The Ninja Creami is no longer the only ice cream machine in town — here are the alternatives I have my eye on for this summer's chilled treats

For the past couple of summers, the Ninja Creami has been the coolest ice cream maker in town. This clever gadget is designed to serve up ice cream, sorbets or milkshakes with minimal effort, at the press of a preset button. Ninja has expanded the range to include a 'Deluxe' version (with XL tubs and the ability to mix up two flavors from one base) and a 'Scoop & Swirl' machine that can also dispense soft-serve ice cream for some home-churned Mr Softee / Mr Whippy goodness.

Recently, though, my inbox has been inundated with news of brands launching their own chilled treat machines to rival Ninja's efforts. The focus is on soft-serve ice cream makers that can also dispense delicious slushies.

One that has caught my eye in particular is the 'My Mug' machine from Dash. This compact $29.99 gadget will whip you up a single serving of soft-serve (or sorbet, or fro-yo...) in 20 minutes flat, ideal if you're overheating and in urgent need of a chilled pick-me-up. That one's not available in the UK, but an alternative for Brits is Lakeland's Mini Digital Ice Cream maker, which costs £19.99 and has a 500ml bowl that won't take up your entire freezer.

Read on for my pick of the best soft serve, ice cream and slushie makers, from Ninja and beyond, to cool you down or satisfy your sweet treat cravings this summer.

The coolest chilled treat machines

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