Play & Freeze ice-cream maker

The ball-shaped ice-cream maker turns the task of churning ice cream into a game. The hard plastic body holds rock salt and ice cubes, and a central chamber houses the cream, sugar and other ingredients. Play with the 7 1/2-inch diameter ball and, while it's jostling about, the rock salt and ice work their magic.

The scoop: We found nothing but sweet success. The laden sphere is hard and heavy, so "play" consists of rolling, shaking and gently passing instead of throwing or kicking. About 20 minutes of movement produces ice cream with the consistency of soft-serve. For a firmer dessert, keep playing. Each batch makes a pint. One struggle: It's a tight squeeze to fit ice cubes through the opening. Priced at $29.95, the ball can be found where camping supplies are sold. www.industrialrev.com

Amy Arnold: amyarnold@seattletimes.com