Fried Ice Cream, a dessert made from a breaded scoop of ice cream that is typically quickly deep-fried, creating a crispy shell around a cold scoop of ice cream. This lighter version isn’t fried, but oh-my-word, it’s delicious!
If you’ve ever had the Mexican fried ice cream at Chi Chi’s, you’ll understand this recipe. I have always loved the concept of fried ice cream, as a kid I remember ordering it and always found it fascinating that the ice cream didn’t melt.
This recipe is easier to make, and much lighter than the restaurant dish. That’s because it’s not fried at all, but it still has that same great taste.
Variations and Tips:
Make it gluten-free: The topping is made with crushed Special K as the crust tossed with some cinnamon. If you are gluten free, I would use a gluten-free cereal instead.
Make it dairy-free: swap the ice cream for your favorite dairy-free ice cream.
Mexican "Unfried" Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups low calorie dairy or dairy-free ice cream, Halo Top or Enlightened
- 2 cups Special K Cereal, crushed (or gf cereal)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 4 tsp Hershey's chocolate syrup
- cherry for topping, optional
- Truwhip for topping, optional
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- With an ice cream scooper, scoop out 4 balls of ice cream 1/2 cup in size and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze for 2 hours, or overnight, until the ice cream is very hard.
- Meanwhile, in a shallow bowl, combine the crushed cereal and cinnamon.
- Using rubber gloves, roll the balls of ice cream in the cereal coating, packing them together into a smooth ball.
- Return the coated ice cream to the baking sheet and freeze until ready to serve.
- To serve, drizzle with chocolate syrup on top with whipped cream and cherry, if desired.
Last Step:
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This dessert is amazing and very easy to make. My guests all raved about it and asked for the recipe. Will definitely make again and again.
I made these with Siete Churro strips instead of cereal since I needed a Gluten Free option. I did not add anything else with the strips since they have the cinnamon on them already. They were amazing.
Yum!
I made these For A Father Day Treat for FLORIDA Golfers, Wonderful recipe,Definitely easy,I Just wanted toTry A Different Cereal,Chose Churros cereals, I also Toasted in oven with cinnamon,What’s Wonderful about You can Change up Cereal an Ice Cream, I chose A vanilla Gelato,Will Definitely Make for many in Future an Will use My imagination an keep it fun an interesting ❤️👍👌
I made this last week for a Cinco de Mayo dinner. It was easy to do. Everyone was so surprised and impressed. I did stray and use a different flavor of frozen yogurt, as I knew my guests would prefer it over vanilla.
Thanks, Gina!
Cinnamon Toast Crunch works really well for this recipe! I’ve made it several times and it tastes just like the real thing.
This is perfect, thanks for inspiration!!!!
I've made this a million times so amazing only I use Special K granola thank you so much for posting this 🙂
My husband doesn't really like sweets, and I was looking for some kind of treat to make with his birthday dinner. Once we got past the point of my kids asking if I was serious that they fry ice cream, all of us gave it a big thumbs up. Gina, I do not buy cookbooks because I think they are mostly clutter, but I am definitely buying your cookbook! I can't miss when I make any recipe from your blog!
Gina,
Do you have the recipe that your fan made with everything in a pan? I am looking to make this for 15-20 people so I thought the pan would be easier. Do I just layer everything on top of the ice cream?
Thanks!!
We use Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds. But before I crush it up I drizzle honey on the cereal and toast it in the oven for a bit. When it cools I crush it up and roll the ice cream in it. My kids LOVE making these!
I made these tonight and they were delicious! The crunchiness of the cereal really gave it that fried texture I was craving. I will definitely be making these again. It's so great that it satisfies my sweet tooth without he added calories from frying. Thank you again for another great recipe.
This was AMAZING! Definitely best drizzled with honey…tastes just like the deep-fried-ice-cream @ my local Mexican restaurant (that probably has 1000 calories!). Thank you Thank you!
OMG….this just finished this and it was delicious! I too used the cinnamon pecan Special K and it was wonderful! Can't wait to share this with friends….what a treat! Thank you Gina for all your hard work and these wonderful recipes!
Hi I'm in the UK and we just don't have this mexican fried ice cream concept,
This is a tasty recipe but now I have heard about "fried ice cream" i can accept no substitute.
So can anyone tell me
a) where to find a Mexican restaurant in the UK where I can try fried ice cream
or
b) put up a recipe with techniques to make fried ice cream.
please
In Australia we get fried ice-cream at Chinese restaurants – they're usually the one and only dessert on the menu!
In New Zealand,it's the same as Australia – deep fried ice cream only found in chinese restaurants. They don't actually deep fry it, held in a ladle with hot oil poured over til coating is crisp.
I never thought I would eat fried ice cream again! On Cinco de Mayo we made your Salsa Verde Chicken in a taco shell (i cannot find the tostadas but I want them!) followed by this and we felt like we were at an authentic Mexican restaurant! It was sooooo good!
I made these for my Cinco de Mayo dinner, they were a HIT!!!
Gina! I LOVE FRIED ICE CREAM!! Do you think it will taste just as good with fiber one honey cluster cereal?
Sure!!
Silly question here, but did you freeze the yogurt yourself or buy it already frozen? They look amazing and I can't wait to try them!
She used frozen yogurt. It comes frozen just like ice cream. You find it in the ice cream section.
I made this for the weekend that just passed and everyone loved it!!! My 17 year old niece had 2 servings:)
Yay!
It's really good made with graham cracker crumbs, too… not sure that that would make this a healthy recipe anymore, but it tastes just like the real thing! I prefer honey to the chocolate syrup… that's always what I got at Chi-Chi's…. miss that restaurant SO much!
I made these today snd they were really good! I used the chocolate fiber one cereal sd I fidnt have Special K and they were really good..thanks Gina!!
I just made these today. They were a huge hit with my mom and dad! Another winning WW dessert! Thanks again. 🙂
My pleasure!
These look amazing, thank you for so many creative recipes Gina! WIth your help, weight watchers is easy and fun! I have to tell you that Oikos is actually made by Dannon, not Stonyfield, but both make delicious yogurt. Having worked for Dannon previously, I find that a lot of people don't know that they make Oikos.
this is awesome!
This is amazing. I could not believe how much it tastes like fried cream! I did use Edys 1/2 fat vanilla bean ice cream instead of frozen yogurt. I also used Special K with pecans and cinnamon. Will keep these in my freezer often. My family loved it.
I just made this… super easy and super yummy. I agree with the commenter above that a little drizzle of honey gives it a lot! LOVE LOVE LOVE this… Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Thank you for posting this wonderful recipe! I am thinking of taking it to a party and I was wondering if you know how long it lasts outside the freezer? My commute to the party is about 30 minutes and I am not sure if it will last all the way there
It really needs to stay frozen like any ice cream would, maybe in a cooler packed with ice?
I always thought the fried ice cream sort of tasted like it was rolled in rice krispies. Think I'll try that-wonderful idea and what a nice presentation it makes.
Yum, can't wait to try this one!!!
Brilliant! Thank you!! 🙂
Gina, I could kiss you right now!! I can't wait to try these!!! 🙂
Hope you enjoy them : )
I just rediscovered fried ice cream at a little Mexican place and forgot how good it was. Thanks for this skinny version!
I used to order fried ice cream for dinner at every single Mexican restaurant as a teenager. Now that I eat healthier, I need to try a healthy version! Great recipe. I think ill try a coconut ice cream with a grain- free granola topping! Yum!;) Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Great idea Gina!! Today is an ice cream kind of day!!
I had some friends over for lunch on Cinco de Mayo. It was cold and rainy and all I wanted was soup so I made your Turkey Chili Taco Soup and your Mexican Unfried Ice Cream for dessert. I’ve made the soup dozens of times. It’s definite one of our favorites. But it was the first time for the ice cream. It won’t be the last time, though! It was so good and so easy! The cinnamon, the crunch… all so good! Thank you for giving me so many 5 star options to serve to my family and friends!
This is such a brilliant idea! We took a friend to Chevy's for her birthday one year, and they brought out a sombrero and fried ice cream for her. We were all surprised that the ice cream didn't melt in the frier too! But I didn't like how greasy it felt, so I'd probably like your un-fried version a lot more!
OMG!! I just love you and your recipes :)!!! This made my day Ms Gina!!
Totally going to try that! Sounds and looks amazing.
Yum!! And it's so cute too 🙂
Can anyone recommend a good gluten free cereal substitution ? We are new to the gf lifestyle and I'm still tryin to figure it all out!
I'd try a brown rice crispy cereal. Mesa Sunrise might be good as well. Their maple flavor is one of my favorite splurges. I'm not sure any GF cereal would hold up for long in the freezer though. I'd roll and serve right away.
Thank you 🙂
Chex makes lots of different gf flavors including cinnamon.
Chex makes lots of different gf flavors including cinnamon.
Just when I started my Paleo diet….:(!
yeah, which is why I probably couldn't be on a Paleo diet 🙂
omg i want this now!
Bless your heart for making this!!! I had fried ice cream for the first time a few years ago and was immediately obsessed. One of the best desserts, hands down!
I've made this with fiber cereal brand "cinnamon toast crunch" and it was heat so ill have to try this one too!!!
this looks awesome! will definitely have to try this =D
Oh my gosh, I could kiss you. This is amazing! I can't wait to try it!!
I would also add a bit of honey on top too! The cinnamon/honey combo MAKES fried ice cream!
yum!
What a great alternative!!! Looks beautiful!
Do you think the cinnamon pecan special k would work well? (i'm obsessed with it)
Sure!!
Turkey Hill also has a very good frozen yogurt line, but I don't know if their distribution radius extends into NY. I can only buy it in one store in my area, so I always load up when I go in. The cashiers probably think I'm nuts.
Turkey Hill has a function on their site that you can see if any stores in your area carry their products: http://www.turkeyhill.com/products/where-to-buy-turkey-hill.aspx
I've seen their tea in Kroger's in Texas and I know you can buy ice cream and tea at Giant in Virginia.
Good to know, is it fat free?
This is great!
OMG I am in love!
Love this! Going to make asap!
This is genius!
Thank you for giving me our Mother's Day/Cinco de Mayo dessert! And thank you, too, for all your wonderful recipes! No one tells you how hard maintenance is but thanks to you, it's tasty! 🙂
: )
Try not crushing the cereal all the way and putting the tiniest bit of olive oil on the cereal/cinnamon and putting it in the oven before rolling the ice cream in it
Sounds like a great ideal. Will have to try this also
Beautiful recipe was fun to make an Rave from all