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This Mexican Fried Ice Cream recipe has a crispy cinnamon coating and creamy vanilla ice cream inside. Made without deep frying, it’s an easy restaurant style dessert perfect for parties, holidays, and taco nights.
Perfect individual desserts for summer! Top with fudge sauce and whipped cream for a fun treat the entire family will love.
Crunchy, Cold & Creamy
If you’ve ever ordered fried ice cream at a Mexican restaurant, you already know the best part isn’t the ice cream.
It’s that warm, crispy cinnamon coating wrapped around a scoop of cold, creamy vanilla ice cream.
The contrast is what makes it so memorable.
The good news? You don’t actually need a deep fryer to make restaurant style Mexican Fried Ice Cream at home.
This easy version starts with scoops of vanilla ice cream coated in a buttery cinnamon-cornflake mixture, then frozen until firm. The result is everything you love about restaurant fried ice cream, crunchy, sweet, creamy, and cold, without the stress of frying actual ice cream.
It’s one of those desserts that looks impressive, but is surprisingly easy to make ahead for parties, holidays, taco nights, or anytime you want a fun dessert that everyone gets excited about.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No deep frying required
- Easier than restaurant style versions
- Make ahead friendly
- Perfect for parties and celebrations
- Crunchy, creamy, and sweet
- Family favorite dessert
- Ready whenever a craving strikes
What Makes This Version Better?
After testing different methods, I always come back to this one because it delivers the flavor and texture everyone expects from restaurant fried ice cream without the hassle.
Instead of worrying about hot oil and melting ice cream, the cornflake coating is toasted in butter and cinnamon first.
That creates a rich, crunchy coating that sticks beautifully to the ice cream and stays crisp even after freezing.
You get all the flavor and texture people love, but with a much simpler process.
Ingredients & substitutions
- Ice Cream: Classic vanilla works best because it lets the cinnamon coating shine. Choose a high-quality ice cream for the creamiest texture.
- Corn Flakes: Cornflakes create the signature crispy coating. They stay crunchy and hold up well after freezing.
- Butter: Butter helps toast the cereal and creates a rich flavor.
- Cinnamon: Adds the warm cinnamon sugar flavor that restaurant style fried ice cream is known for.
- Sugar: Sweetens the coating and helps create that classic dessert flavor.
How to make Mexican Fried Ice Cream
- Scoop the ice cream and shape into a round ball. Place on a baking sheet or plate and put into the freezer for at least 3 hours.
- Crush the corn flakes, sprinkle with cinnamon. Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the corn flakes and saute for about 3 minutes or until the corn flakes are toasted.
- In a small bowl combine the white sugar and remaining cinnamon.
- Take the ice cream from the freezer, roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture, then coat with the toasted corn flakes. It’s easiest to set the ice cream down and press the crumbs into the ice cream.
- Top with hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Many homemade and restaurant versions use a toasted coating instead of deep frying, which creates the same crunchy texture.
Yes they can! I try to keep the ice cream balls frozen and coat with the toasted cereal just before serving. However, you can prepare them ahead of time and have them in the freezer. Just wait to add any toppings like chocolate sauce or whipped cream until you serve.
Yes! You can choose any flavor you would prefer. Just make sure you choose a flavor that will complement the cinnamon coating.
Tips From Making This on Repeat
- Shape the ice cream into the ball form and then re-freeze for at least 3 hours.
- When handling the ice cream to put the coating on, wear plastic gloves, it will help prevent melting due to the heat from your hands
- Instead of rolling the ice cream in the crumb coating, it’s easier to set them in there and press the coating on using your hands.
Variations
- Chocolate Fried Ice Cream: Use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.
- Caramel Fried Ice Cream: Finish with warm caramel sauce and chopped pecans.
- Churro Fried Ice Cream: Add extra cinnamon sugar to the coating for a churro-inspired flavor.
- Coffee Fried Ice Cream: Use coffee ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
What to Serve With Fried Ice Cream
This dessert is the perfect ending to:
More Dessert Recipes
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Easy Mexican Fried Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 4 large scoops ice cream
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Fried Topping
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 cups corn flakes crushed
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Toppings
- Whipped Cream
- Hot fudge sauce
- cherries
Instructions
- Scoop the ice cream and shape into a round ball. Place on a baking sheet or plate and put into the freezer for at least 3 hours.
- Crush the corn flakes, sprinkle with cinnamon. Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the corn flakes and saute for about 3 minutes or until the corn flakes are toasted.
- In a small bowl combine the white sugar and remaining cinnamon.
- Take the ice cream from the freezer, roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture, then coat with the toasted corn flakes. It's easiest to set the ice cream down and press the crumbs into the ice cream.
- Top with hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe first published June 16, 2016. Updated June 5, 2020 and July 10, 2024.
Photography by KJandCompany.co
Made these for our Cinco de Mayo party and they were a hit with the whole family! So easy to put together and wicked good! Thank you!!
HI Can I prepare a few hours before party and freeze or will the corn flakes still get soggy in that time??
THANKS
Have you tried to make these ahead of time and store in the freezer?
I haven’t made the entire thing together and freeze it. The ice cream balls can be kept in the freezer until needed. Adding the topping doesn’t take too long. But I imagine they would keep. The topping might get soggy as it sits though.
This looks incredibly delicious. Yum!
That is the sweetest little hand that I have ever seen!
Thanks Vicki! I think so too 🙂
Made for Spanish daughter in law. They loved it. Will now make it for 30 for sons graduation from medical school. Great and easy.
Trust me you all, don’t pin it for later! I tried it and it was simple excellent.. Thanks Serene.
Hello there! Can these be popped back in the freezer after adding the corn flakes? Or do you think they’ll get soggy? I would like to make these for a dinner party but don’t want to spend too much time on them with my guests here. My mom used to make these when I was little, great recipe!
Hi Ashley! I know it’s a hassle having to prepare things at the last minute, but if you leave the cornflakes on in the freezer they do get soggy. You can prep everything else beforehand though. Have the ice cream in the ball shapes in the freezer and prep the cornflakes and have them set aside in a sealed container so when the time comes just give them a quick roll in the cornflakes and serve. It should only take a minute or so. Best of luck!
Thanks for the tip!
is the fried ice cream actully fried? if so i don’t see the process in the directions.
thanks paula
Hi Paula, this is an easy mexican fried ice cream that is not actually fried. I discuss the process and the steps in the actual post and the recipe reflects how to make it 🙂
Looks delish. I haven’t thought to try at home yet. I have to say though, way too many pop ups on the page!
Hi Mel, thanks for taking a moment to comment. As far as pop ups, I’m not sure what you mean? I only have one popup that shows on the page during your first visit if you stick around long enough, to sign up for an email. If you saw something else please let me know.
I noticed them too…mine were for “Command strips frome Home Depot” , & a few different ones from “mediavine” advertising for apple cider vinegar, airline tickets, weight watchers, xfinity cable, Vegas hotels, and Avnet technology… Hope that helps you, thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Crissy! The ads from MediaVine are how I get paid for running this little site 🙂 I try to keep the amount of ads limited to provide a clean looking site though. But any other pop ups that are showing up I definitely need to look into because they shouldn’t be there! Thanks so much for helping out. And I hope you enjoy the recipe!!
I used to make this at a Mexican restaurant that I worked at. Can’t wait to try it.