip ball that features lights for an illuminating experience. And parents, please, don't break an ankle showing them how to try this one out; they'll figure it out easily enough. Price: $15.99 (originally $31.99) A How to Train Your Dragon Mask for some serious outdoor cosplaying. Open your mouth, and Toothless roars and sprays a misty dragon's breath. Promising review: "Our two boys love this mask (5 and 7), the vapor that comes out is so cool! Great toy for a Toothless fan!" —NLeeTNPrice: $23.99 A Super Soaker "Double Dunk Fill" water blaster that can be filled without even having to detach he cartridge. Just dunk it, then pump it for water-soaking fun. Promising review: "Great water gun! Super easy for kids to reload, shoots a good distance. Definitely recommend for kiddos 3 –10." —LydiaPrice: $11.99 (originally $14.99) A height-adjustable 2-in-1 "Grow With Me" batting tee so little sluggers can practice swinging for the fences with either a hanging tee or classic standing tee. Play ball! Promising review: "My husband bought this ball set for our son for Christmas, and he absolutely loves it! He has played with it for hours outside, and when his friends come over, they all play together and take turns. It's a great way to bond with your kid or just get them outside. The design is also genius for young kids. We also love that there are different configurations for more ways to play." —MsOdawg3000Price: $24.99 A flying saucer tree swing that's light years ahead of anything you'd find in or around a jungle gym. It's just the right size for two children to play with and is strong enough to "withstand 700 pounds of static weight." Promising review: "My kids absolutely love this swing! I have (big) 5-year-old twin boys, and they can both easily fit in it together. We hung it from a tree in our front yard, and it has been the source of hours upon hours of fun already, and we've only had it up for 4 days. It does stink that it doesn't come with hanging gear and can't be used right out of the box because of that. But, just order straps at the same time, and the problem is solved. There is some minor assembly, but it's easy. Seems very durable and will hopefully last a few seasons." —BNZPrice: $39.99+ (originally $99.99+; available in 10 color options) An over 4-foot wide, three-ring inflatable pool for those times when schlepping to the public pool feels like a three-ring circus. Fits two adults comfortably, so kids won't feel cramped at all. Price: $31.99 A beginner-friendly glow-up stunt drone with LED lights that features auto orientation flight control and gyro stabilization to keep this ship flying (and landing) steady. Climbs up to 150 feet in the air, just keep it out in the open and away from trees and the neighbor's roof. Requires 3 AAA batteriesPromising review: "I highly recommend this drone for a child interested in a drone. We have gone through quite a few (expensive to not so much), all of which broke or were very difficult to fly. This sharper image drone is fantastic. It is sturdy and can handle falling. Our 11-year-old daughter mastered the skills of flying it very quickly. The battery life is short, but so is my child's attention span." —JMMPrice: $38.99
