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.

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.

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. Add as much or as little sugar as you like, without worrying about artificial sweeteners or some mystery preservative or food dye.

The overall cost is more affordable, too. Homemade protein ice cream costs roughly $2 to $3 per pint, with simple ingredients like protein powder, milk and fruit. Meanwhile, store-bought “healthy” ice cream brands can cost $5 to $8 per pint.

If you don’t have the counter space or the cash to add a machine 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.

Americans are using countertop machines to create high-protein frozen treats that fit their wellness goals while satisfying their sweet tooth.

Protein is having its day, but so is are modern machines. 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.