We all scream for ice cream! Create delicious frozen confections in 20 minutes or less with just a few simple ingredients and the 1-qt. Donvier Premier Ice Cream Maker. Uses no electricity, ice or salt. Features the patented Chillfast cylinder, plus a double-walled freezer cylinder holder for extra insulation. Also works as an ice bucket. Includes recipes and instructions.

Makes 1 quart of ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, frozen drinks

No salt or ice needed; freezer bowl and paddle do the work

Aluminum freezer bowl cleans easily

9-1/2-inches high, 8 inches in diameter

Recipes included

Average Customer Review: ( 70 customer reviews )
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The Donvier lets you create the fresh flavors you want, when you want them. So, I get my chocolate chip with rich veins of beautiful Ghiradelli's milk chocolate chips and just a few semi-sweet for the heck of it. My wife's favorite is fresh peach and that's what she gets. You know what - in season, it tastes very much like a beautifully ripe peach! Only better.

Freeze the container overnight. Dump in the ingredients. Pop the lid on. Stir. Wait a bit. Stir some more. Repeat for ... minutes or so. Yesterday, I made a quart of ice cream while I was in the midst of preparing dinner for six - it was just no problem. The ice cream got such rave reviews from our guests that I was troubled at how easy it was to make.

Chocolate chip TIP: Wait until it's partly frozen up before you dump in the chips - they don't all settle down to the bottom that way.

We've had our Donvier for almost ten years and have never had a problem. Hey, what could go wrong? it's a metal bowl with a plastic handle that you turn inside it. I suppose you could break the handle with an excess of joie de vivre, but they're pretty cheap to replace. Ah, you ask, but is it easy to use? Well, turning a crank in a bowl is a fundamental human activity - *anybody* can do it!

No more need you buy Ben & Jerry's chocolate chip peanut turbot ice cream at 3 bucks a pint or so. The Donvier makes it just too easy to make incredibly good, fresh ice cream yourself.

Buy one. Now. You won't regret it.

53 of 54 found the following review helpful:

I LOVE IT!!!May 05, 2003

I have had this machine for a few years but just got into REALLY making wonderful icecream with it. My kids, husband and I love the ice cream we make with this machine. My husband asked me (after tasting his favorite flavor), "You made this icecream, NO, really, is it really homemade?" We have had friends over for dinner and I made some homemade ice cream. They just raved about it....they all want a Donvier too. I purchased this one because it is easy to use and produces FANTASTIC results. My kids love to be able to be part of the process so they, too, can say they can make delicious ice cream. (I think part of what MAKES the machine is a REALLY good recipe). You can buy several different ice cream books but my favorite recipes is from Ben & Jerry's. 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 c milk (I use Half & Half), 2 cups heavy cream. (this is just the base for many different flavors you can make). Beat the eggs for 2 mins, until light and fluffy, add sugar a little at a time, beat approx 1 more min. Then add Half & Half, and cream. Now add your favorite flavoring...like 1/4 tsp peppermint oil (and a few drops of green food coloring)for mint chocolate chip ice cream. Always use chilled ingredients. If you just wanted vanilla then you would just add approx 1-1 1/2 tsp of vanilla. (I put this in the fridge to set for about 1/2 - 1 hr but you don't have to if you are using chilled ingredients.) When I am ready I add the mixture to the machine and start making icecream. Near the end of the freezing process I add shaved Ghiradelli chocolate and mix it in. Voila! Wonderful, creamy, tasty mint chip icecream! The icecream is ready in about 20 mins but at this point it will be pretty soft, I usually let it set for anywhere from about another 20 or 30 mins because I like mine a little harder. It is THAT easy, just make your icecream base...add your favorite flavorings and freeze!

43 of 43 found the following review helpful:

The DonNov 05, 2004
By Mitch Baywatch
It's important to note that ice cream makers aren't really convenience products. It takes a little bit of time, patience, and kitchen handiness to produce homemade frozen desserts. Not that it's difficult, but if you're only looking for convenience, you are better off just buying ice cream at your local mega-mart. If you are not the type of person who gains personal satisfaction from preparing food by hand, then I wouldn't recommend one of these appliances.

The Donvier is a frozen bowl model, much like those of Cuisinart and Krups. The fact that you turn the dasher by hand isn't a big deal. In fact, I like that I have control over how much I aerate my mix. As much as the directions tell you how often and how long to turn, I really think those are general guidelines. You need to develop a feel for this.

I've never had a problem with my base not freezing enough. On the contrary, I have had some problems with it freezing quickly to the sides of the bowl before I have a chance to turn the paddle. I believe electric ice cream models ask you to turn on the machine before pouring in the base for this very reason. When I chill my base overnight, I have to leave it on the counter a bit before using it. I also try not to futz around with the handle and cover after pouring the base into the bowl.

As a final note: you can buy a backup bowl at Donvier's website.

42 of 42 found the following review helpful:

Review from a Skeptic & some TipsFeb 28, 2009
By FaireMaiden
Well, blow me down, the Donvier Ice Cream Maker really works, *lol*

Having recently been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, I had to change my eating habits drastically... and quickly. Which meant, I had to change my cooking habits as well. Not wanting to give up my sweet-tooth, I bought a sugar-free Ice-Cream at the market. Needless to say, it tasted horrid! The decision was obvious. Like everything else I was having to change, I was going to have to bite-the-bullet and learn how to make my own Ice-Cream.

After searching thru Amazon for an Ice Cream Maker, (one entire evening, mind you), I had pretty much made-up my mind to buy an electric. Alas, I stumbled upon the Donvier at the completion of my 'hours-on-end' search and thought, 'Yeah, sure'. But, as I kept reading the Reviews, I was becoming more and more sold on the product and, in the end, decided to take the plunge, (albeit purchasing one at an auction site).
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MY REASONS FOR PURCHASING THE DONVIER WERE VARIED:

1. I really did not want another appliance I had to 'plug' into a wall socket; especially a noisy one.

2. I did not want another appliance that was interminably 'heavy', thus making a chore of putting it in, and getting it out of, the cupboard.

3. I wanted an appliance that had 'mobility' and 'ease of use'.

4. I didn't want to go the 'ice & rock salt' route, either, to gain that 'mobility'. As for 'ease of use', there is nothing easy about rock salt and ice.

5. I did not want to spend a lot of 'money' for said appliance, and;

6. Due to my entire family's sweet-tooth addiction, I wanted an Ice-Cream maker that made only '1-Quart'... enough for a dessert for my husband, daughter, and myself for two nights running. Having a ½-gallon, (2 quarts), or more, of Ice-Cream in the freezer would just tempt us beyond all reason.

I found all this in the Donvier. But, one question loomed: Would it really work the way the Company, (and the other Reviewers), said it would? Let's see how it all panned out --->
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THE BOWL:

When I received the Donvier, the material kind of reminded me of those salad spinners; a heavy-duty plastic Bowl with a Handle, but not brittle or stiff, (like, if you dropped it on the floor it would crack). Indeed, the plastic felt strong and light, but flexible.
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THE LID:

The Clear Lid, however, is a strong, hard, brittle plastic... don't drop it! *lol*
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THE CANISTER:

I cleaned it, (as I do all new purchases), and made room in my freezer for it. It is, by-the-way, Aluminum, so, whatever you do, don't use metal tools to get the Ice-Cream out once it's ready, (a rubber spatula works very well for this task). As well, the Canister is 7"-Tall x 6 1/4"-Diameter. The bulk is due to the double-walled design that holds the 'Freezing Gel' inside.
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THE FREEZER:

Our freezer is kept at -2 Degrees-Fahrenheit, so I had no doubt the Gel would freeze-up properly. As stated in the 'Instruction Booklet', I positioned the Canister upright, and away from the door. If you lay it on its side, (or upside-down), you're in for a very great disappointment when you try to make your Ice-Cream.
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THE ICE-CREAM BASE:

I then got busy in the kitchen and made my first batch of 'Chocolate Ice-Cream Base', and put that in the fridge. According to the 'Instruction Booklet', the colder the 'Base', the more quickly, easily, and successfully will the Ice-Cream set-up as you're churning it.
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THE TIMING:

I put the Canister in the freezer at 8pm, and the Ice-Cream base in the fridge about 9pm. The next day, I put it all together to make Ice-Cream at about 3 in the afternoon... a good 19-hours later.
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PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:

There are six parts to this appliance. The Canister, the Ring, the Bowl, the Scraper, the Lid, and the Turn Handle. And, they fit together in just that order.

a. Take the frozen Canister out of the freezer, and position the Plastic Ring on it, (this Ring holds the Canister in place inside the Bowl).

b. Place the Canister in the Bowl, (by lining up the slots in the Ring to the slots in the Bowl).

c. Put the Scraper in the Canister.

d. Put the Ice-Cream Base in the Canister.

e. Put the Lid on the Bowl and turn to lock it in place.

g. Put the Turn Handle in the Lid and, voila, the assembly is done.


IT ALL SOUNDS SO COMPLICATED BUT, IN ACTUALITY, ONLY TAKES 30-45 SECONDS.

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CHURNING MOBILITY CAN'T BE BEAT!:

Now, the beauty of this appliance is that you can churn the Ice-Cream anywhere you want... it's so light and easy to carry. As for me, I had a pot roast in the oven, (and a couple of hours before my family came flying thru the door), so, sat at my desk to play a few games of Solitaire on the computer whilst listening to the news. I took the Donvier over to my desk with me, and kept turning the Handle 2-3 times every couple of minutes-or-so as I played my games. And, sure enough, TWENTY-MINUTES later, I had Ice-Cream. I was thrilled to no end! It was all so easy. The Handle turned the Scraper flawlessly at every stage.
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STORING THE ICE-CREAM:

Once completed, I put the Ice-Cream in a 1qt-Pyrex bowl-with-lid, and put it in the freezer to keep for dessert, (by-the-way, it was DELISH)!
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ANOTHER TWO 'BY-THE-WAYS':

1. Ice Cream is always soft when it is done. If you aren't going to eat it right then and there, (and/or want it harder), then you have to put it in the freezer; (making Ice Cream harder is called 'Ripening').

2. When you first begin the churning process, do so promptly at the beginning. If you don't, the Ice Cream will freeze up against the wall of the Canister and you won't be able to get the Scraper to move. If you force it, you will break the Scraper. The only remedy is to then take the Lid off and slide a plastic knife or hard-plastic spatula around the wall of the Canister to get the Ice Cream off the wall; replace the Lid, and start churning again.
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THE BONUS:

Here's something I didn't expect. I found the churning of the Ice-Cream a particular joy. I know it sounds corny, *lol*, but I really liked watching the Ice-Cream become Ice-Cream. I liked being a part of the 'alchemical process' of applying cold to something and watching it turn into something else. I liked having the ability to carry the Bowl with me; to open the Lid when I wanted to add bits of goodies, like chocolate chips, near the end of the churning; and being able to see what was happening thru the Clear Lid.

I don't know... it just gave me a most enjoyable sense of 'nostalgia'. My world had suddenly slowed down; I was taking a much-needed break from my everyday tasks; yet, making something delightfully tasty for my family while I relaxed for those few moments. Instead of being bombarded, yet again, by some noisy, modern electric appliance, it reminded me of sitting out on the porch with my grandma and shucking corn, or shelling peas, or stringing beans, (or one of those thousand-and-one chores a woman does absent-mindedly), thereby allowing her to give her everyday thoughts and cares over to her dreams and reveries of life and living.

Aye, I found all this in the Donvier Ice-Cream Maker. It gave me not only Food for Life, but Food for my Soul, *vbs*
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p.s. An excellent Ice-Cream recipe book to go along with your Donvier Maker is 'Ben & Jerry's Ice-Cream Book'.

p.p.s. I substitute DiabetiSweet for the sugar called for in Ice-Cream recipes 1:1.

p.p.p.s. If you use DiabetiSweet in Ice-Cream recipes, the Ice-Cream Base (Custard) should be cooked first. This is because DiabetiSweet is rather grainy, even moreso than regular sugar. You will get a much better, much smoother texture if you cook the Base first. If you're using regular sugar, and don't want to cook the Base, then I suggest you use either SuperFine sugar (what is commonly called Baker's Sugar), or put your regular sugar in a food processor and pulse it a few times to get that Superfine grain.
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ADDENDUM, MARCH 17-2009: ICE-CREAM TOO HARD FROM FREEZING:

Now that we've had this Ice-cream maker for not quite 3 weeks, (and making Ice-cream every two minutes, it seems, *lol*), we have discovered that, because our freezer is so cold, the Ice-cream is frozen solid when we take it out to eat it.

We have gotten around this by putting the container of Ice-cream in the microwave for 40 seconds. It softens it just enough to make it able to be scooped into bowls.

Of course, one will have to play with their microwave-times as they're all so different.
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UPDATE, MAY 14-2010:

Well, Summer is almost here, and none too soon! What a miserable Winter we've all had, *ugh*. It's been just over a year since we bought the Donvier Ice-Cream Maker, and we're just as enamoured today as we were when we first got it, *vbs*. We have no plans to switch to an electric-maker at all. For our family, (when it comes to making home-made Ice-Cream), the Donvier is the bomb!

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