How to Make Soft Serve at Home with a Ninja Creami, Kmart Dessert Maker or Home Ice Cream Machine
How to Make Soft Serve at Home Without a Commercial Machine
Want to make smooth, creamy soft serve at home without buying a commercial soft serve machine? Fun Foods Direct soft serve mixes can be prepared for use in suitable home frozen dessert appliances including Ninja Creami machines, selected Kmart dessert makers, home ice cream machines and similar frozen dessert appliances.
Homemade Soft Serve Made Easier
Our home soft serve range gives you a convenient powdered base for creating soft serve-style desserts, frozen yoghurt, thickshakes and other creamy frozen desserts at home.
What You Need to Make Soft Serve at Home
Ninja Creami, suitable Kmart dessert maker, ice cream machine or similar appliance.
Cold water, or water and milk for a richer result.
Choose your preferred Fun Foods Direct soft serve flavour.
A mixing jug, whisk, stick blender or standard blender.
Use the container or bowl recommended for your particular appliance.
Sauces, sprinkles, nuts, crunch products and other dessert toppings.
Soft Serve Mixes for Home Dessert Machines
Choose from classic soft serve flavours, frozen yoghurt and specialty dessert-inspired mixes. Different flavours can be served on their own or combined with sauces, toppings and mix-ins.
Luxury Whip Vanilla
Premium vanilla soft serve with a smooth, creamy finish and plenty of topping possibilities.
View Luxury Whip Vanilla →Premium Chocolate
Rich chocolate flavour for frozen desserts, chocolate soft serve, sundaes and thickshakes.
View Premium Chocolate →Classic Vanilla
A classic vanilla option suitable for home frozen dessert machines and creative desserts.
View Classic Vanilla →Thickshake & Frappe Base
Designed for thick, creamy frozen drinks, thickshakes and frappe-style creations.
View Thickshake & Frappe Base →Salted Caramel
A rich caramel-style frozen dessert with a balanced salty finish.
View Salted Caramel →Luxury Frozen Yoghurt
A tangy frozen yoghurt-style option for a different style of creamy frozen dessert.
View Frozen Yoghurt →Blueberry Soft Serve
Fruity blueberry flavour for colourful frozen desserts, sundaes and dessert cups.
View Blueberry →Premium Cheesecake
A creamy cheesecake-style soft serve mix suited to loaded dessert creations.
View Cheesecake →Raspberry Sherbet
A tangy raspberry berry flavour with a refreshing sherbet-style finish.
View Raspberry Sherbet →Matcha Soft Serve
Japanese green tea-inspired flavour for a distinctive premium frozen dessert.
View Matcha →Pink Fairy Floss
A colourful cotton candy-style flavour suited to parties and fun dessert creations.
View Pink Fairy Floss →Biscoff Soft Serve
Rich biscuit-style flavour designed for indulgent frozen desserts and loaded cups.
View Biscoff →Biscoff Cheesecake
A dessert-inspired combination of creamy cheesecake and biscuit-style flavour.
View Biscoff Cheesecake →Soft Serve Mixing Ratio for Home Use
You do not need to prepare an entire commercial-sized batch at home. The standard recipe can be scaled down while maintaining the same ratio.
Simple Home Batch
A convenient smaller batch using cold water.
Creamier Home Batch
Use water and full cream milk for a richer result.
Preparing a Full 1.5kg Soft Serve Pack
For larger batches, the standard Fun Foods Direct preparation is 1.5kg soft serve powder with 3.5L of cold water.
For a richer preparation, use 1.5kg soft serve powder with 3L cold water and 1L full cream milk.
How to Make Soft Serve at Home
The exact freezing and processing method depends on your appliance, but the preparation process is straightforward.
Add the required amount of cold water, or water and milk, to a clean mixing jug.
Slowly add the soft serve powder while whisking or blending to help prevent lumps.
Continue mixing until the powder is thoroughly dispersed with no significant dry pockets remaining.
Allowing the prepared mix to stand briefly can assist hydration. Keep prepared mix appropriately chilled where required.
Pour the prepared mixture into the appropriate container without exceeding the manufacturer's maximum fill level.
For machines that process a pre-frozen base, freeze according to the appliance manufacturer's instructions.
Select the most appropriate ice cream, soft serve or frozen dessert program available on your appliance.
If your appliance permits it and the result is crumbly, follow the manufacturer's respin or reprocessing guidance.
Finish with dessert sauces, sprinkles, nuts, biscuits, crunch products or other suitable toppings.
Serve once your dessert has reached your preferred consistency.
Using Soft Serve Mix in Home Dessert Machines
Different appliances freeze and process desserts differently. Always follow the operating instructions for your particular machine.
Ninja Creami
Prepare the mix until smooth, transfer it to the appropriate Ninja container, freeze as directed by Ninja and process using a suitable frozen dessert program.
Kmart Dessert Makers
Soft serve mix may be used with suitable home dessert makers. Follow the specific machine's instructions for bowl preparation, chilling, capacity and processing.
Home Ice Cream Machines
Prepare and chill the liquid mix before processing according to your ice cream machine's instructions and maximum capacity.
Tips for Smoother, Creamier Home Soft Serve
Start With Cold Liquid
Cold water and milk help keep the prepared mixture chilled before freezing or churning.
Mix Thoroughly
Use a whisk, stick blender or blender to thoroughly disperse the powder before freezing.
Allow Hydration
Allowing the mix to stand briefly after mixing can help the powdered ingredients hydrate.
Don't Overfill
Stay below the maximum fill line specified by your appliance manufacturer.
Try the Milk Recipe
Replacing part of the water with full cream milk can create a richer finished dessert.
Use Respin When Appropriate
If your machine supports a respin function, follow its instructions when additional processing is required.
Home Soft Serve & Frozen Dessert Ideas
Turn your base mix into loaded sundaes, frozen dessert cups, thickshakes and specialty treats.
🍨 Classic Vanilla Sundae
Start with Luxury Whip Vanilla Soft Serve Mix and finish with chocolate or caramel topping, crushed peanuts and sprinkles.
🍫 Chocolate Thickshake Dessert
Use Premium Chocolate Soft Serve Mix or our Premium Thickshake & Frappe Base Mix for a rich chocolate frozen dessert.
🫐 Blueberry Frozen Dessert
Use Blueberry Soft Serve Mix and finish with vanilla topping, sprinkles or fresh berries.
🍪 Biscoff Dessert Cup
Use Biscoff Soft Serve Mix or Biscoff Cheesecake Soft Serve Mix and add crushed biscuits, caramel topping and whipped cream.
🌈 Fairy Floss Party Dessert
Prepare Pink Fairy Floss Soft Serve Mix and top with rainbow sprinkles for a colourful party-style dessert.
🍰 Cheesecake Dessert Cup
Start with Premium Cheesecake Soft Serve Mix and add biscuit crumb, berry topping or caramel sauce.
Toppings for Homemade Soft Serve
Add sauces, sprinkles and crunchy toppings to turn a simple frozen dessert into a loaded sundae or dessert cup.
Can You Use Soft Serve Mix Without a Machine?
Yes. A dedicated frozen dessert machine generally provides better control over freezing and texture, but soft serve mix can also be used as a base for thickshakes, frozen dessert cups and blended frozen desserts.
Without a machine that freezes and agitates the product simultaneously, the finished texture will differ from traditional commercial soft serve.
Home Soft Serve Troubleshooting
Home frozen dessert appliances operate differently, so texture can vary. These checks can help identify common preparation issues.
Why is my soft serve icy?
Check that the correct liquid ratio was used and that the powder was thoroughly dispersed before freezing. A water-only preparation may also produce a different result from the richer milk preparation depending on the appliance.
Why is my frozen dessert too soft?
Check that the product was frozen or chilled for the period required by your appliance and that the machine, bowl or container was prepared correctly. Avoid exceeding the maximum fill level.
Why does my prepared mix have lumps?
Add the powder gradually while mixing rather than adding it all at once. A whisk, stick blender or blender can help disperse the powder more evenly.
Why is my dessert crumbly after processing?
Some pre-frozen dessert machines can produce a crumbly texture after the initial processing cycle. Follow your machine manufacturer's instructions for respinning or reprocessing the dessert where appropriate.
Why doesn't it look exactly like commercial soft serve?
Commercial soft serve machines freeze, churn and aerate liquid mix in a different way from most home appliances. Home-machine soft serve therefore may have a different texture, density and appearance.
More Ways to Enjoy Fun Foods Direct Soft Serve Mix
Frozen Desserts
Create soft serve-style desserts, frozen yoghurt and specialty frozen treats.
Thickshakes
Use suitable mixes to create thick, creamy shakes and blended frozen drinks.
Parties & Dessert Nights
Create customised desserts with different flavours, toppings, sauces and sprinkles.
Shop the Home Soft Serve Mix Range
Browse our range of soft serve and frozen dessert mixes for at-home dessert making, with flavours including vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel, blueberry, cheesecake, frozen yoghurt, Biscoff, fairy floss and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about making soft serve and frozen desserts at home using Fun Foods Direct mixes.
Can I use Fun Foods Direct soft serve mix in a Ninja Creami?
Fun Foods Direct soft serve mix can be prepared for use in suitable Ninja Creami frozen dessert applications. Prepare the mix thoroughly, stay within the machine's capacity and follow Ninja's instructions for freezing and processing.
Can I use soft serve mix in a Kmart dessert maker?
Soft serve mix may be used with suitable Kmart and other home frozen dessert machines. Models vary, so check your particular machine's instructions, capacity and preparation method before use.
How much soft serve powder should I use for a small home batch?
A convenient scaled recipe is 150g soft serve mix with 350ml cold water. For a richer version, use 150g mix, 300ml cold water and 100ml full cream milk.
Can I use milk instead of water?
You can replace part of the water with milk using the appropriate preparation ratio. Our richer home example uses 150g mix, 300ml water and 100ml full cream milk.
Do I need a commercial soft serve machine?
No. The mix can be used for suitable home frozen dessert applications. However, a home machine will generally produce a different texture and level of aeration from a commercial soft serve machine.
Can I use soft serve mix for thickshakes?
Yes. Soft serve and suitable thickshake mixes can be used for thickshakes, frozen drinks and blended dessert recipes. Our Premium Thickshake & Frappe Base Mix is specifically suited to thickshake and frappe-style applications.
Why should I let the soft serve mixture rest before freezing?
Allowing the prepared mixture to stand briefly can help powdered ingredients hydrate and disperse. Prepared mixes containing milk or other perishable ingredients should be handled and refrigerated appropriately.
What toppings work with homemade soft serve?
Popular options include chocolate, caramel, strawberry and vanilla toppings, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate jimmies, crushed peanuts, biscuit crumbs and other dessert toppings.
Can I make soft serve without any frozen dessert machine?
The prepared mix can be used in blended and frozen dessert recipes without a dedicated soft serve machine, although the finished texture will differ from traditional machine-dispensed soft serve.