Air-Fried Ice Cream: A Tasty, Quick Treat

Can you make fried ice cream in an air fryer? Yes, you can!

The process involves freezing, coating, and refreezing the ice cream before frying it in the air fryer for a couple of minutes. The result is a warm and crunchy outer coating that contrasts with the cold, frozen ice cream on the inside.

This method of preparing fried ice cream is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as it requires no oil and can be a fun recipe for kids to make.

How to make fried ice cream in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Cornflakes
• Cinnamon
• Egg whites
• Flour
• Toppings of your choice (e.g. whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, cherries)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Form Ice Cream Balls

Scoop out your vanilla ice cream and shape it into balls. You can use an ice cream scoop to get evenly sized balls, but don't worry too much about perfection as you will further shape them later. Place the ice cream balls in a muffin tin or on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and put them in the freezer for about an hour.

Step 2: Coat the Ice Cream Balls

Take the ice cream balls out of the freezer. First, coat them with flour, then return them to the freezer for another hour. Next, whisk the egg whites in a bowl until they become foamy. Dip or roll the ice cream balls in the egg whites, and then roll them in the crushed cornflakes and cinnamon mixture. Make sure the ice cream is completely covered. Return the coated ice cream balls to the freezer for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.

Step 3: Air Fry the Ice Cream

Create a small shallow bowl out of aluminium foil and place it in the bottom of your air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Air fry the ice cream balls one or two at a time for about 2 minutes. Remove them from the air fryer, add your desired toppings, and enjoy!

Tips:

• It is important to follow all the freezing steps and not to skip any of them. Make sure your ice cream is very hard before air frying, otherwise, it will melt too quickly and make the cornflakes mushy.
• You can get creative with the ice cream flavour and toppings. Try chocolate, coffee, or strawberry ice cream, and top with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, cherries, or anything else you like!
• If you don't want to use egg whites, you can roll the ice cream balls in honey or maple syrup before coating them with the cornflakes.
• For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free cereal.

Ingredients and equipment needed

Making fried ice cream in an air fryer requires a few key ingredients and pieces of equipment. Here is a detailed list of what you will need:

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream: Use a high-quality ice cream with a high cream content, as this will help it freeze up firmer. You can also experiment with different flavours, such as chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, or strawberry.
• All-purpose flour: A small amount is needed to provide a barrier on the ice cream and help the other ingredients adhere. You can use gluten-free flour if needed.
• Cornflakes: These are the classic coating for fried ice cream, but you can also use other cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, or even crushed cookies or biscuits.
• Cinnamon: Adding a touch of ground cinnamon enhances the flavour and brings out authentic Mexican flavours.
• Egg whites: These act as a binder, helping the cereal coating stick to the ice cream. You can omit the egg whites and use honey or maple syrup instead, but this will make the dessert sweeter.
• Toppings (optional): Chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, or any other desired toppings can be added to complete the dessert.

Equipment:

• Air fryer: This is the key piece of equipment that will allow you to fry the ice cream without using hot oil.
• Ice cream scoop: Use a sturdy, high-quality scoop to portion out the ice cream into even balls.
• Muffin tin or baking sheet: You will need a container to hold the ice cream balls while they freeze. A muffin tin works well, or you can use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper.
• Mixing bowls: You will need several small to medium-sized mixing bowls for preparing the dry and wet ingredients.
• Whisk: This is needed to beat the egg whites until they become foamy.
• Ziplock bag: Placing the cereal in a plastic bag and crushing it with a rolling pin is an easy way to create a fine crumb coating.
• Aluminium foil: Creating a small shallow bowl out of aluminium foil to place in the bottom of your air fryer basket will help contain any mess.

Step-by-step process

Ingredients

• Vanilla ice cream
• Cornflakes
• Cinnamon
• Egg whites
• Flour
• Toppings of your choice (optional)

Method

Step 1: Form ice cream balls

Scoop out medium-sized balls of vanilla ice cream and place them on a baking sheet or in a muffin tin. Put them in the freezer for about an hour to harden.

Step 2: Coat the ice cream balls

Take the ice cream balls out of the freezer and roll them in flour. Return them to the freezer for another hour.

Next, whisk the egg whites until they become foamy. Then, dip or roll the ice cream balls in the egg whites.

After that, crush the cornflakes in a blender or by placing them in a plastic bag and using a rolling pin. You can also add some cinnamon to the crushed cornflakes for extra flavor. Roll the ice cream balls in the cornflake mixture until they are completely coated.

Place the coated ice cream balls back in the freezer for at least four hours or overnight. This step is crucial to ensure the ice cream is frozen hard before air frying.

Step 3: Air fry the ice cream balls

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

Place one or two ice cream balls in the air fryer at a time and "fry" for around two minutes. Remove them from the air fryer with a long spoon, add your desired toppings, and enjoy!

Tips:

• You can use any flavor of ice cream you like and get creative with toppings.
• If you want to make gluten-free fried ice cream, use gluten-free flour and cornflakes or another type of cereal.
• It is important to follow all the freezing steps and not skip any of them. The ice cream needs to be very hard before air frying to prevent it from melting too quickly.
• You can make the ice cream balls ahead of time and keep them frozen until you are ready to air fry them.

Tips and tricks

Preparation

Before you start making your fried ice cream, it's important to note that this recipe is time-consuming and requires multiple steps. It's a good idea to read through all the instructions first and plan ahead. You can also make the ice cream balls ahead of time and keep them in the freezer until you're ready to fry them.

Freezing the Ice Cream

The ice cream balls need to be very hard before you coat and fry them, so don't skip the freezing steps. It's recommended to freeze the ice cream balls for at least an hour, or until they are frozen solid, before coating them with flour or egg whites. After coating, freeze them again for at least another hour or even overnight. This will ensure that the coating adheres well and the ice cream doesn't melt when fried.

Choosing an Ice Cream

When choosing an ice cream, go for a harder, high-quality ice cream that freezes firmly. Look for an ice cream with cream as the first ingredient, as this will result in a firmer ice cream. You can use any flavour you like, but traditional fried ice cream is usually made with vanilla ice cream. If you want to be adventurous, try chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, mocha, strawberry, or even pumpkin ice cream.

Coating the Ice Cream

For the coating, you can use a variety of cereals, cookies, or crackers. Traditional fried ice cream uses corn flakes, but you can also use Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, crushed biscuits, or cookies. If you want to get creative, try using coconut flakes, flour tortillas, vanilla wafers, bread, or tempura batter. Avoid using coatings that are too runny, such as batter, as they won't stick to the ice cream as well.

Frying the Ice Cream

When frying the ice cream in the air fryer, create a small shallow bowl out of aluminium foil and place it in the bottom of the air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 minutes. Fry the ice cream balls one or two at a time for 2-3 minutes. Remove them from the air fryer with a long spoon and garnish with your desired toppings.

Toppings

Fried ice cream is usually served with toppings such as whipped cream, chocolate sauce, hot fudge, caramel sauce, honey, cherries, or any other ice cream toppings you like. Get creative and customise your fried ice cream to your taste!

Serving suggestions

Fried ice cream is a fun and creative dessert that can be served in many ways. Here are some ideas to elevate your fried ice cream and impress your guests:

• Whipped cream: Top your fried ice cream with a generous dollop of whipped cream. It adds a creamy texture and a beautiful presentation.
• Chocolate sauce: Drizzle some chocolate sauce over the fried ice cream for a decadent touch. You can also serve it on the side as a dipping sauce.
• Caramel sauce: Caramel sauce pairs perfectly with the cinnamon and vanilla flavours in the fried ice cream. It adds a rich and sweet element to the dessert.
• Honey: For a touch of natural sweetness, drizzle some honey over the fried ice cream or serve it on the side as an additional topping.
• Maraschino cherries: Add a pop of colour and a touch of sweetness with a maraschino cherry on top. It's a classic finishing touch for this dessert.
• Fruits: Fresh fruits such as strawberries, cherries, or raspberries can be a wonderful garnish, adding a burst of freshness to the dish.
• Nuts: Finely chopped pecans or other nuts can be sprinkled over the fried ice cream for added crunch and flavour.
• Coconut flakes: Toasted coconut flakes can be used as a topping or mixed into the cereal coating for a tropical twist.
• Ice cream sauces: Get creative with your favourite ice cream sauces, such as hot fudge, butterscotch, or strawberry sauce.
• Ice cream cones: For a fun presentation, serve the fried ice cream in an ice cream cone, creating a unique and indulgent dessert.
• Tortilla bowls: As a nod to its Mexican origins, serve the fried ice cream in a crispy tortilla bowl. It adds a savoury contrast to the sweet dessert.

Feel free to mix and match these suggestions to create your own signature fried ice cream sundae!

Frequently asked questions