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This Shortcut Fried Ice Cream recipe is an easy dessert that’s an impressive way to end any meal. Grab the kids because they’ll love making this recipe!
This recipe costs about $4.33 to make. It serves 6-8 people and costs just $0.72 per serving.
Try our Easy Tres Leches Cake for another fun dessert. Or make our Grandma’s Homemade Chocolate Syrup to drizzle on top of this Shortcut Fried Ice Cream.
This no-fry recipe for Fried Ice Cream is a hack that will give you the same great taste without the hassle of actually frying anything. It’s a delicious restaurant-quality dessert that you can make at home.
This dessert is irresistible. The crispy, buttery, and cinnamon outer layer engulfs scoops of creamy vanilla ice cream that’s topped with whipped cream, hot fudge, and a cherry. What’s not to love?!
You can make this Fried Ice Cream for birthday celebrations, family gatherings, or even a summer BBQ. These are perfect for just about any occasion, and all you need are 4 ingredients!
Ingredients and Cost
RECIPE COST: $4.33
PRICE PER SERVING: $0.72
- 1-quart vanilla ice cream – $2.97
- 6 cups corn flakes cereal – $0.48
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter – $0.80
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon – $0.08
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
Instructions
- First, soften the ice cream. Then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Next, crush the corn flakes into fine crumbs. Place the crumbs in a bowl and add the cinnamon.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Then stir in the cereal crumbs and cook until golden brown.
- Scoop the ice cream and form it into balls. Roll the balls in the cornflake mixture and place them on the baking sheet.
- Finally, chill the fried ice cream in the freezer until ready to serve.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Instead of Corn Flakes you can use crushed tortilla chips, Rice Krispies, crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or finely chopped nuts.
- While vanilla is usually used to make this dessert, feel free to use any flavor of ice cream that you like.
- Sometimes we like topping the fried ice cream with caramel, butterscotch, peanut butter sauce, sliced bananas, and sprinkles.
Storage Tips
Serve: Serve immediately.
Store & Freeze: Keep in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 days. Note that the longer it freezes, the less likely the coating will stay crisp.
Cook’s Tools
- measuring cups
- rolling pin
- large skillet
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- baking sheet
Is fried ice cream really Mexican?
Fried Ice Cream is served in a lot of Mexican restaurants. Many people even refer to the dessert as Mexican Fried Ice Cream.
It first became popular due to the popular restaurant Chi-Chi’s using it as its signature dessert in the 80s. They first made it with tortillas and cinnamon. Other Mexican restaurants began making the dessert with corn flakes, cookie crumbs, and nuts.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let your little one help crush up the corn flakes. They love doing this part!
Ages 4-5: Your child can help roll the ice cream balls in the cornflake mixture. Kids think this is so fun!
Ages 6-8: This is a great recipe to let your child try on their own. With your assistance, they can master this recipe.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
More Desserts:
- 4th of July Poke Cake
- Aunt Nancie’s Pistachio Pudding Cake
- Cake Mix Banana Bread
- Cake Mix Peach Cobbler
- Cheesecake Fruit Salad
- Chick-Fil-A Copycat Frosted Lemonade
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Bon Bons
- Chocolate Wacky Cake
- Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
- Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake
- Death by Chocolate Poke Cake
- Lemon Poke Cake
- No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie
- Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake
- Oreo Ice Cream Cake
- Mom’s Lemon Lush
- Raspberry Poke Cake
Fried Ice Cream
Recipe Cost 4.33 Serving Cost 0.72Equipment
- measuring cups
- rolling pin
- large skillet
- Measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 quart vanilla ice cream
CRISPY COATING:
- 6 cups corn flakes cereal or cinnamon toast crunch cereal
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
TOPPINGS: (all optional)
- Whipped cream
- Hot fudge or chocolate sauce
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
PREP ICE CREAM:
- Soften ice cream at room temperature for 30 minutes.
PREP BAKING SHEET:
- Line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with parchment paper.
MAKE CRISPY COATING:
- Add corn flakes to a large resealable bag. Use a rolling pin to crush cereal into fine crumbs. Alternatively, you can use a food processor.
- Transfer crumbs to a medium bowl and in cinnamon to combine.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Stir in cereal crumbs mixture and cook until golden brown and fragrant about 2-3 minutes. Watch the mixture carefully so it doesn't burn.
- Remove from the heat and add to a medium bowl. Allow the mixture to cool completely for about 5-10 minutes.
COAT ICE CREAM:
- Scoop ice cream with a large ice cream scoop. Form the ice cream scoops into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet using your hands.
- Roll ice cream balls in the cooled crispy topping mixture. Slightly press the coating into the ice cream and return the ice cream balls to the baking sheet.
- Chill the fried ice cream in the freezer until ready to serve.
SERVE:
- Serve with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and cherry (all optional).
Gina says
Thank you so much for this recipe! This was delicious!
Jenni says
This is a great recipe, so easy to follow and tasted so great! My kids loved it!
darlene T brown says
plain corn flakes or sugar frosted
Jess Jankowski says
Hi Darlene, we use plain corn flakes. Enjoy!
Barb says
but it’s not fried ♀️
Jess Jankowski says
Yep! That’s why it is a shortcut version! Hope you try it and enjoy! It is a delicious treat without the mess of frying.