I tried the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi from the comfort of my own kitchen to fix my Dairy Queen withdrawal – here's my honest review

Swirly ice cream from Dairy Queen and the self-serve machine at my local steakhouse are core childhood memories, but I have since moved away. So, when I heard about the Ninja Swirl™ by CREAMi®, a machine that promised to recreate that nostalgic magic at home (and allow me customize it to my heart’s content), I had to try it.

The Ninja Swirl caused quite a commotion on the internet when it launched. It has six soft serve settings, a new low-calorie CREAMiFit™ mode, and even a frozen custard function. Whether you’re going for classic vanilla, chocolate, or your own bespoke creation, it gives you total control over the ingredients and the texture. The best part is, you can choose between a traditional scoop or soft-serve style swirl, just like the machines we all used to crowd around as kids.

We've tested a range of the best ice cream makers at Homes & Gardens, but this one felt different – like a sweet throwback with modern upgrades. So, is it actually worth the hype? Or just a bulky gimmick with a pretty swirl? Let’s dig in.

Specifications

Design & first impressions

The Ninja Swirl looks very professional, yet wonderfully reminiscent of something you might find in Willy Wonka’s factory. It takes up a lot of space. At a whopping 20 pounds and 17 inches tall, you might want to get your measuring tape out before clicking 'add to cart.'

I found it impossible to fit under my low cabinets and heavy to lift onto my counter, so it's earned a permanent spot there this summer, whether I like it or not.

Actually, once it was in situ, it was pretty easy to slide around the counter, with the weight nicely balanced and all the components securely held. There was no rattling, and the only bit that does require a little bit of extra maneuvering is the cord.

In addition to the Ninja Swirl machine itself, also included in the box were: two freezer pints, a special nozzle for the soft serve function, a drip tray, a quick Start guide, safety instructions, a beautiful recipe book with full color images – as well as a step-by-step recipe card for basic ice cream base and soft-serve.

Both the machine and accessories (except for the blade) appear to be made of a durable plastic. Despite this, everything feels quite premium. No part is flimsy and every component has clear labeling and directions on what it’s used for.

What is it like to use?

Having not used an ice cream machine in at least 35 years (if my old Snoopy Sno-Cone maker even counts), I was a bit intimidated by the Ninja Swirl's very professional-looking setup.

However, I needn't have worried. The instruction booklet was surprisingly straightforward and the only assembly required was attaching the paddle to the swirl canister. Once that was done, it was smooth sailing. Seriously, every Ninja Swirl creation I attempted was smooth, creamy, and easy.

Test 1: Soft Serve

If you're just looking for the headlines, the soft serve function on the Ninja Swirl is magnificent. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be far easier – and more satisfying – than I imagined.

The process is simple, but you need to prep ahead and freeze a pint of soft-serve base the night before you want to eat the ice cream. The next day, you pop the pint into the machine, select the 'Soft Serve' program, and run it through the spin cycle. It's not exactly whisper-quiet – my decibel meter clocked it at around 82 dB – but since the spin only takes about 4 minutes, it’s manageable.

Once the spinning is finished, you remove the pint from the canister, attach the Swirl dispenser, and reinsert it into the machine. Then, open the dial on the pint (which transforms it into the dispenser), position the drip tray to catch any spillover, and pull the lever. The extruder compresses the ice cream inside the pint – and voilà: perfect soft serve.

As soon as the ice cream started swirling, I was instantly transported to Ponderosa Steakhouse, circa 1994. If you're a Midwestern Gen X'er or older Millennial, you'll know exactly what I mean. As kids, we were so excited to be able to use the soft serve machine to make our own sundaes for dessert.

From start to finish (not counting the overnight freeze, of course), the whole process took about 6 minutes. My swirling technique still needs some finesse – but I think practice makes perfect. I’ll be a soft serve pro in no time.

Test 2: Mix ins

I have been craving an M&M Blizzard from Dairy Queen for at least 5 years. Sadly, there is not one near me, so I was absolutely delighted that the Ninja Swirl has a mix-in function.

I was impatient, so I used store-bought vanilla ice cream. Maybe this wasn't ideal, as it didn’t create a very aesthetic outcome. After the initial churn, I added my M&M pieces (chopped up in my trusty Ninja blender) and ran it through the mix-in program, which took 2 minutes. The end result was a bit melty (probably my bad for using the store-bought) but tasted absolutely perfect.

Special functions

With thirteen functions and six soft-serve settings to work through, only two pints, and many other pressing tasks in my home, I'm having to work through all the different features slowly, but surely.

I'll keep sharing updates here as I experiment, but my latest win was a frozen peanut butter and Greek yogurt soft-serve 'pup ice cream' for my dogs (I tried it too – and it was delicious!). Next up on my list: frozen custard, froyo, and sorbet.

Cleaning, storage, & maintenance

The only things that get messy in the Creami Swirl are the ice cream tubs, the blade, lid and the soft-serve dispenser. All components are easy to disassemble and top rack dishwasher safe, so the clean-up was easy for me. I actually washed the blade by hand, since I didn’t want it to fly around inside my dishwasher, because it’s weighty and sharp.

Storage-wise, the Ninja Creami Swirl is undeniably huge. As I mentioned at the start of the review, it is tall and heavy, so I ended up just keeping it on the countertop. I'd recommend evaluating your countertop and storage space before investing in one.

How does it rate online?

Customers generally find the Ninja Swirl ice cream maker very fun, easy to use and effective. One Amazon reviewer echoed my own experience, writing: 'We’ve started making our own ‘copycat’ Dairy Queen Blizzards and frozen yogurt bowls, and it’s actually saving us money. You can load it up with toppings or keep it simple with just fruit – it handles both like a champ.'

Many reviewers also praise how easy the machine is to clean, noting that the parts are dishwasher-safe. The versatility is another highlight, with users appreciating the ability to tweak recipes – whether cutting down on sugar or making dairy-free versions that feel healthier than store-bought alternatives. Many people recommend grabbing extra containers from Ninja Kitchen to make the most out of the machine, since the two containers can be limiting.

While the average reviews online hover around 4.5 stars, not everyone is sold. Some customers feel the machine is pricey for what it offers, and the noise level draws mixed reviews – several users mention it’s on the louder side. I agree that it is a little loud and expensive; perhaps one to keep an eye on when the sales hit.

How does it compare to other models?

Our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Lydia, has tested both the Original and Deluxe Ninja Creami models, so we compared notes to see how the latest addition – the Ninja Swirl – stacks up.

In terms of size, none of the Creami models are especially compact, and they’re all on the louder side during use. The Creami Original includes 7 basic functions: sorbet, ice cream, lite ice cream, milkshake, mix-in, gelato, and smoothie bowl. The Creami Deluxe builds on that with five additional options: frozen yogurt, Creamiccino, frozen drink, slushi, and Italian ice.

If you're not sold on the Swirl features and want to stay closer to a $200 budget, the Original or Deluxe models might suit you just fine.

For more options, check out our buying guide to the best ice cream makers, which includes a range of alternatives for every budget and ice cream obsession.

Should you buy it?

If you love soft-serve, you'll have a lot of fun here. The results from the Ninja Swirl by Creami are super light, creamy, and picture-perfect. I think it's great for families with young kids, or those who are frequent entertainers looking for show-stopping desserts. However, if you're not fussy about your ice cream aesthetics and can forgo the cone, you will find the Ninja Creami Deluxe a more affordable choice.

How we test

We are dedicated to how we test all of our appliances. All of our experts are well-established product testers, able to discern whether these are worthy investments for your home.

For ice cream makers, we researched the best products on the market. We wanted to look for appliances that were good value for money with exceptional results. We took these to our test kitchen and, over the course of a few days, tested these on ice cream, non-dairy ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt. We made notes on the whole process from unboxing to cleaning up, to make sure that we didn’t miss a thing. All of these ice cream makers were tested alongside each other, so we could make direct comparisons between them and their results.