What is the best home ice cream maker?

Well, promise you won't laugh... 2 plastic bags, a towel, and three kids!! Seriously. Put your cream, sugar, and flavorings in a quart size zipper bag. Tape shut (just to make sure it stays shut.) Then put this bag in a 2nd bag--a gal size or larger. Fill with ice and some salt. then seal and tape again. Wrap the bags in a towel--you could tape the towel shut, too, if you want. Give the bundle to the kids to play with for 15 min. When cut the tape, carefully remove the small bag from the larger one. wipe off salt/water from it, and you have wonderful ice cream!! There are several recipes online to do this.

There are many out on the market. You can find them at Sears and Lowes. Many seem really affordable. I'd get one of the hand crank jobs. Any kids would find that enjoyable.