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Make the finale of your next Mexican fiesta extra sweet with these (Un)Fried Ice Cream balls. They’re simple to make and the perfect way to end your meal.

I have been under the wrong impression for quite some time.  I had been led to believe that fried ice cream was a Mexican treat.  However, when I started doing a little research for this post, I learned otherwise.

Fried ice cream, as it turns out, may have actually been served for the first time at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.  It appears that it has gotten tied to Mexican cuisine thanks to Chi-Chi’s restaurant placing it on its menu.  

Though Chi-Chi’s is no longer in business, you can create a simple clone at home using only two ingredients.  (Or three if you like the extra sweet creamy goodness of dulce de leche.)

All it takes is some cinnamon toast cereal and some frozen ice cream or yogurt and a few kitchen tools.

How To Make (Un) Fried Ice Cream

To make (Un) Fried Ice cream, start by crushing approximately 2 cups of cinnamon toast cereal.  You can either place the cereal in a zip top bag and beat it – a good way to work out some frustration – or place it in a blender and pulse.

It only takes pulsing a few times.  Sometimes the little larger pieces of cereal provide the right “crunch.”

Pour the cereal into a medium-sized bowl or place on top of some plastic wrap.  Using a medium-sized cookie dough scoop, scoop a small ice cream ball and place on top of the cereal.  Use your hands to roll the ice cream ball around to get it coated well.

Place each coated ice cream ball into the well of a mini muffin pan and freeze for at least 1 hour.

Yield: 10

Un-Fried Ice Cream

Print

A healthier version of Mexican Fried Ice Cream

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 2-3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, crushed
• 2-3 cups Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream, softened
• Dulce de Leche, optional

Instructions

1. Place cereal in a zip top bag and crush to small pieces. Alternatively, place cereal in blender and pulse.
2. Using a medium cookie dough scoop, scoop yogurt or ice cream and place on top of prepared cereal. Roll the ball around until well coated. You may need to press the cereal firmly on the balls to help it adhere. Place in mini-muffin pan well that has been lined with plastic wrap. Repeat until all of the cereal has been used.
3. Freeze balls for at least an hour. When ready to eat, just remove balls, place in bowl, and add dulce de leche if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 80Saturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 11gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

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For extra deliciousness, drizzle dulce de Leche on top of the (un)fried ice cream and enjoy!

Other Recipes You Might Like:

• Brownie Sheet Cake – This recipe creates a brownie-like cake topped with a luscious chocolate frosting.
• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits – This recipe was adapted from an old Southern-recipe, using 3 simple ingredients: butter, buttermilk, and self-rising flour.  They might be just like your grandma’s.
• Easy Peanut Butter Pie – This is a super simple no-bake pie that combines peanut butter and vanilla pudding in to one delicious cool treat.