This mug-shaped ice cream maker churns enough for one person, and it's easy to use (2024)

When it comes to ice cream, the cravings are not just seasonal—they happen year-round. If you can relate, it might be a good idea to invest in your own ice cream machine, so you don't have to run to the grocery store whenever you need a quick fix.

But many of the popular ice cream makers on the market can be pricey and hefty, requiring a large sacrifice from your wallet and storage space. Enter the Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker (available at Amazon) an affordable, space-saving machine that churns ice cream right in a serving mug.

We tried this Dash ice cream maker to see how well it delivered on producing high-quality ice cream and sorbet from the comfort of home.

About the Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker

This compact ice cream maker churns ice cream right in a half-pint mug. Perfect for single-servings!

The set comes with either one or two aluminum-lined freezable mugs, the motorized head, removable paddle, and an instruction manual with included recipes to get you started.

Here's how it works: Simply freeze the mug canister for at least 24 hours before you're ready to make ice cream, prepare whatever mix you'd like beforehand, then pour everything into the mug, press the power switch, and let the paddle churn for 15-20 minutes until it's ready to eat. From there, you can dig right into the pint and enjoy the perfect single-serving size of frozen dessert.

What we like about the Dash ice cream maker

It's compact

This ice cream maker is so small it almost doesn't feel like a real appliance. The mug base is the size of a typical bowl, making it easy to store in your cabinet (or freezer, so it's always ready to go).

The SmartStore design of this machine means you can also conveniently store the motorized head within one of the bowls for more compact storage when it's not in use.

It's incredibly easy to use

With just one on-off switch on the head of the machine, plus a helpful manual that leads you through step-by-step guidance, getting started with this Dash ice cream maker is a breeze.

Like other Dash appliances we've tested, this product is incredibly easy to use, regardless of your previous ice-cream-making experience. Its user-friendly design means that you can get started right away without much of a learning curve.

It comes with easy-to-follow recipes

Similar to the intuitive set-up instructions, there are plenty of user-friendly recipes included in the manual to quickly start churning.

We tried the provided recipes for vanilla ice cream, rocky road, and mango sorbet. All of the instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the results were all well-combined and delicious.

What we don't like

Ice cream textures are softer than expected

Unlike the results from some of the other ice cream machines we've tested, the ice cream that emerged from the Dash My Mug was a little too soft.

The texture that we were met with after churning the ice cream for the advised 15-20 minutes was even softer than a typical soft serve. We ended up having to put those batches in the freezer for a few hours (or overnight) to achieve a more solidified, traditional texture.

The sorbet we churned had a slightly more firm texture, thanks to the use of frozen fruit, but it still benefitted from a few extra hours of setting in the freezer.

The built-in chute is small

The lid for the motorized head features a small opening for pouring mixtures and add-ins, but we found it to be way too small.

The recipe instructions typically advise you to pour the ice cream mixtures right into the machine through the food chute as the paddle is already turning, but we had trouble doing this without any resulting spillage—even when pouring from a narrow spout.

It was also a struggle to distribute toppings like chocolate chips and mini marshmallows through this chute due to the small size of the opening.

Should you buy the Dash Ice Cream Maker?

Yes, if size and price are your main concerns (not speed)

Despite our setbacks, we were able to achieve delicious and creamy homemade ice cream with this Dash ice cream maker—it just took a little extra patience.

If you start with semi-frozen ingredients—or don't mind waiting for your creation to sit in the freezer—you can achieve perfectly textured ice cream in a wide range of flavors. You may just need to remove the motorized head when adding in ingredients to avoid any major messes.

But for folks who live alone—or are often the only person in the room craving ice cream—this single-serve machine is ideal. There's no need to make a large batch that requires extra freezer space. You can enjoy fresh, homemade ice cream regularly without having to let any go to waste.

If you'd rather invest in a pricier machine for faster turnaround ice cream, check out our roundup of the best ice cream makers.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.