Soft-serve ice cream has been one of the most profitable dessert formats in cafés and ice-cream parlours for years. Customers love it for both flavour and texture. Some swear by classic soft serve, while others prefer a twist. So what sets these two styles apart? The shape is only one element that distinguishes them. Take a look at what defines soft serve ice cream style and the iconic twist ice cream – and choose a product that sells well regardless of its form.
Machine-made ice cream can vary in flavour, texture and shape. If you’re choosing your first soft-serve machine, you’re likely weighing up whether to serve soft serve or twist ice cream. Ideally, you’d offer both – but that would require two different machines and more space. For this reason, many new businesses start with one machine and focus on a single style: soft serve or twist ice cream.
Soft-serve ice cream is prepared from a mix poured into the machine, which freezes and whips it into a smooth, visually appealing dessert. This method applies to both soft serve and twist ice cream, although on the surface they look very different – and the differences don’t end there
Soft-serve ice cream is exceptionally light, smooth and creamy – almost cloud-like. Machines designed for soft serve often include an aeration pump, which incorporates air into the mix. This creates the characteristic fluffy, airy texture. The shape of the swirl depends on the nozzle; some machines allow nozzle changes to create different forms and enhance the dessert offer.
In Poland, twist ice cream is known as lody amerykańskie or świderki. The name “świderki” – referring to spirals – perfectly describes their look: tall, spiral cones, often in a two-flavour twist. Twist ice cream is firmer than soft serve because twist machines freeze the mix at a lower temperature and do not aerate it. Thanks to this denser structure, twist cones can be served impressively high without losing shape.
Machine-made ice cream can differ not only in flavour, texture and appearance, but also in quality. This is why, regardless of whether you choose a soft-serve machine or a twist-ice-cream machine, the most important thing is selecting the right ice-cream mix. And what does “right” mean? A mix that tastes excellent, looks appealing and is based on the highest-quality ingredients. Choose a simple recipe and premium quality. Machine-made ice cream can differ in shape, flavour, texture and – crucially – in quality. Whether you choose a soft-serve machine or a twist machine, the most important factor is the mix you use. A good mix ensures excellent taste, an appealing appearance and premium ingredients.
In LYKKE’s range you’ll find mixes for both soft-serve ice cream and twist ice cream. Using these bases, you can prepare ice cream in your preferred shape and in five flavours: vanilla, cream, chocolate, strawberry and blueberry. And most importantly: your ice cream will stand out on the market thanks to its quality and clean, natural ingredient list. Your customers will notice the difference.
LYKKE ice cream is made with whole milk, which gives it excellent flavour and a perfectly creamy texture. Natural food colourings and powdered fruit juice ensure that the ice cream remains genuinely natural, making comparisons to artisan ice cream entirely justified. LYKKE is an ideal way to offer premium ice cream that tastes delicious, looks tempting and works beautifully as a base for eye-catching desserts.
Some cafés, wanting to expand their menu with ice cream, serve impulse products: lollies, pre-packed cones or ready-made scoop ice cream from tubs, or they try to produce homemade versions by freezing mixtures in silicone moulds. However, these solutions rarely deliver the expected results: waste exceeds profit, and freezers for storing ice cream take up a great deal of space. Ready-made ice creams are full of preservatives and artificial colourings, while preparing desserts in-house requires considerable time and staff effort.
LYKKE ice cream is loved by all sweet-toothed customers – perfect for both children and adults. It’s ice cream that sells not only in summer, but all year round.
For café and ice-cream parlour owners, purchasing an ice-cream machine is a significant investment – but one that pays off, as the cost is usually recovered within the first season.
What makes serving machine-made ice cream (soft serve or twist) worthwhile:
That’s why more venues now serve machine-made ice cream not only in summer, but throughout the entire year — as an addition to waffles, iced coffee or premium desserts.
An additional advantage is the ability to change the nozzle to create different ice-cream shapes. Each shape helps define your own style and allows your venue to stand out from the competition – without investing in new equipment. However, to achieve clear, stable and visually appealing patterns, the mix must have the right structure. That’s exactly what LYKKE provides – a premium brand offering soft-serve and twist ice-cream mixes made from high-quality, natural ingredients.
Thanks to their stable, creamy consistency, LYKKE products offer:
| Benefit | Description |
| Emphasis on varied shapes | Achieved thanks to interchangeable nozzles that allow you to create a wide range of ice-cream designs |
| Consistent visual effect | Guaranteed uniform quality and appearance, even when the machine is under heavy load; easy to prepare. |
| Support for premium offerings, wide versatility | Suitable for creating both classic servings and high-quality, visually striking desserts |
Venue owners also appreciate their ease of preparation, clean ingredient list and low level of waste – all of which have a positive impact on margins and day-to-day operations.
Whether you choose soft ice cream as light as a feather or impressively tall twists, it’s essential to prepare them using the highest-quality ice-cream mixes. LYKKE’s premium mixes are a guarantee of strong profit margins.
If you want to serve ice cream that truly stands out for its quality, explore the full LYKKE range and choose the mixes that best fit your concept.
