Easy Homemade Fried Ice Cream
Fried ice cream is the ultimate dessert surprise with a crispy outside and a cold, creamy center. Today, I’m showing you two easy ways to make it at home. Fun, simple, and seriously tasty.
Ingredients for Homemade Fried Ice Cream
For the Ice Cream Balls: Vanilla (or any flavor) ice cream, shaped and frozen with plastic wrap.
For the Coatings: Soft white bread or sponge cake for wrapping, with optional tempura batter for extra crunch.
For Frying: Use neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable oil, for even cooking without a strong flavor.
Easy Variations for Fried Ice Cream
- Flavor Twist: Use chocolate, matcha, or strawberry ice cream.
- Cereal Coating: Roll in crushed cornflakes or cookie crumbs before frying.
- Festive Touch: Roll in coconut flakes or cinnamon sugar for a holiday treat. A sprinkle of nutmeg also does the trick.
If You Love Frozen Desserts, Watch This
How To Use Sandwich Bread To Make Fried Ice Cream
Use soft white sandwich bread. It molds easily and seals in ice cream. Skip rustic breads like ciabatta or sourdough; their holes let the ice cream leak.
How to Use Cake to Make Fried Ice Cream
Slice a soft sponge loaf cake with a dense, fluffy crumb for easy wrapping. Avoid overly moist cakes. A marbled vanilla-chocolate loaf is perfect for its rich flavor and vibrant color.
Keesha’s Tips & Tricks
- Save Those Crusts: ave the Crusts: Freeze trimmed crusts for later use in bread pudding or French toast casseroles.
- Don’t Roll Too Thin: Roll just enough to make the bread flexible without tearing.
- Drain It Right Away: Transfer to paper towels immediately to keep the outside crisp and the inside cold.
- Skip the Hand-Shaping: Plastic wrap makes shaping cleaner and easier.
How to Store Fried Ice Cream
Fried ice cream is best eaten right away. If storing, freeze individually wrapped portions for up to 2 weeks. Avoid reheating to prevent melting.
FAQs about Fried Ice Cream
More Delicious Desserts
For more sweet treats, try the crispy Deep-Fried Oreo Ice Cream, rich Coffee Cheesecake, or comforting Best Baked French Toast. You can also check my Rapunzel Pie and Chocolate Coconut Brownies, too; they’re always a hit.
Fried Ice Cream 2 Ways – A Decadent, Creamy, And Crisp Dessert
Ingredients
For the fried ice cream balls
- 1 pound ice cream, any flavor of your choice
- 8-10 slices of white sandwich bread or loaf cake
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
For the batter
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 3/4 cup cold milk
Instructions
Make the ice cream balls
- To start, chill a big lined sheet pan inside the freezer for at least 1 hour.
- Once the sheet is cold, begin rolling some ice cream balls. Heat the ice cream scoop slightly in hot water. Then, roll the balls and place them in the lined tray immediately. Don't remove the cold tray from the freezer.
Prepare the bread or cake slices
- Next, remove the crust from the slices of bread. Set the crust aside for another use. You don't have to remove the crust from the cake because it's not as hard.
- Then, use about two slices of crustless bread or cake. Place them on a piece of plastic or saran wrap. Allow their edges to slightly overlap.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten them on the plastic sheet. It will also help seal the edges together.
Shape the ice cream balls
- Place the ball of ice cream in the middle of the flattened slices of cake or bread.
- Then, use the plastic sheet to fold the slices over the ice cream ball. Twist the edges of the plastic sheet so that the ball gets tighter and tighter. That will help seal the bread or cake layer into place.
- Finally, tie a knot in the plastic to secure the tight ball. Place the ice cream balls back into the fridge and allow them to harden.
Make the batter
- To make the tempura batter, place the flour and egg in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until you have a semi-thick batter.
- Then, slowly add water while whisking until you have the right consistency. The batter should be completely lump-free, thick, but runny.
Deep fry the ice cream balls
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot until it reaches 360ºF (180ºC).
- Once your ice cream balls have hardened, dip each in tempura batter.
- Immediately fry one ice cream ball at a time. Turn the ball frequently so that it browns on all sides.
- Remove the fried ice cream balls and drain them on pieces of kitchen towel.
- Dust the ice cream balls with powdered sugar and serve them immediately.
