Yaylabs Softshell Ice Cream Ball

A friend recommended this idea as an activity for my 13 year olds. They love it and it's something in which we can all participate, which is wonderful. Trust me - finding something that both your kids want to do together, and WITH their parents, is not easy. We usually make cookies n cream. The ball does leak a little at the rubber seam in the middle, but from the ice area - not the cream/sugar area. And, as I said, from the rubber seam area, not the lids themselves. I have the kids roll it on our carpet, on top of a sheet, just in case of leakage. Be sure to follow the instructions: roll for 10minutes, then open and scrape the sides down to mix the frozen cream on the side walls with the not-frozen cream still in the middle. Then roll/shack for another 10 minutes and repeat as needed. The cream that freezes to the sides is very thick and hard to scrape off. I find using a wooden spoon works much better than a rubber spatula (they are too flexible). And don't overfill the cream/sugar area. If you do, it will make a mess when removing the lid to stir. Make sure to wipe up any excess cream off the lid itself and the top before replacing the lid. Otherwise the cream will melt off the lid and the top and will seep out while rolling. One batch makes two decent sized bowls of ice cream (1.5-2 scoops each) or three smaller bowls. 4.5 stars only due to the water leakage at the seam. Read more

This is so much fun and much better than other ice cream makers because one side is kept cold with ice you dont need to put the traditional bowl in the freezer for a day. Makes a nice amount of ice cream. If you are making anything with mixins best to do that at the end. Read more

So much fun and easy to use! The recipes included are easy enough to tweak. We made Pumpkin Spice by using the vanilla ice cream as a base and adding half a can of pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice and extra cinnamon. We like it very spicy but you can adjust spices to taste! CONS: the seals on both ends could use some work. The ice/salt side leaked when the ice started to melt and the ice cream side was so hard to unscrew once it started to freeze. The ice cream came out perfectly though and the kids had fun with it. Don’t skip the 15-minute checkup and scrape down the sides/refill ice and salt. Read more

GREAT CONCEPT (we purchased for grand kids and they couldn't wait to try it). BUT HORRIBLE EXECUTION. THE UNIT HAS TWO CAPS/LIDS THAT SHOULD UNSCREW. NEITHER CAP/LID WORKED - ARRIVED SO TIGHTLY SEALED, WOULDN'T BUDGE. THE SEAM OF THE BALL WAS UNEVEN/GAPS AND TATTERED (ALTHOUGH BRAND NEW OUT-OF-THE-BOX). NO INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED FOR HOW MUCH ICE OR ICE CREAM INGREDIENTS TO ADD. THE BALL IS A VERY HARD PLASTIC (NO BOUNCE OR GIVE LIKE A REGULAR BALL). THE LID COVERS STICK OUT A BIT FROM BALL CIRCUMFERENCE - MAKING THE COVERS MORE PRONE TO DAMAGE DURING PLAY. WHILE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO 'PLAY WITH THE BALL AS THE PRODUCT PICTURES DEPICTED', I COULD NOT IMAGINE KIDS KICKING THE BALL AROUND WITHOUT THE LIDS CRACKING AND THE ICE CREAM INGREDIENTS SPILLING OUT. POORLY MADE but cute idea. Read more

I have a 5 year old nephew and a 2 year old nephew I thought they could use it together but it is pretty heavy with all the ice but with that being said it sure made ice cream in 15 minutes with my sister in law me and the boys sitting on the ground rolling it to each other they loved it! I will say I wouldn't want them kicking it Im not sure it's that durable I wouldn't trust that kids are so rough but honestly I'm considering getting one for myself I can't lie😂 Read more

It is a great idea. The kids got really excited to try it out. After 10 minutes of kicking it around they were bored and wanted to stop. Its awkward to kick/move so it's kind of like pushing around a weight ball. It leaks at first so make sure you try it on grass. Once the cream begins to set it stops leaking, but if you don't open it and stir it every 5 minutes or so (a cumbersome thing) then it will be too hard to scrape out. It's easy to clean, and quality made- I don't think the leaking can be avoided, but that would be a big improvement. I returned it with no trouble so I'm very happy with the company. Like I said- it's a great idea. Read more

I have literally wanted one of these for years, finally got one before our last camping trip. We all sat in a circle and rolled the ball around. We used a simple recipe from the internet and it was delicious. Check in 5 minutes intervals, to scrape the ice cream down, it freezes to the side fast, and have a really long spoon. Don't roll it in dirt or sand, it will get dirty, but it rinsed off fine, and no dirt got in our ice cream. Lots of fun even for young adults. Read more

This was a must-have Christmas gift for my son-it was supposed to mix two of his favorite things-ice cream and soccer. It was an interesting experience but not a good product we will continue to use. The good 1. It made ice cream 2. It arrived on time The bad- 1. The ball is too hard to kick like a soccer ball, we had to roll it. 2. The ball leaks 3. It's difficult to get the covers on and off 4. It's really difficult to get the ice cream out 5. Dirt got into the rim of the ice cream maker when rolling it outside. Read more