This fried ice cream recipe is made without deep frying, so it’s easy, mess-free, and just as crunchy as your favorite Mexican restaurant dessert.

Fried ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and a maraschino cherry.

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Fried Ice Cream the Easy Way

Fried ice cream is an irresistible dessert that is a must-try if you’ve never had the pleasure! It’s a restaurant-style favorite featuring a scoop of cold, creamy ice cream coated in a crispy, golden, sweet cinnamon coating then fried for a wonderful hot-cold, crunchy, creamy experience!

This version of Mexican fried ice cream without deep frying is the perfect, easy, and mess-free accompaniment to a Cinco-de-Mayo inspired dessert spread that includes homemade churros, sopapilla cheesecake bars, and tres leches cake. It’s perfect for parties, family nights, and when you’re craving something a little extra special!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s easy to make with just 4 ingredients!
  • No deep frying means less mess and easy clean up.

Ingredients Notes

Ingredients for fried ice cream including vanilla ice cream, frosted flakes, cinnamon, and butter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Vanilla ice cream: This recipe makes enough for 4 scoops, but you can easily double the ingredients. I highly recommend my homemade vanilla ice cream for this!
  • Frosted Flakes cereal and cinnamon: The sweet, crunchy, cinnamon coating. Crush the cereal in a Ziploc bag or pulse it in a food processor until coarse crumbs.
  • Salted butter: Helps toast the cereal to make it extra crunchy.
  • Toppings: Chocolate sauce, caramel sauce.

How to Make Fried Ice Cream without Frying

Put on a pair of disposable gloves and use your hands to scoop and form ice cream into four large balls. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet then freeze until they are rock hard.

While they are freezing, crush the cereal in a ziplock bag using a rolling pin.

Scoops of vanilla ice cream placed on parchment-lined tray before freezing for fried ice cream.
Crushing frosted flakes in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin for fried ice cream coating.

Melt butter in a skillet and sauté the cereal and cinnamon until toasted and browned. Cool completely.

Place crumb mixture in a shallow dish then roll the solid scoops of ice cream in the cereal crumbs, pressing them down so they stick.

Crushed frosted flakes toasting in butter with cinnamon in a skillet for fried ice cream coating.
Pressing toasted cereal mixture onto frozen ice cream ball to make fried ice cream.

Serve on a plate or in a bowl, drizzle with hot fudge sauce and add a cherry if desired. Enjoy it with your favorite people!

Wes enjoying homemade fried ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Recipe Tips

  • Make ahead. You can do this with or without the cereal coating. To prevent it from getting a bit soft, I recommend preparing just the ice cream scoops ahead of time.
  • Best enjoyed when served immediately.
  • Work quickly. Keep the ice cream in the freezer until you’re ready to roll and serve.
  • No Frosted Flakes? Use crunchy cornflakes and honey for the crumb mixture.
  • You can also use Cinnamon Toast Crunch or crushed cookies instead.
  • Other topping ideas. Chocolate syrup, strawberry sauce, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, etc.
Cut open fried ice cream showing creamy vanilla center and crispy cinnamon cereal coating.

More frozen dessert recipes to try include ice cream pie, easy Oreo ice cream cake and s’mores ice cream.

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Fried ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and a maraschino cherry.

Fried Ice Cream

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Freeze Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 8 minutes
Servings: 4
This fried ice cream recipe is made without deep frying, so it’s easy, mess-free, and just as crunchy as your favorite Mexican restaurant dessert.
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Video

Ingredients 

  • 4 large scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 2 cups frosted flakes cereal , crushed
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 Tablespoons salted butter

Toppings: Chocolate sauce, Caramel sauce

Instructions

  • Prepare: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Shape ice cream: Using disposable gloves, form each large scoop of ice cream into a ball.
  • Freeze: Place each ball on the prepared baking sheet and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until the ice cream balls are rock hard.
  • Toast cereal: In a small skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons butter. Add 2 cups crushed frosted flakes and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Sauté until the cereal is toasted and browned, about 3 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
  • Roll ice cream: Remove ice cream from freezer and roll in the cooked cereal, pressing it in a bit so it will stick well.
  • Serve: Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

You can make fried ice cream ahead, including rolling in the cereal, but it will lose some crispness. I recommend freezing just the ice cream ahead and rolling in the cereal right before serving. 

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 196mg, Potassium: 150mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 793IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 89mg, Iron: 6mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.