If you’ve ever ordered fried ice cream at a restaurant and wondered, How do they get it so crispy on the outside while staying perfectly cold inside? — this recipe is your answer.
My Fried Ice Cream is crunchy, creamy, fast, and only needs a handful of ingredients you probably already have at home.
This is the perfect dessert for parties, birthdays, celebrations, or when you just want something fun and nostalgic. And yes… it’s deep-fried ice cream you can actually make without it melting everywhere.
What Makes This Fried Ice Cream So Good
The secret is giving the ice cream enough time to freeze solid, then coating it with a crunchy layer of corn flake crumbs.
The coating protects the ice cream from melting when it hits hot oil — giving you that iconic crispy shell with a soft, cold center.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Ice Cream (2 scoops, 3½ inches each): Any flavor works — vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, caramel, or coffee.
Why it works: Large scoops hold their shape and stay cold longer, preventing melting.
Substitutes:
- Dairy-free ice cream (freezes harder = great results)
- Sorbet or gelato (freezes softer, may need extra coating)
Corn Flake Crumbs (1 cup or more): This gives the fried ice cream its signature crispy crunch.
Why it works: Corn flakes stay crunchy even after frying and give amazing texture.
Substitutes:
- Crushed graham crackers
- Crushed Oreos
- Crushed vanilla wafers
- Panko breadcrumbs (very crispy)
Egg (1 beaten): Helps the crumbs stick to the ice cream.
Substitutes:
- Milk + little sugar
- Melted butter
- Plant-based egg alternative
Ground Nutmeg (1 tsp.): Adds warmth, depth, and a bakery-style flavor.
Substitutes: cinnamon, pumpkin spice, allspice, or nothing at all.
Oil for Deep Frying (4 cups): The ice cream fries fast at a very hot temperature — 460°F — to produce a crunchy shell without melting the center.
Best oils for frying: canola, vegetable, peanut, or avocado oil.
⭐ How to Make Fried Ice Cream
Our step-by-step frying method will help you make this easy fried ice cream recipe with ease. Follow us YouTube to learn to make it with no fuss.
After making this easy homemade fried ice cream, try our fried Oreos next. We’d also appreciate it if you could leave a star rating below as well.
The Best Homemade Fried Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 Scoops Ice Cream 3½ inches each
- 1 cup Corn Flake Crumbs
- 1 Egg Beaten
- 1 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
- Oil for Deep Frying about 4 cups
Instructions
- Scoop the ice cream into large balls and freeze for 2–4 hours, or until very firm.Dip in beaten egg, then roll in corn crushed flakes or ground flakes for a thick coating.
- Freeze again for 30 minutes to 1 hour.Heat oil to 460°F.Fry each ice cream ball one at a time for 10–15 seconds, until golden and crispy.Serve immediately with chocolate syrup, fruit, whipped cream, or mint.
Notes
Nutrition
🍨 How to Serve (Pairing Ideas)
Fried ice cream pairs perfectly with:
- Chocolate syrup or caramel sauce
- Fresh strawberries, berries, mango, or banana slices
- Whipped cream
- Crushed nuts
- Cinnamon sugar dust
- A warm brownie or warm churro (AMAZING combo)
🧊 How to Store Leftovers
Fried ice cream is best enjoyed immediately, but you can store it:
- Place leftover fried ice cream in an airtight container, then freeze.
- Re-fry for 5–7 seconds OR air fry at 450°F for 1 minute to crisp up again.
❓ FAQ
It wasn’t frozen long enough, or the oil wasn’t hot enough. Freeze the scoops until rock solid and make sure the oil hits 460°F.
Yes, but I have not tried it. If you make it in the air fryer, be sure to fully freeze scoops extra hard, then air fry at 400°F for 1–2 minutes until the coating crisps.
Absolutely. Corn flakes give the best crunch, but Fruity Pebbles, Golden Grahams, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch are also amazing
Yes — prep the coated frozen balls ahead and fry right before serving.
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