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.

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.

This is a great gift idea for under the age of 10 they can stay in shape and make ice cream at the same time lol my grandson loved it it was my daughter's idea

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.

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.

Kept the kids busy and active and then it produced a treat! Such a great hit!

Why did you pick this product vs others?:My daughter loves to play soccer and what better way to kick a soccer ball around than to make ice cream while doing it. We followed the chocolate chip ice cream recipe provided. The ice cream turned out great. Even after refreezing it was still good.

We were really excited to use this for a steam badge for Girl Scouts for it to leak all over while we rolled it in the grass.When I got home to wash it I could see it was cracked, this was our first time using it and it was not dropped at all. I fear it came damaged.The ice cream was delicious however water got all over the girls.