Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, & Ice Cream Maker

Pardon the pun, but we started off on a "rocky road" while testing this one. Our first attempts to use this ice cream maker were ruined by not reading the cleary stated instruction to pre-freeze the cylinder for several hours before use. Our second attempt was cut short when we realized our mixture was poured directly into the machine without first inserting the freezer bowl. After trying to make the process much harder than it really is, we re-read the instructions and churned out a delicious summer treat with nearly zero effort!

You see, the Cuisinart takes only 25 minutes to make a perfect two-quart batch of homemade ice cream. Whether you choose to make ice cream from scratch or a mix, this model takes away all the hard work and leaves only the wonderful taste and creamy, smooth texture of homemade ice cream. Simply set the frozen bowl inside the base, insert the paddle, pour in a prepared mixture, lock the lid in place, and turn on the machine. Along with doing the hard part for you (no hand cranking necessary), the freezing is accomplished with the aid of the liquid contained in the double-insulated cylinder. No messy rock salt and ice are required, so the process can be done year-round and inside your home with no fear of leaky mixers and complicated clean-up. The locking lid has a no-spill spout, which allows for add-ins such as fresh berries, nuts, or chocolate chips to be introduced toward the end of mixing.

After enjoying a fresh, cold treat, the freezer bowl, paddle, and lid all remove for easy clean-up. Though the freezer bowl may not be used for storing ice cream, it may be kept in the freezer, ready for the next time a batch of delicious ice cream just can't wait. Other features we love include the self-storing cord, a long-lasting, heavy duty motor with a three-year warranty, and a modern, stainless steel finish. An instruction and recipe booklet is included, recommending the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence for making frozen drinks, gelato, frozen yogurt, and sorbet, as well as endless varieties of traditional ice cream.

MSRP $79.95 at Macy's, Best Buy, Dillard's, Amazon.com, and other retailers.