Air Fryer Fried Ice Cream: Is It Possible?

Air fryer fried ice cream is a delicious dessert that can be made at home. It is a fun and unique dessert that was previously only available in restaurants. The dessert consists of ice cream balls coated in a crunchy cereal crust and air-fried to perfection. The air fryer method eliminates the need for deep frying in hot oil, making it a healthier and less messy option. The final product has a creamy texture on the inside and a crispy, crunchy exterior.

Air fryer fried ice cream recipe

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream (or any other flavour of your choice)
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal (or Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, crushed biscuits, or crushed cookies)
• Egg whites (optional)
• All-purpose flour (optional)
• Toppings of your choice (whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce, maraschino cherries, etc.)

Instructions:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Scoop out the ice cream and form balls of about 1 cup each. Place them on the baking sheet and freeze for about an hour.
• (Optional) Coat each ice cream scoop in flour and freeze for another hour.
• (Optional) Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they become foamy, then dip or roll the ice cream balls in the mixture to coat.
• Crush the cereal in a ziploc bag using a rolling pin. Transfer the crushed cereal to a bowl.
• Roll the ice cream balls in the crushed cereal until they are completely coated.
• Return the coated ice cream balls to the freezer and freeze for 4 hours or overnight.
• Preheat the air fryer to 350-400°F.
• Place the ice cream balls in an aluminium foil tray in the air fryer basket and air fry for 2 minutes.
• Serve immediately with your desired toppings.

How to make air fryer fried ice cream

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream (or any other flavour of your choice)
• All-purpose flour
• Cornflakes or Rice Krispies
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
• Ground cinnamon
• Egg whites
• Toppings of your choice (optional): chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, etc.

Step 1: Form Ice Cream Balls

Take a baking sheet or tray and line it with parchment paper. Using an ice cream scoop, form 6-8 evenly sized balls of ice cream and place them on the tray. You can also use a muffin tin to hold the ice cream balls, as it will be easier than a tray. Place the tray in the freezer and let the ice cream freeze for at least an hour.

Step 2: Coat the Ice Cream Balls

Place the flour on a plate or cutting board. Take the ice cream balls out of the freezer and roll them in the flour. Make sure they are thoroughly coated. Put them back in the freezer and let them refreeze for another hour.

Meanwhile, separate the egg whites and whisk them in a small bowl until they become foamy. In a separate bowl, crush the cereals (cornflakes and/or Cinnamon Toast Crunch) using a rolling pin. You can also use a food processor for this step.

Take the ice cream balls out of the freezer a few at a time and roll them in the egg whites. Then, immediately roll them in the crushed cereal mixture. Make sure they are completely coated, and use your hands to press extra cereal into the balls if needed.

Step 3: Freeze the Coated Ice Cream Balls

Place the coated ice cream balls back in the muffin tin or tray and return them to the freezer. This time, they need to freeze for a longer period, preferably overnight or for at least 4 hours.

Step 4: Air Frying

Preheat your air fryer to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Create a small shallow bowl out of aluminum foil and place it in the bottom of your air fryer basket.

Remove the ice cream balls from the freezer and place one or two balls at a time in the air fryer (depending on the size of your air fryer). Air fry for 2-3 minutes. Remove the ice cream balls from the air fryer using a long spoon and serve immediately with your desired toppings.

Tips:

• Work quickly when shaping the ice cream with your hands, as it will begin to melt.
• Don't worry about shaping the ice cream balls perfectly initially. You will be able to shape them better after they have been coated in the cereal.
• Always read your air fryer manual before using it.
• For best results, start a day ahead to ensure enough freezing time.
• Don't skip out on the freezing steps. Your ice cream should be very hard before you air fry it; otherwise, it will melt too quickly and make the cereal mushy.
• You can make gluten-free fried ice cream by using gluten-free flour and cereal.

Air fryer fried ice cream ingredients

Air fryer fried ice cream is a fun dessert to make and can be prepared with just a few ingredients. Here are the ingredients you'll need and the steps to follow:

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream (or any other flavour of your choice)
• Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal (or corn flakes, frosted flakes, crushed biscuits, or cookies)
• All-purpose flour (optional)
• Egg whites (optional)
• Toppings of your choice (e.g. whipped cream, chocolate sauce, hot fudge, caramel sauce, maraschino cherries)

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the desired cereal inside a zip lock bag and use a rolling pin to crush it into a fine consistency.
• Transfer the crushed cereal to a large plate.
• Scoop out the ice cream and form large balls, approximately 1 cup each, using your hands.
• Roll each ice cream ball in the crushed cereal, pressing it firmly to coat the surface.
• Transfer the coated ice cream balls to the parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze for 3-4 hours.
• Preheat your air fryer to 350-400°F.
• Remove the ice cream balls from the freezer and place them in the air fryer basket, cooking in batches if necessary.
• Air fry for about 2 minutes.
• Serve immediately with your desired toppings.

Tips:

• Work quickly when shaping the ice cream to prevent melting.
• Don't worry about shaping the ice cream balls perfectly at first; you can perfect the shape after coating them in the cereal.
• For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free cereal.
• If you prefer not to use egg whites, you can omit them or substitute them with honey or maple syrup to help the cereal stick to the ice cream.

Air fryer fried ice cream toppings

Air-Fryer Fried Ice Cream Toppings

Air-fried ice cream is a fun dessert to make, and it's even better with toppings! Here are some ideas for toppings to add to your air-fried ice cream:

Whipped Cream

Add a generous dollop of whipped cream to your air-fried ice cream for a classic, creamy topping. It pairs well with other toppings like chocolate sauce, hot fudge, or caramel sauce.

Chocolate Sauce

Drizzle some chocolate sauce over your air-fried ice cream for a decadent touch. It will add a rich, sweet flavour to your dessert.

Caramel Sauce

Caramel sauce is another delicious option to drizzle over your air-fried ice cream. It will complement the crunchy, creamy ice cream perfectly.

Maraschino Cherries

Add a cherry on top for a pop of colour and a touch of sweetness. Maraschino cherries are a classic ice cream topping and go well with the other suggested toppings.

Honey or Maple Syrup

For an extra sweet touch, drizzle some honey or maple syrup over your air-fried ice cream. This can be a great substitute for chocolate or caramel sauce.

Fresh or Bing Cherries

If you're looking for a slightly healthier option, top your air-fried ice cream with fresh cherries or Bing cherries. They will add a touch of freshness and sweetness to your dessert.

Feel free to get creative and experiment with other toppings! You can also combine multiple toppings to create a unique, indulgent dessert. Enjoy your air-fried ice cream!

Air fryer fried ice cream FAQ

Yes, you can make fried ice cream in an air fryer. It's a fun and easy dessert to make, even for beginners.

You will need ice cream, flour, egg whites, and a crunchy cereal coating. For the ice cream, vanilla is a classic, but you can use any flavour you like. For the coating, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal is a popular choice, but you can also use Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes, crushed biscuits, or cookies.

First, form the ice cream into balls and freeze them. Then, coat the ice cream balls in flour, then egg whites, and finally, roll them in the crushed cereal. Freeze the coated ice cream balls again for several hours or overnight. Finally, place the balls in an air fryer for a couple of minutes until golden.

Fried ice cream is often served with toppings such as whipped cream, chocolate sauce, hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, and maraschino cherries.

Yes, fried ice cream is safe to eat, especially if you use pasteurized egg whites.

Yes, you can make the ice cream balls ahead of time and store them in the freezer until you are ready to coat and fry them. You can also coat and freeze the ice cream balls, and then air fry them just before serving.

Any type of ice cream will work, but for the best results, choose an ice cream with cream as the first ingredient, as this will result in a firmer texture after freezing.

Yes, you can get creative with the coating. Some alternatives to cereal include crushed cookies, such as chocolate wafers, vanilla wafers, gingersnaps, graham crackers, or Biscoff biscuits. You can also use a different type of cereal, such as Rice Krispies, or a combination of cereals for extra crunch.

As long as the ice cream is frozen solid and you only cook it for a short time (2-3 minutes), it will not have time to melt before serving.

Frequently asked questions