Better Than Store-Bought: The Best Gear for Homemade Popsicles, Slushies, and Ice Cream

It’s officially summer, and prime time for ice cream, ice pops, slushies, and more. Making frozen treats at home lets you customize flavors and accommodate dietary restrictions, and having the right tools on hand can help make the process more fun.

Wirecutter senior kitchen editor Marilyn Ong walks us through the most reliable gear for every type of frozen treat, from $10 ice pop molds to an $800 gelato maker. Plus, she reveals Wirecutter’s take on popular gadgets like the Ninja Creami, Ninja Slushi, and KitchenAid shaved ice attachment.

We also hear from Wirecutter experts Lesley Stockton, Ciara Murray Jordan, and Kathleen Squires, who share their favorite treat recipes and tips for making great frozen treats.

This episode covers:

• Why DIY treats are worth making: You won’t necessarily save money on ingredients, but you will have total control over those ingredients. You can control the sugar content, dairy options, and flavor combinations.
• Popsicle molds that actually work: Our favorite ice pop molds are easy to fill and release with little effort. You can choose from kid-friendly shapes (think fun animal shapes) all the way to refined classic molds fit for adults.
• Shaved ice and slushie makers we like: The KitchenAid shaved ice attachment is a powerhouse for making Bingsu (a popular Korean-style shaved ice), while our kitchen team was surprised by how much they like the Ninja Slushi for making frozen drinks at home.
• Why we don't recommend the Ninja Creami: Despite its viral popularity for making healthier frozen treats, in our testing it resulted in burning smells and complaints of plastic shavings.
• Choosing an ice cream maker: Start by asking yourself how much you’re willing to spend and the texture you want to create. Our recommendations range from a $60 option that makes denser scoops, to an $800 machine that makes smooth, airy gelato.

Products we recommend:

• Traditional, easy-to-make pops: Tovolo Classic Pop Molds with Tray
• A colorful spin on the classic: Williams Sonoma Rainbow Pop Molds
• Best metal pop molds: Ecozoi Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds
• Lie-flat molds in cute shapes: Zoku Cat and Dog Ice Pop Mold
• Cute penguins in silicone molds: Tovolo Penguin Pop Molds
• Best push-pop style molds: Chef’n Sweet Spot Ice Pop Maker
• Easy to tuck in a crowded freezer: Tovolo Classic Stackable Pop Molds
• For sweet treats, cocktails, and more: KitchenAid Shave Ice Attachment
• An at-home frozen drink maker: Ninja Slushi
• The best ice cream maker: Cuisinart ICE-21P1
• A great compressor model for lighter-texture ice cream: Whynter ICM-201SB
• A great compressor model for denser ice cream: Whynter ICM-15LS
• The best of the best ice cream maker: Lello 4080 Musso Lussino
• An inexpensive slushie cup: Frozen Magic Squeezie Cup
• A higher-end slushie cup ZOKU Original Slush and Shake Maker
• Marilyn loves: Bissell Little Green

Additional reading:

• The Best Popsicle Molds
• The 4 Best KitchenAid Attachments of 2026
• We Tested the Ninja Creami. The Ice Cream Tastes Great. But That Burning Smell ...
• We Regret to Inform You That the Ninja Slushi Lives Up to the Hype
• The 4 Best Ice Cream Makers of 2026

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Daniel Ramirez, and Sophia Lanman. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

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