Mexican Fried Ice Cream Recipe- Spaceships and Laser Beams

a close up shot of Mexican Ice Cream on a plate with a piece taken out

This delightfully crunchy and creamy Mexican ice cream has a sweet ice cream center wrapped in a crunchy cinnamon coating.

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Table of Contents

What You’ll Need For Fried Ice Cream (Mexican Ice Cream)
Mexican Fried Ice Cream Substitutions
How To Make Mexican Fried Ice Cream
How To Serve Mexican Ice Cream
Mexican Ice Cream Recipe Storage
Why You’ll Love This Mexican Ice Cream Recipe
Fried Ice Cream (Mexican Ice Cream) FAQs
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Mexican ice cream is where it’s at, and this delicious icy treat is sure to leave you wanting more. The creamy ice cream is covered in a crunchy cinnamon coating that will tantalize your taste buds on a warm day.

What You’ll Need For Fried Ice Cream (Mexican Ice Cream)

Mexican Ice Cream raw ingredients that are labeled

With a creamy center and crunchy cornflake and cinnamon coating, this unique Mexican ice cream is a texture experience for your taste buds.

Add a drizzle of honey and your favorite ice cream toppings to your treat, and you’ll have a delicious dessert to share with your friends.

To make this tasty recipe, you’ll need:

4 (1 cup) scoops of vanilla ice cream
3 cups of crushed frosted cornflakes (your favorite brand – I chose Great Value)
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons of honey (optional drizzle)
Canned whipped topping (optional topping)
Chocolate syrup (optional drizzle)
4 maraschino cherries (optional topping)

Mexican Fried Ice Cream Substitutions

CEREAL: You can substitute plain crushed cornflakes for frosted flakes, or what about crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal?

CHOCOLATE SYRUP: You can substitute caramel topping for the chocolate syrup.

TOPPINGS: You can lightly dust the whipped topping with ground cinnamon instead of drizzling it with chocolate syrup.

ICE CREAM: You could use either store-bought or homemade ice cream for this tasty treat.

FLAVOR: You could choose plenty of different flavors of ice cream for this delicious recipe.

CINNAMON: While cinnamon is a classic spice used in Mexican cuisine, you can experiment with other spices to change the flavor profile. Consider substituting cinnamon with a blend of nutmeg and cloves for a warm and cozy flavor. Alternatively, you could use Mexican chocolate powder, which already contains cinnamon, to infuse the ice cream with a rich and indulgent twist.

How To Make Mexican Fried Ice Cream

To make this yummy dessert, you’ll need to plan for a little bit of chilling time. Scoop the ice cream onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and let it chill in the freezer. While you are waiting, you can make the cornflake and cinnamon mixture so that it is ready to go.

Roll the ice cream scoops in the crunchy coating, drizzle with the toppings, and you will have a unique treat to enjoy.

STEP ONE: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

STEP TWO: Scoop four 1-cup scoops of vanilla ice cream and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can shape the scoops of ice cream into a ball, but it is not necessary. You will shape the scoops more into a ball shape when you roll the scoops in the crushed frosted flakes.

vanilla ice scoops placed in a baking sheet

STEP THREE: Place the scooped ice cream in the freezer for 1 hour.

PRO TIP:

Freezing the ice cream balls after they are scooped will help them keep their shape.

STEP FOUR: Add the ground cinnamon to the crushed frosted flakes and stir to combine.

ground cinnamon and frosted flakes stirred in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Remove the scooped ice cream from the freezer.

STEP SIX: Roll 1 scoop of the ice cream in the frosted flakes. While rolling the ice cream, shape it into a more solid ball. Once completely coated, place the ice cream back onto the parchment paper. Repeat the steps until all 4 scoops are completely coated. Place back into the freezer for 2 more hours.

PRO TIP:

When handling the ice cream balls, wearing plastic gloves will help prevent the ice cream from melting due to the heat from your hands.

ice cream scoops rolled in the frosted flakes in a parchment paper

STEP SEVEN: Remove the coated ice cream just before serving. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of honey over each coated ice cream scoop. You can garnish the coated ice cream with canned whipped topping, Drizzle with the chocolate syrup, and top with a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately.

honey drizzled over each ice cream scoop

How To Serve Mexican Ice Cream

Serve this sweet and cinnamon-flavored Mexican-style ice cream in a pretty glass bowl with all of your favorite ice cream toppings. Add an ice-cold iced tea or strawberry lemonade to wash it down.

For a little something extra, add a fresh, warm batch of our churros on the side of your cold treat.

Try a few more ice cream flavors in this Mexican ice cream recipe. Our banana ice cream and red velvet ice cream are two great options to complement this Spanish ice cream technique.

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Mexican Ice Cream Recipe Storage

Once you’ve made this delightful Mexican Ice Cream, you’ll want to savor it for as long as possible. Proper storage ensures that your homemade treat stays fresh and delicious.

MAKE AHEAD: If you prefer to prepare this Mexican ice cream in advance, you can certainly do so. Simply follow the recipe instructions, allowing the ice cream to fully freeze.

Once it has reached the desired consistency, transfer it to an airtight container, ensuring there is minimal air space. Place the container in the freezer until you’re ready to serve. It’s worth mentioning that the texture might be slightly firmer when made ahead, but it will still be wonderfully creamy and delicious.

IN THE FREEZER: Store any leftovers of these sweet treats in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 days. Just be aware that the frosted flakes can taste a bit stale the longer the coated ice cream is in the freezer.

Why You’ll Love This Mexican Ice Cream Recipe

These Mexican ice cream balls make such a fun dessert. They are creamy inside, have plenty of cinnamon crunch on the outside, and are perfectly served with all of your favorite ice cream toppings.

Fried Ice Cream (Mexican Ice Cream) FAQs

Can I make this recipe in advance?

This Mexican ice cream can be made ahead of time and kept in the freezer for two days. Add your toppings right before you are ready to serve.

Can I use different flavors of ice cream in this recipe?

Any flavor of ice cream that complements the cinnamon coating would be delicious for this recipe.

Can I use a different cereal coating on this Mexican vanilla ice cream?

Any type of cereal flakes or crushed cereal pieces would be yummy wrapped around this ice cream.

Is fried ice cream a Mexican tradition?

Fried ice cream actually originated in China. It is now a popular treat served in Mexico.

What is the origin of fried ice cream?

Fried ice cream originated in China.

Is fried ice cream still cold?

During preparation, the ice cream is coated in a crispy batter before being flash fried, creating a crunchy outer shell but keeping the ice cream cold in the center.

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Fried Ice Cream (Mexican)

5 from 3 votes

This delightfully crunchy and creamy Mexican ice cream has a sweet ice cream center wrapped in a crunchy cinnamon coating.

Prep Time 10

Total Time 5 10

Servings

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Ingredients

4 scoops vanilla ice cream
3 cups crushed frosted corn flakes, your favorite brand – I chose Great Value
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons honey, optional drizzle
Canned whipped topping, optional topping
Chocolate syrup, optional drizzle
4 maraschino cherries, optional topping

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Scoop four 1 cup scoops of vanilla ice cream and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Place the scooped ice cream in the freezer for 1 hour.
Add the ground cinnamon to the crushed frosted flakes and stir to combine.
Remove the scooped ice cream from the freezer.
Roll 1 scoop of the ice cream in the frosted flakes. While rolling the ice cream, shape it into a more solid ball. Once completely coated, place the ice cream back onto the parchment paper. Repeat the steps until all 4 scoops are completely coated. Place back into the freezer for 2 more hours.
Remove the coated ice cream just before serving. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of honey over each coated ice cream scoop. You can garnish the coated ice cream with canned whipped topping, Drizzle with the chocolate syrup, and top with a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately.

Notes

You can shape the scoops of ice cream into a ball, but it is not necessary. You will shape the scoops more into a ball shape when you roll the scoops in the crushed frosted flakes.
Freezing the ice cream balls after they are scooped will help them keep their shape.
When handling the ice cream balls, wearing plastic gloves will help prevent the ice cream from melting due to the heat from your hands.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Mexican Fried Ice Cream Recipe