When you’re craving something sweet and crunchy this summer try this easy to make air fryer fried ice cream! Scoops of ice cream are rolled in cinnamon toast crunch cereal, air fried for 2 minutes, then finished with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry. No deep-frying mess here, just a deliciously cool treat with a hot twist!
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Homemade Ice Cream Treats
Homemade ice cream treats are my favorite treats of summer. And making them at home is a real game-changer. You can play around with ice cream flavors, dunk 'em in chocolate, squeeze them between wafers, or even layer them in a pie. It’s all the fun of cooking without the heat—the perfect way to keep cool during the hot days ahead.
These ice cream treats can be as easy as Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches, or as decadent as Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Bites that you can pop in your mouth like candy, except way cooler. And don’t even get me started on Coffee Ice Cream Pie, it’s like my favorite cup of coffee decided to chill out and become a dessert.
Why You'll Love Air Fried Ice Cream
A Restaurant Dessert at Home! Enjoy a show-stopping dessert without going out, made right in your own cozy kitchen. This sweet treat is sure to impress!
Less Expensive - Making fried ice cream at home saves you money, which means you can indulge more often. Yes!
No Deep Fryer Needed - You get the same taste and texture of traditional fried ice cream, without the mess of hot oil.
Make It Your Way! Vanilla and cinnamon? Mint chocolate chip with cookie crumbs? There are so many different flavors and coatings to choose from. Start with your favorite ice cream flavor and pair it with a deliciously crunchy outer shell for your own unique dessert.
Ingredients
This air fryer ice cream recipe is made with simple ingredients that help create the perfect combination of cool creaminess and warm crispiness. You'll find the exact measurement in the printable recipe card below.
- Ice cream - vanilla or a combination of your favorite flavors
- Flour - helps retain moisture and acts as a primer helping all coatings to adhere to the ice cream
- Egg whites - help develop a crisp coating. Use the leftover egg yolks for a delicious key lime pie
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal or cinnamon graham crackers - provide a delightful crunch
- Garnishes: hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry
How to Make Fried Ice Cream in an Air Fryer
- Make scoops of vanilla ice cream or your favorite ice cream, using about ¼ of a pint for each ball, and mold into a ball with your hands. Place in a muffin tin that has been frozen for 15 minutes. Freeze for 1 hour.
- Place flour on a flat plate. Remove one ice cream ball at a time from the freezer and coat it in flour. Place back in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Crush cereal in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. You can also use a small chopper. Place in a wide-mouthed shallow bowl or a large flat plate. Whisk egg whites until foamy.
- Remove the frozen ice cream balls, one at a time, from the freezer, and roll ice cream balls in the egg whites.
- Immediately roll in the crushed cereal. Make sure that the ice cream is completely covered.
- Return the coated ice cream balls to the freezer for 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Place each of the coated balls of ice cream into a ramekin or make a small bowl with a piece of foil. Place carefully in the air fryer basket. (You can do 1 at a time or as many as will fit in your air fryer.)
- Air fry for 2 minutes at 400°F. The cereal coating should be golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately with their favorite sundae toppings.
Whipping up fried ice cream in your air fryer is surprisingly simple and a whole lot of fun! So what are you waiting for? Grab your air fryer and get scooping! Each crunchy, creamy bite of this homemade ice cream dessert will make you fall in love with it all over again!
Recipe Tips
Choose the Right Ice Cream: For the best results, go for a premium, denser ice cream. These are less likely to lose shape as you work.
Prepare a Day Ahead: Start your preparation a day in advance to allow ample freezing time. This ensures each ice cream ball is solid enough to handle the heat.
One at a Time: To keep your ice cream from melting before it hits the fryer, work with one ball at a time, leaving the others in the freezer.
Stick to the Freezing Times: It might be tempting to cut corners, but don't rush the freezing steps. Each chilling stage is crucial to ensure the ice cream stays solid in the air fryer and keeps its crispy shell intact.
Preheat Your Air Fryer: Just like an oven needs preheating to bake perfectly, your air fryer needs to heat up before you add your ice cream. A hot air fryer will crisp the coating quickly, avoiding a melt-down.
Recipe Variations
Ready to mix things up? Here are some exciting ways to customize your air fried ice cream to suit any taste or occasion. The possibilities are endless!
Ice Cream Flavors: Vanilla is fine but try this treat with a rich dark chocolate ice cream, a spicy cinnamon ice cream, a robust coffee ice cream, or even a fruity strawberry for a surprising twist to this popular dessert.
Cereal Choice: Swap out the cereal crumbs for something different. Corn flakes add a nice crunchy coating, Rice Krispies keep it light and airy, and Fruity Pebbles bring a burst of color and sweetness. Each offers a unique texture and flavor to this delicious dessert.
Cookie Crumble Coating: For a decadent twist, use crushed cookies instead of cereal. Try other options like chocolate or vanilla wafers, spicy gingersnaps, Biscoff biscuits, classic graham crackers, or fun animal crackers.
A Nutty Twist: If you’re nuts about nuts, coat your ice cream balls with ground or finely chopped almonds, pecans, pistachios, or walnuts for a crunchy, nutty exterior.
Bigger Batches: If you have a larger air fryer, like a toaster oven style, you can air fry up to four ice cream balls at once. Just remember to use small cups made from aluminum foil to keep them contained and easy to manage.
Egg-Free Option: If you’re avoiding eggs, no problem! Instead of egg whites, you can use honey or maple syrup as a sticky coating before rolling in your coating.
Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the coatings with gluten-free cereal and flour.
Fried Ice Cream Toppings
Go wild with the toppings for extra flavor, texture, and color. Here’s a roundup of some fabulous topping ideas to inspire you:
Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream on top of your air fried ice cream is classic and always a hit.
Syrups: Drizzle a bit of maple or honey over your crispy ice cream ball for a smooth finish that complements the crunch with its natural sweetness.
Sauces: Decadent caramel sauce will add a buttery richness, chocolate sauce or hot fudge adds a deep, velvety smoothness and peanut butter can add a creamy tang.
Fruit: Try mango chunks, strawberry slices, raspberries, and coconut flakes for a refreshing contrast to the richness of the ice cream. A spoonful of jam, preserves, or syrup can add an additional burst of fruity flavor.
Nuts: Sprinkle some chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts for an extra crunch.
Sprinkles: And of course, no fun dessert is complete without sprinkles! Choose colorful ones for the kids or elegant chocolate jimmies for a more sophisticated twist.
Make Ahead
Planning ahead has never been sweeter! Air Fried Ice Cream is the perfect treat to prep in advance, whether you're gearing up for a big event or just like to keep a stash of sweet treats handy.
Freeze Now, Fry Later: You can prepare and coat your ice cream balls, then freeze them solid in a plastic freezer bag or a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep nicely for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply air fry them as directed, and serve up a freshly crisped dessert anytime the craving strikes.
Serve Them Frozen: If you prefer to have everything ready to go, air fry your ice cream balls first. Once they’re crispy and golden, immediately return them to the freezer for an hour to firm them back up. Then transfer them to a plastic freezer bag or freezer-safe container. This way, they're ready to be pulled out and served instantly, perfect for those last-minute dessert needs or unexpected guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fried ice cream is definitely best enjoyed fresh from the fryer for that perfect blend of hot and cold. However, if you freeze it after frying, it still retains a delightful taste. Just let it sit out for about 10 minutes before serving to soften slightly for the best texture.
The secret lies in the freezing and cooking times. If your ice cream is frozen solid and you air fry it for just 2-3 minutes, it doesn’t have enough time to melt. This quick cooking process allows the coating to crisp up while the inside remains creamy and cold. However, frying it too long can indeed cause it to melt, so it’s important to follow the directions closely.
Ensuring your ice cream is frozen solid before air frying is so important. Also, preheating your air fryer and working in batches with one ball at a time helps maintain its frozen state, which crisps the coating quickly and minimizes melting.
While fried ice cream is commonly associated with Mexican cuisine, especially in the United States due to its popularization by Mexican-themed restaurants like Chi-Chi’s, its origins likely trace back to Asian cuisines, particularly Chinese or Japanese.
Leftovers should be placed back in the freezer immediately after cooling slightly. Store them in a covered container or a freezer bag.
Air frying uses significantly less oil than traditional deep frying, making it a healthier option. The result is a delicious treat with less fat and fewer calories.
More Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Recipes
- Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- Chocolate Pistachio Popsicles
- Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
- Peach Frozen Yogurt
- White Chocolate Ice Cream
Find lots of cool and creamy dessert recipes right here on 2CM!
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Air Fryer Fried Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pints ice cream any flavors (I used ½ pint of each of 3 flavors)
- ½ cup flour
- 3 egg whites
- 3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, crushed or cinnamon graham crackers, crushed
- Garnish: hot fudge sauce whipped cream, sprinkles, cherry
Instructions
- Freeze a muffin tin for 15 minutes.
- Scoop ice cream and form it into balls. Use about ¼ pint for each ball. Place each ball into the cold muffin tin and freeze for 1 hour. (Each pint will make 4 balls.)
- Place flour on a flat plate or in a large wide-mouthed bowl. Remove one ice cream ball at a time from the freezer and roll in the flour to coat. Place back in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Crush the cereal in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. You can also use a small chopper. Place on a large flat plate or a wide-mouthed bowl.
- In a wide-mouthed bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy.
- Remove ice cream balls, one at a time, from the freezer, and roll the balls in egg whites then into the crushed cereal. Make sure that the ice cream is completely covered. Return balls to the freezer for 4 hours or overnight.
- Make a small aluminum foil pan large enough to fit the ice cream ball with sides that extend upwards to enable you to lift the air fried ice cream out easily. You can also use ramekins as I did as they are more solid and easier to remove from the air fryer.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Place each coated ice cream ball into a foil bowl or ramekin and place in the air fryer. Cook at 400°F for 2 minutes. Cook only as many as you are serving and keep the remaining ones in the freezer. You may have to do them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.
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