This Cinco de Mayo Mexican fried ice cream is an easy dessert for your May 5th party! These coated frozen ice cream balls can be made ahead of the party and then you can easily air fry ice cream at a dessert table or ice cream bar to make Cinco de Mayo party easy desserts!
How To Make Cinco De Mayo Mexican Fried Ice Cream
This frozen ice cream treat is a cinnamon crunch coated no fry fried ice cream because it’s ice cream “fried” in the air fryer.
If you’ve never had it, you’re in for a sweet treat because this is THE best fried ice cream recipe and just as good as deep fried ice cream like Mexican restaurants.
RECIPE TIP: Don’t miss our homemade whipped cream recipe below to go with your fried ice cream.
Ingredients for Quick & Easy Air Fried Ice Cream Dessert To Make At Home:
- Vanilla ice cream scoops
- Cornflake mixture (*see alternatives to corn flakes below in the recipe FAQ section)
- Cinnamon
- Egg whites
- Toppings like caramel sauce / caramel syrup, hot chocolate / hot fudge (optional, or any other favorite toppings for ice cream sundae bar)
- Whipped cream
- Maraschino cherries
RECIPE TIP: Get the free printable recipe card for this Fried Ice Cream Recipe below.
Recipe FAQs & Recipe Tips
Before we get to the full Mexican ice cream recipe, you may want to read through this helpful recipe section.
These are the recipe questions I get asked the most about this frozen dessert recipe and also some helpful tips for making this dessert recipe — including how to keep the ice cream from melting when frying ice cream.
Does fried ice cream melt?
Fried ice cream does melt, that’s why you have to make sure that it is frozen hard before you fry it in a two-step process.
RECIPE TIP: DO NOT skip the part where you freeze the ice cream a second time!
After the freezing steps, you have to quickly fry the coated balls of ice cream in the air fryer to form the outer coating to a golden brown before the ice cream melts.
Then, serve immediately after frying.
RECIPE TIP: Serve in an ice cream bowl or cinnamon sugar crispy tortilla bowls and then let party guests add their own toppings.
MORE MEXICAN FOOD RECIPES: Easy Cinco de Mayo Foods & Kid Friendly Recipes
How do you fry ice cream without it melting?
How does ice cream not melt when fried?
There are two tricks to making sure that the fried ice cream doesn’t melt before it finishes frying:
1. Making sure your scoops of ice cream (ice cream balls) are frozen solid well before frying.
2. If you are using a deep fryer, heat oil until the oil is very hot.
Quickly frying super hard ice cream (for just a few minutes) prevents it from melting.
Drain immediately on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
If you’re using an air fryer, be sure to pre-heat the air fryer prior to using it fry ice cream.
The first time may take a little practice, so you may want to try frying ice cream balls (just a couple) before the party to make sure you get it right.
Deep Fried Ice Cream In Air Fryer Recipe Tip: Buy the name brand ice cream that feels hard when you press on the carton at the grocery store (not the creamy vanilla ice cream). We had generic vanilla ice cream and it didn’t freeze as hard as the brand name ice cream. Even after being in the freezer, when we pushed on the generic brand container, it was still very soft. Following this simple tip will give you the best results!
This is an easy fried ice cream recipe, but you will have to do it in multiple steps. The time consuming part is the prep and making the balls and the two freezing steps.
On the day of the party, if you have someone working your dessert table, it will be easy to fry and serve these in the air fryer.
RECIPE TIP: Be sure to read through all the instructions on how to air fry ice cream before starting the recipe!
How To Make Fried Ice Cream Without Corn Flakes
Even though crushed corn flakes are the traditional coating for fried ice cream, you learn how to make fried ice cream recipe without cornflakes mixture.
You can also make fried ice cream with:
- Cinnamon toast crunch cereal (or any crunchy cereal)
- Coconut flakes
- Flour tortillas
- Crushed vanilla wafers
- Bread
- Thick tempura batter
- Rice Krispies
- Any other topping that you would like to be creative with and try!
Recipe Tip: If you’re air frying ice cream, don’t use coatings that are runny (like batter) and instead use the ones that stick to the ice cream better (cereals, etc.).
Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
You can use regular whipped cream in the can, but it’s a real treat to use my homemade whipped cream to your ice cream dessert.
Homemade whip cream is super easy to make and is a perfect ice cream topping for air fry ice cream.
GET THE DIY WHIPPED CREAM RECIPE HERE
FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE FOR AIR FRYER MEXICAN FRIED ICE CREAM FOR CINCO DE MAYO PARTY FOODS
Fried Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 quart vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 3 cups corn flakes cereal crushed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 egg whites
- Spray whipped cream optional, for topping
- Chocolate syrup optional, for topping
- Maraschino cherries optional, for topping
Instructions
- Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out 8 medium size round vanilla ice cream scoops into a muffin pan.
- Immediately place in freezer and freeze for at least 1 hour or until ice cream is frozen hard into balls.
- Place flour in small mixing bowl.
- After 1 hour, remove ice cream balls from freezer. Working quickly, one at a time, roll the balls in flour and quickly shape them into ball shapes. (Don't hold the ice cream too long or they will melt.) Place back into muffin pan.
- Repeat until ice cream balls are covered with flour and shaped.
- Place back into freezer for at least 1 hour or until frozen hard.
ONCE ICE CREAM BALLS ARE FROZEN
- Place cornflakes in a resealable bag and crush. (We use a wooden mallet we have for crab legs.)
- Pour crushed corn flake into medium size bowl. Add cinnamon and stir. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy. Set aside.
- Remove frozen ice cream balls from freezer. Working quickly, dip in egg whites and then into the cornflake-cinnamon mixture. Roll ice cream in mixture until completely covered. Place back into muffin tin.
- Repeat until all the ice cream is covered in cornflake cereal.
- Place back in the freezer and freeze for at least 3 hours (or overnight) until ice cream balls are frozen hard.
- When you remove the ice cream, if they need more coating, repeat steps 4-6 above and then freeze for 1 more hour.
ONCE ICE CREAM BALLS ARE FROZEN AGAIN
- Fold a piece of aluminum foil to fit the bottom of your air fryer. Fold up the edges of the foil all way around to form a lip/ make a tray. Place in bottom of air fryer.
- Preheat air fryer for 2 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Remove ice cream ONE AT A TIME from freezer and place in air fryer and "fry" for 2-3 minutes. (No longer!)
- Remove with spoon or tongs and immediately place in serving dish. Drizzle with chocolate sauce. Spray with whipped cream and top with cherry. (optional)
- Repeat with each ice cream ball and serve immediately.
Notes
- We found that name brand ice cream freezes harder.
- You can use other coatings. We've also used 1/2 cornflakes and 1/2 cinnamon toast crunch cereal.
- You can also make these ahead of time and keep them in the freezer in a freezer bag before frying.
- Heat a pot or deep fryer with oil to 375 degrees F.
- Carefully, drop coated ice cream balls into hot oil and fry for 8-10 seconds. Carefully remove with slotted spoon, drain, add toppings (optional) and serve immediately. (Repeat until all ice cream balls are fried.)
Nutrition
MORE EASY CINCO DE MAY RECIPES: Mexican Tortilla Pinwheels Recipe
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I hope you enjoy your Cinco de Mayo Mexican fried ice cream!
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