Growing up in New Mexico, I went to my fair share of Mexican restaurants. (Although more and more, I’m realizing there is quite a difference between authentic Mexican food and New Mexican Mexican food.) There was one restaurant that was my family’s favorite. We’d go and get big stuffed burritos, chile rellenos, and of course, finish off our meal with a delicious sopapilla, drizzled with lots of honey.
I loved those times that we would get to go out for Mexican food. But I think we got stuck in our ways and always just ordered the same thing every time. Those burritos were amazing, so it’s no wonder. But they were huge. And by the time we were done eating, only making it through about half of one of those monsters, we’d be so full that we’d stretch our bellies to fit in a sopapilla, (you can’t leave without eating a fresh sopapilla!), but I don’t remember ever even looking at the dessert menu.
Which is a shame, because years later, after I moved away from home, I learned that there are actually some pretty amazing desserts that you can get at Mexican restaurants. Tres Leches Cake, Flan, and yes – Fried Ice Cream.
If you’ve never had fried ice cream before, get yourself into your car and drive to the nearest Mexican restaurant and pray that they have it on the menu. If you are an ice cream lover, this is one version of ice cream that you have to try. It is pretty much what it sounds like – a scoop of ice cream is breaded – usually in a mixture of crushed cornflakes, sometimes with coconut, sometimes cinnamon – and then quickly deep fried. The ice cream is served with whipped cream, honey, chocolate sauce, or sometimes a caramel sauce.
This version is a lot easier, and healthier, because you are skipping the “fried” part. Of course it’s not the same as the fried version, but believe me – it’s almost as good. And it’s worth it to me – because it means you get to eat 2 scoops instead of one!!
This Faux Fried Ice Cream would also be a great way to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. July isn’t quite over yet, so go crazy while you still have an excuse to celebrate!!
Faux Fried Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 quart vanilla ice cream
- 2 ½ cups Honey Nut Corn Flakes
- ½ cup toasted sweetened coconut
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- Honey whipped cream and maraschino cherries, for garnish
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Scoop the ice cream out into scoops, and place on the baking sheet. Freeze until completely frozen, at least 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, crush the cereal until semi-fine crumbs. Add in the coconut and cinnamon and mix. Place the mixture in a shallow bowl.
- When the ice cream is hard, take each scoop and roll it in the corn flake mixture, pressing the mixture into the ice cream if needed. Return the scoops to the baking sheet and freeze.
- Serve ice cream drizzled with honey and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
Celebrate National Ice Cream month with some of these other frozen treats:
Honey Balsamic Roasted Peach Sorbet from Cafe Johnsonia
Mango Frozen Yogurt from Sweet Basil
Toasted Coconut Ice Cream from Taste and Tell
Blueberry Pie Ice Cream from She Wears Many Hats
Coconut Milk Ice Cream with Ginger and Lime from Honey and Butter
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
OMG, just saw this shared on Dorothy’s FB… I’m DYING over this awesomeness, Deborah! I’ve actually never had fried ice cream before, but this faux version looks even better!
Tara @ The Butter Dish says
Ok Deb, it’s official… you need to have more babies!! You have been making some of the most incredible dishes since you got pregnant.
I’m all for smashing my face into a bowl of this with no regard to manners, etiquette or complete lack of grace.
grace says
i love mexican food, but my primary incentive for going to mexican restaurants is the fried ice cream. 🙂
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
OMG! Deborah, were you in my head? I am having my annual ice cream week to honor National Ice Cream month and was “this close” to featuring fried ice cream! Ha! Oh and I totally love that different parts of the country have different versions of Mexican food. Of course in Texas we have “Tex-Mex” and I have been to California and they have their own version of Mexican food that I have not seen elsewhere! I love it!
Donna says
This is sheer GENIUS! So much for my diet . . .
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
wow that looks SO delicious! 2 scoops please!! 🙂
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
More and more I’m thinking of moving out of my neck of the woods. Never heard of fried ice-cream.
Will have to try it. looks and sounds so good!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Oh dear lord, I am dying here! This is going to be a dangerous item to have around the house!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
I love fried ice cream! There aren’t many Mexican restaurants up here where I live, so making this at home is a MUST!
carrian says
DUH! I always forget that’s where you grew up!!! I love fried ice cream!
Kristy says
Now you have me craving Mexican food. 🙂
Joanne says
IT’s funny, I’ve only ever had fried ice cream at Thai places! I love this idea for a faux version…it makes it healthier and so much more doable at home!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Oh, I love this! Yay for 2 scoops :)!
Cara says
Don’t judge, but we used to eat at Chi Chi’s all the time (closest thing to real Mexican when I was growing up!) and I LOVED their fried ice cream. Such a good thing that I have a box of cornflakes in my pantry, now I know what I’m using for toppings next time I break out the ice cream!
Deborah says
@Cara, I’ve never been to Chi Chi’s, but if they have fried ice cream, I’m in!! And I never thought to just top my ice cream with cornflakes, but it would totally work. Especially with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey!
Chels R. says
How fun is this! My mom loves fried ice cream, but hates the frying technique. I’ll be passing this on to her.
Deborah says
@Chels R., it definitely is a lot less messy than frying!!
Kim Bee says
This is stellar. I am so over the moon for this one. I gotta try it.
Deborah says
@Kim Bee, you really do need to try it — it’s a great way to enjoy ice cream!
Stephanie says
This version is great! I love fried ice cream!
Deborah says
@Stephanie, thanks Stephanie – I loved this!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Great idea – without actually frying. Perfect!
Deborah says
@Averie @ Averie Cooks, as much as I love fried foods, it definitely is easier, healthier and less messy to do a non-fried version!
Bree says
Love fried ice cream so this lower fat version is fabulous!
Deborah says
@Bree, and it’s a bonus that a lower fat version is so delicious!!
Kim says
I made a recipe similar to this a couple times. It’s kinda dangerous because it’s so easy and delicious! Love it!!
Deborah says
@Kim, I agree – I had to pass mine over to my husband, or else I would have eaten way too much myself!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
I would love a bite of some of this fried ice cream right now! Or…maybe I’d just like a whole bowl… 🙂
Deborah says
@Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?!, I definitely ate more like the whole bowl… 🙂