The worldwide ice cream maker market totaled $3.8 billion last year, and is projected to nearly double in the next 10 years. There are many factors at play, but here in the United States, the main driver is an interest in protein-packed ice cream and the technology to make at home what you can’t find on store shelves.
New countertop models of small batch ice cream makers join the ranks of Instant Pots and air fryers as the latest hot kitchen craze. Like the previous trends, at least some of the fervor is driven by social media, with recipes for both easy, three-ingredient and protein-based ice creams filling cones and cups on TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest.
Market Intelo reports Americans eat an average of 4 gallons of ice cream a year, with an increasingly larger percentage of that treat created in their own kitchens. U.K. trend tracker John Lewis cites an increase in ice cream machine purchases by 17% last year, and predicts viral videos on social media will continue to send sales climbing.
Frozen in time no longer
Gone are the days of hand cranks and careful road salt-to-ice ratios. The homemade ice cream makers of 2026 are fast, high tech and flying off the shelves. While there has always been a niche market for homemade ice cream makers, the Ninja Creami landed in retail outlets in 2022 and revitalized the market.
This isn’t your grandmother’s ice cream maker; the Creami and its subsequent competitors reverse the traditional process. You combine all the ingredients and freeze the mixture overnight. It’s then inserted into the device, which uses a high-powered paddle to shave and churn the frozen block into a smooth, creamy texture.
Depending on the model, machines offer multiple preset programs: ice cream, lite ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshake, smoothie bowl and more. Smaller batches are easier to consume, but if you don’t eat them all, they’re easier to save, too. Try finding space for an 18-inch high, 3-gallon metal cylinder in most family freezers these days.
Now is the time to buy, too. The Ninja Creami hit record-low pricing in January 2026, making the technology more accessible to mainstream consumers.
Ice cream queen
While the old school churners could potentially have any ingredients added to the mixture, it didn’t always turn out tasty. The new countertop models fix that problem, allowing users to have total control over ingredients. Want to create your bulletproof coffee in a creamy bowl? No problem. Or you can double the protein and cut the sugar in your peanut butter cup parfait.
You’re in charge of the flavor and nutritional content. Go dairy free, keto friendly, vegan or high protein. Add as much or as little sugar as you like, without worrying about artificial sweeteners or some mystery preservative or food dye that may or may not suit your diet.
The overall cost is more affordable, too. Homemade protein ice cream costs roughly $2-3 per pint, with simple ingredients like protein powder, milk and fruit. Meanwhile, store-bought “healthy” ice cream brands like Halo Top can cost $5-8 per pint.
But what if you don’t have the counter space or the cash to add a Ninja Creami to your kitchen? Heavy whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk are the key to a churn-free frozen treat with the same texture as your favorite ice cream. Cookies and cream is a popular no-churn ice cream, or go slightly healthier with a quick and easy raspberry frozen yogurt. Just plan ahead for the eight hours of chilling time.
Protein power
For better or worse, protein has been thrust into the American dietary spotlight. From the most recent federal government nutritional guidelines to the hottest #FoodTok trends, protein is standing tall. A July 2025 report from the International Food Information Council finds 71% of Americans consciously seek out protein on a daily basis, and 35% have increased their protein intake.
With summer around the corner, it’s no surprise that ice cream is top of mind. But the driver isn’t nostalgia or summer indulgence so much as it’s protein. Americans are using countertop machines to create high-protein frozen treats that fit their wellness goals while satisfying their sweet tooth.
Modern machines like the Ninja Creami are going viral on TikTok, where protein ice cream recipes delivering 30 grams of protein per pint rack up millions of views. It’s like an 80s protein shake but in ice cream form. And with much better flavor and no chalky aftertaste.
“Homemade protein ice cream has become a staple for our weekend movie nights,” enthuses Shelby, strength trainer, mother of three and founder of Fit as a Mama Bear. “Not only is it fun to make new flavor variations, but adding protein or collagen powder helps bump up my daily intake too!”
Protein ice cream allows people to satisfy their sweet tooth while hitting daily protein targets: a win-win that traditional ice cream can’t deliver. Ice cream manufacturers have taken note, adding to their protein-heavy iced dessert offerings, but it may be too little, too late, contributing to the popularity of the latest version of home ice cream makers.
Sweet aftertaste
Protein is having its day, but so is the Ninja Creami. And when the two combine forces, TikTok calls it going viral. Americans have a desire to pack more protein into their diets, and with the latest technology offering a sweet assist, they get the best of both worlds. The ease of stirring protein powder and its benefits into a tasty frozen snack has lit up social media, generating hundreds of thousands of recipes.
So the next time you’re prepping your chicken and potatoes for the Instant Pot, chuck a pre-frozen brick of iced goodness into the countertop ice cream maker sitting next to it. And within 30 minutes, you’ve got dinner and dessert. Not bad for a Tuesday night.
Kristin King is the creator of Dizzy Busy and Hungry, where she has been sharing practical, family-friendly recipes and budget-friendly cooking tips since 2013. She is also the author of “Dinner Time Sanity Saver Cookbook,” offering stress-free meal solutions. Kristin lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons and four cats, balancing her corporate career with her love of cooking and the outdoors.