Fried Ice Cream

Fried Ice Cream has a warm, crunchy shell with cold vanilla ice cream inside. Yes, it really is deep fried and served with cinnamon chips.

My first experience with fried ice cream was at a teen birthday party for a friend at a restaurant called Chi Chi’s. We were amazed that they could fry ice cream without it melting!

Start by crushing corn flakes and vanilla wafers separately. Then, mix the crumbs with ground cinnamon and divide it into two bowls.

What other kinds of coatings can be used?

• cornflakes
• vanilla wafers
• graham crackers
• cinnamon toast crunch
• shredded coconut
• chopped nuts

What flavor of ice cream is inside fried ice cream?

The classic ice cream choice for fried ice cream is vanilla but other flavors would be delicious as well. Here are some combinations we would like to try:

• chocolate ice cream coated in crushed Oreos
• coffee ice cream with cocoa pebbles
• strawberry ice cream covered in fruity pebbles
• chocolate chip ice cream coated in crushed chips ahoy

Next, make 1/4 cup scoops of vanilla ice cream and coat them with the corn flakes mixture. Freeze the ice cream balls for 1-2 hours.

Remove the coated balls of ice cream from the freezer.

Coat them with beaten eggs and cover with more of the cornflakes mixture.

Repeat a second time for full coverage. Return the ice cream balls to the freezer for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.

If you want to store the coated ice cream balls for a longer period of time, wrap each ball with plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag.

When ready to fry, heat the oil in a deep-fryer (or use a heavy pot, and a thermometer). Fry one ball of ice cream at a time (leave the other balls in the freezer) for 10-15 seconds, until golden. Serve immediately or return to the freezer.

Put the fried ice cream on top of cinnamon tortilla chips (find my fried tortillas recipe here) in a shallow bowl. Drizzle with chocolate sauce, add a dollop of whipped cream, and top with a maraschino cherry.

What can I use for toppings?

• chocolate sauce (find my recipe here)
• caramel sauce (find my recipe here)
• strawberry sauce (find my recipe here)
• honey
• whipped cream (find my recipe here)
• cherries
• powdered sugar
• sprinkles

Can I make fried ice cream without deep frying?

Yes, you can make faux fried ice cream without deep frying it. Instead, you’ll fry the coating in a pan before adding it to the ice cream balls. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a skillet. Add the crushed corn flakes, crushed vanilla wafers, and ground cinnamon. Stir fry for 2-5 minutes until golden brown and toasted. Remove from heat and cool. Then, scoop the ice cream and coat the balls with the toasted coating. Place in the freezer until ready to serve.

Does this recipe work for fried ice cream bars or cupcakes?

Yes, you can use this recipe to make fried ice cream bars or cupcakes. Follow the instructions above for frying the coating in a skillet. Mix the vanilla ice cream with 8 ounces of cool whip. Spread 1/3 of the corn flakes mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch pan or divide between muffin tin cups. Spoon the vanilla ice cream mixture over the top and spread to cover the bottom. Top with the remaining corn flakes mixture. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Want to make more fair food? Try these recipes next:

These kid-approved Mini Corn Dogs are hand dipped in a sweet, honey flavored cornmeal batter and deep fried until golden and crispy.

Fluffy Shave Ice drizzled with flavored syrup is the best way to cool off on a hot summer day! Top your snoball with gummies, sprinkles, or whipped cream.

Make this easy Funnel Cake Recipe and surprise your family with fair food at home! Just add your favorite toppings to these sweet, crispy funnel cakes.

Make this loaded Nachos recipe to serve at your next party or surprise your family with sheet pan nachos dinner with all of their favorite toppings!