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How to Make Cheater's Soft Serve at Home, No Machine Necessary

woman eating soft serve ice cream hero

We’re not gonna lie: If all of our wildest hopes and dreams came true, we’d have a personal soft serve machine in our basement—right next to the movie theater-size popcorn maker. But because that ain’t happening (and it’s kind of annoying to trek to the nearest Pinkberry whenever the craving strikes), we figured out a quick hack to DIY soft serve at home.

What do I need? Three cups of your favorite ice cream, softened, and 1 cup of whipped cream. (Plus your favorite toppings, of course.)

How do I make it? In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the ice cream and whipped cream until combined. Transfer your creation to an airtight container and freeze for at least 12 hours. 

How do I create that classic soft-serve swirl? Scoop the soft serve into a pastry bag (fit it with a large flower piping tip for a fluted look) and gently fill your cup or cone in a spiraling motion.


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Food Editor

From 2017 to 2019 Heath Goldman held the role of Food Editor covering food, booze and some recipe development, too. Tough job, eh?