Small Appliances for Frozen Desserts

Since super premium blenders have begun a heated competition for customer preference, it seems there are small appliances everywhere that can complete a multitude of duties, including creating frozen desserts. While the premium blenders, of course, boast smoothie functions, they are also taking stabs at sorbets, soft serves, frozen coffee drinks, mixtures for frozen pops, ice cream and more. And they’re not the only ones. Machines designed for food prep, and even juicing, now have attachments to turn that food into a frozen dessert.

That’s not to count out the traditional ice cream makers either. Some customers will seek that dedicated machine that they only use for treats in the summer and put away for the rest of the year, and they will appreciate the functionality of a traditional ice cream maker.

BLACK+DECKER Lean Green Prep Machine

The BLACK+DECKER Lean Green Prep Machine is a useful, lightweight 2-in-1 appliance to make healthy eating simple and delicious. Use the food prep attachment and any of the four included blades for slicing cucumbers and carrots or shredding cheese and cabbage. Then swap in the frozen dessert attachment, which uses an auger to blend together all your favorites. Pair frozen fruits with frozen yogurt and sprinkle in chocolate pieces, hard-shelled candies, or sandwich cookies for a smooth and luxurious iced treat. Both attachments process foods directly into your work or serving bowl, and all removable parts are top rack dishwasher-safe.

Suggested Retail Price: $49.99

Mix It In Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

Professional-quality soft ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and sherbet is now available right at home, with the Cuisinart® Mix It In™ Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker. Not only does it make everyone’s favorites, but with three built-in condiment dispensers, it makes them extra delicious. Just a pull of a tab sends sprinkles, chips and other mix-ins down the chute to mix right into frozen desserts as cones or bowls are filled. A cone holder holds a stack of pointed or flat bottom cones. Operation is fully automatic with no chemicals, salt or ice required ; simply pour in the ingredients and turn the dial. Makes 1.5-quarts of frozen dessert in as little as 20 minutes.

Jamba Professional Blender

The Jamba® Professional Blender from Hamilton Beach offers powerful blending and versatility in the kitchen with pulse function, infinite speed dial for precise control, and four program settings for walk-away convenience. Make family-sized meals with the extra-large BPA-free 64-ounce container. A full color recipe book with more than 150 recipes is included. Each recipe offers fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors and easy blending steps.

Suggested Retail Price: $449.99

Vintage Collection Old Fashioned 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker

For a touch of antiquated charm, the delightful taste of homemade ice cream, and none of the arduous hand cranking of traditional ice cream buckets, look no further than the Vintage Collection™ Old Fashioned 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker (Model ICMW400) from Nostalgia Electrics. Providing a modern homemade ice cream experience, the electric motor does all the churning for you. Simply place the aluminum canister filled with ingredients in the center of the bucket, fill the bucket with ice, and allow the electric motor to do all the hard work. Soon, creamy and delicious ice cream is ready to serve.

Suggested Retail Price: $49.99

Panasonic High-Power Blender

The Panasonic High-Power Blender (MX-ZX1800) features a stainless steel six-blade cutting system which can chop, cream, blend, heat, grind, churn, and more with a single machine. The two-tiered unique six-blade cutting system and powerful 1300-watt motor can pulverize ice, whole fruits and vegetables to a smooth consistency in seconds. The Panasonic MX-ZX1800’s six pre-programmed settings – smoothie, juice, frozen treats, puree/dip, nuts/coffee beans, and soup – provides one-touch control with walk-away convenience via an electrostatic Touch Sensor Control with blue LED. The Panasonic High-Power Blender features a Tritan Reinforced Resin Jar that has a 1.8 liter capacity with an ice jacket for keeping beverages cool. It will be available in August.

Suggested Retail Price: $599.95

Waring Professional Snow Cone Maker

All you need is ice, flavored syrup and the Waring Professional 80-watt Snow Cone Maker to enjoy fun, icy treats at home, any time. It’s easy and safe to operate, too. Make four to five snow cones in less than a minute with this snow cone maker, which features a professional motor and blade mechanism with an interlock safety feature. Four BPA-free reusable plastic cones and 12 paper cones are included to get started, with refills sold separately. An ice scoop is also included to help form a perfectly rounded snow cone top. Two fold-down cone holders are located on the side of the machine for easy storage.

Suggested Retail Price: $69.95

Yonanas: The Healthy Snack That Tastes Like Ice Cream

The Yonanas Maker® is an innovative home appliance that makes healthy snacking possible at any time of day. Its technology and high-torque blade emulsifies frozen fruit into a healthy treat that looks, tastes, and feels like soft-serve ice cream in just seconds. Unlike other dessert makers, you don’t have to add any other ingredients such as milk, cream, sugar, yogurt or soy, which makes it perfect for vegans, diabetics and those who are lactose intolerant. Although bananas help provide a creamy consistency, any fruit can be used to make Yonanas. The Yonanas Maker is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

Suggested Retail Price: $49.99

This story was originally published in the April 2015 issue of Kitchenware News, a publication of Oser Communications Group.