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14 Comments

Healthier Fried Ice Cream Cake

Kathleen

by Kathleen Pope Mar 31, 2025

Jump to Recipe

Healtheir Fried Ice Cream Cake with Gluten Free corn flake crust, slice of cake drizzled with caramel.
Easy Fried Ice Cream Cake a Bit Healthier
Pin for Fried Ice Cream Cake not using Cool Whip, gluten free dessert with slice of corn flake crusted Mexican Fried Ice Cream Cake.

Healthier no-bake Fried Ice Cream Cake, using organic gluten free corn flakes sweetened with fruit juice, all natural vanilla ice cream, and no Cool Whip. A delicious frozen treat, that is a crunchy, creamy, cinnamon laced Mexican dessert. All of the taste without any of the fuss, no fry!

Ice cream cakes are a must have recipe any time of the year, the fact that you make these ahead of time is the best! And this Mexican fried ice cream is all it’s cracked up to be!

We are kind of bonkers about ice cream desserts in our house, try these family and reader favorites: Mile High Mud Pie, Best Ice Cream Sandwiches and definitely try my Fried Ice Cream made in the Air Fryer!

Slice of fried ice cream cake on brightly colored plate with caramel and chocolate drizzle.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.

Why You Will Love this No Bake Dessert

What’s not to love about a dessert that takes a few steps, but yields a decadent, restaurant quality taste!

  • Takes about 15 minutes hands on time, you will have this cake assembled and in the freezer
  • Customize the amount of cinnamon to your taste!
  • The crunchy, buttery topping and crust cradle your favorite ice cream.
Close up of fried ice cream cake drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

Ingredients

A pretty simple list of ingredients for a outstanding tasting ice cream cake!

Fried Ice Cream Cake Ingredients, L-R Brown sugar, crushed corn flakes, vanilla ice cream, Cinnamon, vanilla bean paste, butter.
  • VANILLA ICE CREAM | Use your favorite here! I love Trader Joe’s no RBsT Vanilla Ice Cream!
  • CORN FLAKES | I chose gluten free, organic fruit juice sweetened corn flakes, but use your favorite. You will crush them as fine as you like.
  • BUTTER | Real dairy butter, if it’s not hard coming out of the fridge it’s not real butter! 🙂
  • BROWN SUGAR | I used organic light brown sugar, but use light or dark!
  • CINNAMON | The key ingredient to making this a Mexican Ice Cream Cake!
  • VANILLA BEAN PASTE | This is optional, but adds great flavor to the fried ice cream cake.
  • CARAMEL, HOT FUDGE, WHIPPING CREAM | These are optional of course, eat it plain or drizzled with your favorite!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to make your own creamy, crunchy ice cream dessert with corn flakes!

  • In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat, then add brown sugar and cinnamon and bring to a simmer.
  • Simmer at a low boil for about 2 minutes, then stir in corn flakes removing from heat.
fried ice cream cake process shots adding brown sugar to butter and cinnamon to mixture.
Fried Ice Cream Process Shots L-R bring to simmer, adding crushed corn flakes.
  • Press half of the buttery corn flake mixture into 9×13 baking dish, cooling completely (I placed mine in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  • Place softened ice cream into mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add additional cinnamon and vanilla bean paste if desired, stir on low until smooth and combined.
Process shots for fried ice cream cake, adding ice cream to mixer and cinnamon and vanilla bean paste to ice cream.
  • Pour over cooled corn flake crust and smooth to edges evenly.
  • Press rest of corn flake crust into top of ice cream; pressing down lightly, cover with plastic wrap and freeze at least 5 hours or longer.
Fried Ice Cream Cake adding topping to smoothed ice cream and ready to freeze.

Serving Tips

Suggested serving ideas for this delicious Mexican Fried Ice Cream cake!

  • Remove from freezer about 10 minutes prior to cutting, this will soften slightly.
  • Fill tall cup with hot tap water and place sharp knife in glass to heat up, dry and slice ice cream cake into slices, using a spatula to remove individual slices.
  • Drizzle warm Caramel sauce and/or Hot Fudge sauce over the top, a little squirt of whipped cream and a cherry if you like that sort of thing.
  • Keep it plain, it has loads of taste all by itself!
  • Drizzle a little regular or hot honey over the top!
  • Sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar mixture.

Recommended Tools

  • I enjoy making and serving this Mexican fried ice cream in a glass 9×13 dish, so you can see the pretty layers, but any 9×13 dish will work just fine.
  • I love these Tovolo spatula’s; they are sturdy, the silicone head is dishwasher safe and removable from the wooden handle.
  • A large mixing bowl and hand mixer will work just fine, or use your stand mixer.
  • A good strong spatula, these Pampered Chef Mini spatula’s are my very favorite!
Fried Ice Cream Cake FB image with bite taken out of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Fried Ice Cream cake Gluten Free?

Yes, make sure your corn flakes are gluten free. This is a naturally gluten free dessert.

Can I use different flavored ice cream?

Why not? It’s your dessert! Make it with chocolate ice cream, cinnamon ice cream, but vanilla ice cream is the classic way to make this.

Do I have to put cinnamon in this frozen dessert?

Not if you don’t want too! Make it Yours is our motto, if you don’t like cinnamon leave it out. Or reduce it. Classic Mexican fried ice cream does have cinnamon in it though.

More No Bake Desserts:

  • Magnolia Best Banana Pudding
  • Old-Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream
  • No Churn Patriotic Ice Cream
  • Rose & Pistachio No Churn Ice Cream
  • Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • Circus Animal Cookie No Churn Ice Cream
  • Half Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

I hope you loved this recipe, if you did, be sure to pop into the recipe card below and give it a 5-Star rating and comment!

Like this recipe?

Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!

Recipe Card
Best fried ice cream cake with caramel and chocolate drizzle, whipped cream and a cherry on top, amongst brightly colored plates and napkins.

Fried Ice Cream Cake

5 from 2 readers
Author: Kathleen Pope
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
Freeze Time: 5 hours hours
Total Time: 5 hours hours 17 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Healthier no-bake Fried Ice Cream Cake, using organic gluten free corn flakes sweetened with fruit juice, all natural vanilla ice cream, and no Cool Whip. A delicious frozen treat, that is a crunchy, creamy, cinnamon laced Mexican dessert. All of the taste without any of the fuss, no fry!

Equipment

  • Pyrex 1102267 885459426300 Portables Glass Bakeware

Ingredients 
US Customary – Metric

Corn Flake Crust

  • ยฝ cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 cups corn flakes crushed, measured after crushing; I used Gluten free, Organic, Fruit Sweetened Corn Flakes

Fried Ice Cream Cake

  • ยฝ gallon vanilla ice cream softened, vanilla bean or French vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste optional

Topping suggestions

  • Salted Caramel Sauce
  • Hot Fudge or Chocolate Sauce
  • Honey or hot honey
  • Cinnamon sugar or just keep it plain
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Remove ice cream from freezer about 10-15 minutes before making to soften.
  • In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat, then add brown sugar and cinnamon and bring to a simmer.
  • Simmer at a low boil for about 2 minutes, remove from heat, then stir in corn flakes.
  • Press half of the buttery corn flake mixture into 9×13 baking dish, reserve the other half. Cool topping completely (I placed mine in the freezer for 10 minutes.
  • Place softened ice cream into mixing bowl or bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add additional cinnamon and vanilla bean paste if desired, stir on low until smooth and combined. Pour over cooled corn flake crust and smooth to edges evenly.
  • Press rest of corn flake crust into top of ice cream; pressing down lightly, cover with plastic wrap and freeze at least 5 hours or longer.
  • Well covered this dessert will last 2-3 months in the freezer, if it lasts that long. See below for serving suggestions.
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Notes

Serving Tips

Suggested serving ideas for this delicious Mexican Fried Ice Cream cake!
  • Remove from freezer about 10 minutes prior to cutting, this will soften slightly.
  • Fill tall cup with hot tap water and place sharp knife in glass to heat up, dry and slice ice cream cake into slices, using a spatula to remove individual slices.
  • Drizzle warm Caramel sauce and/or Hot Fudge sauce over the top, a little squirt of whipped cream and a cherry if you like that sort of thing.
  • Keep it plain, it has loads of taste all by itself!
  • Drizzle a little regular or hot honey over the top!
  • Sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar mixture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 353mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 1026IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 2mg
Best fried ice cream cake with caramel and chocolate drizzle, whipped cream and a cherry on top, amongst brightly colored plates and napkins.
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brown sugar cinnamon corn flakes vanilla ice cream

Kathleen Pope

Meet Kathleen

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, Iโ€™m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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Comments

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  1. Julie

    Wed, Nov 15, 2023 at 8:41 pm

    Everyone loves this and itโ€™s so easy to make!!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen Pope

      Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 6:44 am

      Thanks so much Julie!!

      Reply
  2. Erin

    Fri, May 28, 2021 at 9:07 pm

    This is my kind of cake! We made this for a friend’s birthday, and I have a feeling it’ll be gracing our table a few more times this summer because it was so tasty.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sat, May 29, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      Love hearing this!!!

      Reply
  3. Erin

    Sat, May 29, 2021 at 3:06 am

    5 stars
    I made this for a friend’s birthday, and boy, was this a hit. There were no leftovers, and everyone marveled over this deliciousness!

    Reply
  4. Amy Nash

    Fri, May 28, 2021 at 8:58 am

    My first job was at a Mexican restaurant in high school as a server and we had fried ice cream there. I haven’t had it in ages but this was so much easier and tasted just as good.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sat, May 29, 2021 at 2:42 pm

      So happy to hear this Amy!!!

      Reply
  5. Michaela Kenkel

    Fri, May 28, 2021 at 7:51 am

    One of my MOST favorite dessert recipes EVER!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sat, May 29, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      Love hearing this, thanks so much!

      Reply
  6. Sandra Shaffer

    Mon, May 24, 2021 at 11:18 am

    Wow, I never knew how restaurants could roll ice cream and fry it. This version is so much better! Served as a dessert to a Mexican themed meal and everyone raved about the ice cream cake. Don’t skip the cinnamon. Adds the perfect flavor.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Tue, May 25, 2021 at 1:34 pm

      Thanks so much Sandra, I am all about short-cuts and if it’s just as delicious all the better!

      Reply
  7. Sheila

    Mon, May 24, 2021 at 12:48 am

    5 stars
    So easy and so fun! My crew loved the crunchy topping and we like it with both caramel and chocolate drizzled on top!

    Reply
  8. Debi

    Sun, May 23, 2021 at 7:17 am

    This was delicious. And easy to make. My family loved it.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Tue, May 25, 2021 at 1:34 pm

      So glad to hear that Debi, thanks so much!!

      Reply

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Kathleen Pope

Meet Kathleen

Hey there! I'm Kathleen Pope, a proud wife, mom of two awesome college boys, and recipe nerd. Welcome to my world of easy recipes with a healthy twist! Join thousands who trust The Fresh Cooky as their go-to recipe source. Let's cook up some magic!

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