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How to use the KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment

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Short answer

To use the KitchenAid ice cream attachment, freeze the bowl for at least 15 hours at 0 F or colder, chill your base, attach the bowl and dasher to the mixer, set it to Stir (the lowest speed), then pour in the base while it turns. Churn for about 20 to 30 minutes until it looks like thick soft serve, then transfer it to a container and freeze to firm up.

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This page is for stand mixer owners using the KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment, the freezer bowl with a plastic dasher and drive assembly. It covers freezing the bowl, assembling it on tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers, the right speed, how long to churn, and what to do when the dasher clicks, stalls or the base will not thicken. It ends with when a dedicated machine makes more sense. Check the manual that came with your attachment, since parts have changed over the years.

How the attachment works

The KitchenAid attachment is a freezer bowl machine that uses your mixer as the motor. The double-walled bowl holds a coolant that you freeze ahead of time. The mixer turns a dasher slowly inside it, scraping freezing base off the cold walls and mixing in some air. Like any freezer bowl, it has a limited amount of cold per freeze, so a fully frozen bowl and a cold base are what make or break a batch. See compressor versus freezer bowl machines for the tradeoffs.

Cross-sections of a freezer bowl machine and a compressor machineFreezer bowlCoolant in the wallwarms as heat flows inCompressorRefrigerant coilskeep pulling heat out while it churnsBaseBaseDasherheat
A freezer bowl has a fixed store of cold in its walls; a compressor keeps cooling for as long as it runs.

Before you churn

A simple base for this bowl is 2 cups heavy cream, 1 cup whole milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla and a pinch of salt, whisked until the sugar dissolves and chilled. It contains milk. If you make a custard with egg yolks, cook it to 170 to 175 F before chilling; do not use raw eggs.

  • Freeze the bowl for at least 15 hours, per KitchenAid, at 0 F or colder. Many owners keep it in the freezer full time.
  • Shake the bowl. If you hear liquid sloshing, it is not ready.
  • Make the base a day ahead and refrigerate it until cold. Cooked custards must be chilled anyway.
  • Check the recipe volume against the manual. The base expands as it churns, and overfilling leads to overflow and soft results.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Take the bowl from the freezer only when everything else is ready. It starts warming right away.

  2. 2

    Attach the bowl to the mixer. On tilt-head models, it sits on the bowl clamping plate; on bowl-lift models, it mounts on the bowl arms.

  3. 3

    Fit the dasher in the bowl and attach the drive assembly to the mixer's beater shaft as shown in your manual.

  4. 4

    Lower the head or raise the bowl so the drive assembly engages the dasher.

  5. 5

    Turn the mixer on to Stir, the lowest speed.

  6. 6

    Pour the cold base into the turning bowl with a spout or ladle.

  7. 7

    Churn about 20 to 30 minutes, until it is thick like soft serve.

  8. 8

    Turn off, remove the dasher, and spoon the ice cream into a chilled container. Freeze 2 to 4 hours for a scoopable texture.

Note.Use only Stir speed. Higher speeds can damage the dasher and warm the base. Do not let the mixer run for long periods beyond the recommended time.

Common problems and fixes

The drive assembly is designed to slip and click when the ice cream gets too thick, which protects the mixer. A soupy batch is almost always a bowl or base temperature issue. Our Cuisinart not freezing guide covers the same checks, and ice cream maker paddle not turning covers dasher stalls.

  • Dasher clicks or slips
    Likely causeIce cream has thickened
    FixUsually means it is done; stop the mixer
  • Still liquid after 30 minutes
    Likely causeBowl not fully frozen or base warm
    FixFreeze bowl longer; chill base overnight
  • Base freezes in a hard layer on the wall
    Likely causeBase poured before turning on
    FixStart the mixer first, then pour
  • Overflows
    Likely causeToo much base
    FixUse less; follow the manual's volume
  • Ice cream icy
    Likely causeSlow freeze, lean base
    FixColder bowl, more fat or sugar
KitchenAid ice cream attachment problems

Cleaning and storing the bowl

Let the bowl warm to room temperature before washing it, and hand wash it in warm, not hot, soapy water. KitchenAid says the bowl is not dishwasher safe. Do not use metal utensils that can scratch the inside. Dry it fully before it goes back in the freezer, or ice will form inside. The dasher and drive assembly can be washed by hand as well; check your manual for any parts listed as dishwasher safe.

When a dedicated machine makes sense

The attachment is a good, space-saving option if you already own a KitchenAid and make ice cream now and then. It is less handy if you want several batches in a day, since the bowl needs a full refreeze between them, or if your freezer cannot hold it at 0 F. A compressor machine freezes as it churns and can make batch after batch. Compare options in our best ice cream maker with compressor and best ice cream maker guides, or see Ninja Creami vs KitchenAid ice cream maker.

Frequently asked questions

What speed do I use for the KitchenAid ice cream maker? Use Stir, the lowest speed. Higher speeds can damage the dasher.

How long does the KitchenAid ice cream maker take? About 20 to 30 minutes of churning, depending on the base and how cold the bowl is.

Why does my KitchenAid ice cream attachment keep clicking? The drive assembly slips when the ice cream gets thick. That usually means it is done. Stop the mixer.

Can I make sorbet in the KitchenAid bowl? Yes. Chill the sorbet base well and make sure the bowl is fully frozen. See how to make sorbet in an ice cream maker.

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