Fried Ice Cream Easy Recipe

If you’re looking for the ultimate indulgence, you just found it!

Easy Fried Ice Cream Recipe

What could possibly be better than frozen balls of ice cream coated in crushed cornflakes and deep-fried until golden? The contrast between the crunchy, warm coating and the cold, creamy ice cream is simply heavenly. And though I’ve specified vanilla ice cream in this recipe, any ice cream flavor works. So get creative! When it comes to this dessert, the flavor doesn’t matter! Stick to the classics or go nuts with something more unique. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this fried ice cream recipe!

What Is Fried Ice Cream?

I know what you’re thinking: the idea of frying ice cream sounds crazy! But stay with me. Fried ice cream is a dessert of ice cream scoops covered in breading or batter. They’re then quickly deep fried until golden brown resulting in a dish that’s hot and crunchy on the outside and cool and creamy in the middle. The key element is the frozen ice cream scoops that must be made ahead. So you see, you won’t just fry the ice cream as is. This Mexican dessert calls for scooping ice cream into balls and freezing them until solid. When you’re sure they’re hard, you’ll dip them in beaten egg whites and cover them with crushed cornflakes. Then they’re ready for deep-frying, where they’ll turn golden and crunchy. Drizzle the fried ice cream with chocolate or caramel sauce and top with whipped cream and a cherry. Just when you think ice cream couldn’t get any better, this dessert takes it to a whole new level of awesomeness.

Ingredients

Vanilla Ice Cream – or whatever your favorite ice cream flavor is. Crushed Cornflakes – serves as the crust that coats the ice cream.Ground Cinnamon – to add flavor to the cornflakes. Add as little or as much as you like.Egg Whites – it acts as the glue, so the cornflakes stick to the ice cream. Oil – for deep-frying. Use oil with a high smoke point, such as peanut oil, so you can deep-fry quickly.

How to Make Fried Ice Cream

Fried ice cream is pretty easy to make, although it calls for some freezing time to be sure to plan ahead.

Scoop and freeze the ice cream. Make 1/2-cup-sized ice cream balls using an ice cream scoop. Dip the scoop in hot water if the ice cream is too hard. If you want the balls to be perfectly round, use your hands to shape them. Put on plastic gloves to protect the ice cream from your warm hands. Finally, place the ice cream scoops on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until they solidify (about an hour).
Prepare the coating. In a shallow bowl, combine the crushed cornflakes and cinnamon. Whisk the egg whites in another until they’re slightly foamy.
Coat and the ice cream balls. Dip the ice cream balls in the egg whites and roll them in cornflakes. Be sure the balls are completely coated; otherwise, they’ll be exposed to oil during frying and melt. Roll them in the cornflake mixture twice, if needed. Work on just one ball at a time, keeping the rest in the freezer, so they don’t melt.
Refreeze the ice cream balls. Once coated, freeze the ice cream balls again to firm them up (about 3 hours). This step is crucial! The ice cream must be frozen solid to withstand being submerged in hot oil for several seconds.
Deep-fry the ice cream. Preheat the oil in a deep-fryer or tall, heavy-bottomed pot to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry the ice cream for 10 to 15 seconds. Don’t fry all the balls at once! Instead, just put in however many scoops your fryer can accommodate. Over-crowding will cause the oil’s temperature to drop, which means the ice cream won’t turn golden as fast. This will yield either melted ice cream or a soggy crust. Also, monitor the oil’s temperature. The crust will crack if it gets too hot, exposing the ice cream. And remember: while deep-frying, keep the rest of the balls in the freezer.
Garnish, serve, and enjoy! Garnish the fried ice cream with your choice of toppings, serve, and enjoy! Serve fried ice cream immediately after deep-frying.

Tips for the Best Fried Ice Cream

Cornflakes are excellent for this recipe but try crushed vanilla wafers, too. Better yet, combine the two or go for something with more flavor, like gingersnaps!Other awesome cornflake subs include Graham Crackers, crushed nuts, and shredded coconut.Skip a step and cornflake crumbs, which you can get in the same grocery aisle where bread crumbs are.Or, give regular cornflakes a few pulses in the blender.Run the ice cream scoop in hot water for easy scooping. Just a couple of seconds should do it.Not in the mood to deep-fry? Just sprinkle the cornflake mixture on top of the ice cream, and voila.Shape the ice cream with your hands if you want the balls to be perfectly round. Use plastic gloves to keep the ice cream from melting and your hands clean.This dessert is best served immediately after deep-frying. Don’t deep-fry until you’re ready to serve.

How Come the Ice Cream Doesn’t Melt?

If the ice cream balls are large and frozen enough, they should be able to withstand a few seconds in hot oil. That said, make sure your ice cream balls are rock solid before you drop them in the fryer. Allot about 3 hours of freezing time before you deep-fry. It’s also important to coat the ice cream scoops completely in egg whites and the cornflake mixture. Together, they create a near-impenetrable crust that protects the ice cream from oil exposure. So, it’s best to roll the ice cream balls in the crust mixture twice before you freeze and fry them.

Can I Use a Different Flavor of Ice Cream?

The wonderful thing about making your own dessert is you get to play with the flavors. Think of this recipe as a mere guide to help you achieve fried ice cream success, but feel free to customize it as well. So, while vanilla ice cream is perfect for this dessert, any other flavor works, too. My only advice is if your flavor of choice doesn’t pair well with cinnamon, ditch the cinnamon!

Topping Ideas

The fun part about ice cream is always the toppings! So while this dessert is already pretty decadent, toppings are still a must. I love fried ice cream with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and cherries on top. That’s the ultimate dessert, right there. But, if you want to switch things up, go ahead! Here’s some inspiration, in case you need it:

Fresh berries will add a nice tart contrast to the sweet dessert. Banana slices along with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, nuts, and cherries will transform your fried ice cream into fried ice cream banana split. So go ahead and indulge, you deserve it! Rainbow sprinkles will make this dessert even more appetizing to the kids and the kids at heart.Chopped nuts will add an extra layer of crunch. Toast the nuts beforehand to bring out their flavor more.Crushed candy is ideal for sweet tooths. I love how it adds another layer of both taste and texture to the dessert!

Can I Make Fried Ice Cream in Advance?

Absolutely! Prepare the ice cream balls as instructed, but leave the deep-frying until you’re ready to serve. You can keep the covered ice cream balls in the freezer for up to 2 days before frying them.