Photograph: Adrienne So
Video courtesy of Adrienne So
My take on these recipes might be irrelevant, given that telling someone that their diet ice cream doesn’t taste like traditional ice cream is akin to informing a long-time vegan that seitan satay bears no resemblance to meat. They’re simply not going to accept it, nor do they particularly care. Thus, here we stand—these recipes are a reality, and they do work. However, I do feel compelled to mention that if this is your route, freezing standard flavored yogurt offers the same nutritional value and is more cost-effective and straightforward.
What truly makes the Swirl enjoyable isn’t the pursuit of replicating flawless recipes, but rather the spontaneous culinary experiments happening on a Tuesday night when I’ve depleted all the ingredients initially bought to test this gadget and my sugar-energized children are racing through the house.
Chocolate milk? Absolutely. Lemonade sorbet? Why not! Each evening, my children remind me to ensure that there’s something ready in the freezer for them to try out the next day after dinner. Just imagine, hypothetically, forgetting to freeze any ice cream before a sleepover with a 10-year-old. A quick trip to the store for vanilla, waffle cones, and toppings turned out to be a hit. There’s just something about a soft-serve machine that transforms almost any item into a delightful treat.
Over several weeks, most of the errors I’ve encountered with the Swirl have stemmed from user mistakes—such as believing that freezing it for less than the full 24 hours is acceptable or drastically misjudging my child’s craving for salty ice cream. Today, as we drove past the nearest frozen yogurt shop—a 20-minute drive we rarely make as we prefer biking or walking—I felt elated at the prospect of recreating its sweet delights at home. For that reason alone, the Ninja Swirl has been the most enjoyable thing I’ve tested in months.
