Fried ice cream is exactly what it sounds like: a frozen ball of ice cream with a cinnamon-cornflake crust, fried for about ten seconds until the outside is hot and crispy while the inside stays cold. The prep is mostly hands-off freezer time, so it’s a smart dessert to make when you’re feeding a group — the balls can be coated and frozen well ahead, then fried to order in under a minute each.
Why this recipe works
Two things make this work. First, the ice cream balls go into the freezer twice — once before coating and once after — so the core is rock-solid before it ever touches hot oil. That’s what keeps the inside cold during frying. Second, the egg-and-cornflake coating is applied in two layers, which builds enough thickness to insulate the ice cream and give the crust real crunch. Skip either step and you’ll end up with a soggy, leaking mess instead of a clean golden shell.
Ingredient notes
- Cornflakes: Crush them fine — coarse chunks won’t stick evenly and can fall off in the oil. A zip-lock bag and a rolling pin takes about 30 seconds.
- Vegetable oil: You need enough depth to fully submerge each ball. Two cups may be tight depending on your pan; use a small, deep saucepan and add more oil if needed. The temperature matters — too low and the crust absorbs oil instead of crisping.
- Ice cream: A premium, denser ice cream (lower overrun) holds its shape better than budget brands, which tend to be airier and melt faster under heat.
Make-ahead notes
This is where the recipe really earns its place for entertaining. Once the coated balls are back in the freezer for their second freeze, they can stay there for up to two weeks — just keep them on the parchment-lined tray and cover loosely with plastic wrap after the first hour. Fry them straight from frozen; do not thaw first. There’s no good way to reheat fried ice cream after the fact, so fry each one immediately before serving. If you’re cooking for a crowd, work in batches and serve each portion as it comes out of the oil rather than trying to hold them all at once.
What can go wrong
- The coating falls off in the oil: The egg wash wasn’t pressed firmly enough into the cornflakes, or the second-freeze time was cut short. Press the coating on firmly with your palms and make sure the coated balls are fully frozen solid — at least one hour — before frying.
- The ice cream melts through before you serve it: The oil wasn’t hot enough. At anything below 375°F (190°C), the crust takes longer to set and the heat has time to penetrate. Use a thermometer and let the oil come fully back up to temperature between batches.
- The crust is pale and greasy, not golden: Same cause — oil temperature dropped, especially if you added multiple balls at once. Fry one at a time and keep the heat on high.
- Ice cream balls lose their round shape: They were scooped and then handled too much while soft. Scoop, place immediately on the tray, and get them into the freezer without reshaping — skip the garnish on the plate too, not worth the extra time while the crust is cooling.
- Coating is too thin and cracks during frying: One round of egg-and-cornflake wasn’t enough. The recipe calls for two full coatings for a reason — don’t skip the second pass.
Fried Ice Cream with Cinnamon Cornflake Crust
Equipment
- Large baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Spring-loaded ice cream scoop
- Deep heavy-bottomed saucepan or deep-fryer
- Instant-read or deep-fry thermometer
- Slotted spoon or spider strainer
- Medium mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 4 cups premium vanilla ice cream approximately 1 quart / 1 litre, or any preferred flavour
- 2 cups cornflake cereal crushed finely, 60g / 2oz
- 1 large egg beaten, 50g
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon ground, 5g
- 4 cups vegetable oil for deep frying, 1 litre / 32 fl oz — amount may vary by pot size, oil must be deep enough to fully submerge one ice cream ball
Instructions
- Scoop the ice cream into four large balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for at least 2 hours until very firm.4 cups premium vanilla ice cream
- In a bowl, mix the crushed cornflakes with cinnamon until evenly combined.2 cups cornflake cereal, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Remove the ice cream balls from the freezer. Dip each ball into the beaten egg, letting excess drip off, then roll in the cornflake mixture, pressing gently so the coating adheres evenly.4 cups premium vanilla ice cream, 1 large egg, 2 cups cornflake cereal, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Repeat the egg dip and cornflake coating a second time to build a thick, insulating crust. Place the coated balls back on the parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 weeks.1 large egg, 2 cups cornflake cereal, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy-bottomed saucepan to 190°C (375°F).4 cups vegetable oil
- Using a slotted spoon or spider strainer, carefully lower one frozen ice cream ball into the hot oil. Fry for 8–10 seconds until the coating is golden brown all over, turning once if needed. Lift out immediately and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.4 cups vegetable oil
- Immediately serve the fried ice cream in a chilled bowl for a contrast of temperatures.
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ
Can I make more than four at a time for a larger group?
Yes — scale up freely, since the prep is the same regardless of quantity. Line a large baking sheet with parchment, scoop and freeze as many balls as you need, then coat them all in one session before the second freeze. Fry in batches of one at a time so the oil temperature stays consistent.
Do I need a deep fryer, or can I use a regular pot?
A regular heavy saucepan works fine. You need the oil deep enough to fully submerge the ball — a small, deep pot uses less oil to achieve that depth than a wide skillet would.
What if my ice cream starts melting while I’m coating the balls?
Put everything back in the freezer for 15–20 minutes and start again once the balls are firm. Working quickly in a cool kitchen helps, but if your hands are warm or the room is hot, it’s better to pause than to rush and end up with misshapen balls that won’t hold their coating.
If you liked this one
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- Creamy Cinnamon Horchata
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