.
Today is the first day of spring and Easter is quickly approaching, which means warm weather is not far behind. To usher in warmer temperatures and the paleo treats and desserts that come with it, meet the Zoku Ice Cream Maker.
This compact, attractive and sleek model is a wonderful ice cream, gelato, sherbet, sorbet, custard, frozen yogurt, and even granita maker. It takes almost zero counter space and, what is best, the simplicity of the device. That’s right! This machine helps you make your ice cream the old-fashioned way while keeping its cool look. It comes in several different colors and its so easy that everyone in your family will likely want to have their own.
Zoku makes individual ice cream portions, which is great if you are watching your calories or sweetener intake. You control what goes in your Zoku, so you can create your own ice cream flavors with whatever ingredients you choose to experiment. No more need for store-bought ice cream and no fear of consuming ingredients that may bring you allergies. This low-tech ice cream maker will help you make paleo desserts that keep your paleo principles in tact.
A Paleo ice cream maker!
The Zoku has a capacity of 5 fl.oz. It is less than 4 inches deep and less than 4 inches tall. It is a little bit over 8 inches in width. The size makes it easy to store and keep it clean. It comes with one stainless steel bowl, one spoon, and one protective sleeve. It really is like a complete ice cream making kit, but small and for individual use. An important feature is that Zoku is BPA free.
So how does it work??
The combination of materials will make the mixture freeze. It does it right in front of you. The entire process takes around 10 minutes for soft serve ice cream and 20 minutes for thicker ice cream. It’s so easy.
Does it taste or feel weird?
The ice cream I made came out quite firm (I left it in the freezer for several hours), so I let it sit out for a little bit before cutting into it to scoop it out. This is no different than when you buy regular, firmly-packed ice cream. That is how legit your ice cream is! As Paleo ice cream, the coconut milk ensures amazing taste, especially for frozen treats. I made a delicious coconut milk cinnamon ice cream that I want to share with you. It was a success, especially with the kids! Here’s the recipe in case you want to try it:
Paleo Dessert: Cinnamon Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 10 oz Full Fat Coconut Milk
- 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon ( I used fresh cinnamon sticks)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (you can also use alcohol free vanilla extract)
- ¼ cup of raw maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together until smooth
- Pour into Zoku Ice Cream Maker
- Freeze as instructed
- Sit it out and allow to soften before serving
- You can top with a pinch of sea salt, if desired or garnish with a sprig of mint
So, how can we make the Zoku go from good to great?
Personally, the main “con” I see with the Zoku is that I wish the bowl came with a lid so that the ice cream can be stored for later. Also, you do need to stir and scrape; it is not an automatic gadget. Is it hard? No. I think it is a lot of fun and, if you are willing to make your own dessert, this is one of the coolest (no pun intended) ways to make ice cream.
Conclusion
I would recommend the Zoku to make single servings of my favorite paleo dessert, ice cream. It’s small, easy to clean and most importantly simple to use. The kids and I had fun with it and it prevented us from over-indulging. Lastly, due to it’s low tech nature, I did not grumble and groan when the kids requested that we make ice cream again. All in all it was a 5 star experience for me.
To learn more, check out Zoku on Amazon.
Try a Zoku Ice Cream Maker
