Everything You Need to Know About Deep Fried Ice Cream

Fried ice cream is commonly found on dessert menus in Mexican restaurants across the United States. After ordering, what arrives at your table is a golden fried sphere, often drizzled with honey, chocolate, or caramel, plus whipped cream or even fresh fruit. Cutting into the dessert, the crunchy, cakey exterior should still be steaming hot, giving way to the frozen cream inside just before it begins to melt. More than a delicious sweet treat, fried ice cream offers a unique experience in temperature and texture. 

You may be wondering who invented fried ice cream. There are several conflicting stories about the origins of this delicious dessert. Like many great American foods, it may have been invented at a fair: the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair to be exact, which also saw a great number of other new foods, including the ice cream sundae. One year later, in 1894, a Philadelphia company was officially credited with inventing fried ice cream, having enveloped it in a sheet of thin pie crust before frying. Others believe the inspiration for fried ice cream began with Japanese tempura restaurants. By the early 1980’s however, it was clearly associated with Mexican restaurants when national chain Chi-Chi’s adopted it as their signature dessert, made with tortillas and cinnamon.

Our secret to great fried ice cream is all in the timing. Working fast, we scoop sub-zero premium vanilla bean ice cream into extra-large portions. Using our one-of-a-kind Corn Flake and cinnamon sugar batter, we coat each frozen scoop and quickly plunge it into a super-heated fryer. In just a few seconds, far too fast for the ice cream to melt, the coating turns golden brown and perfectly crispy. Once the outside is fried, it’s time for the toppings! We top it while it’s hot with gooey caramel and cool whipped cream, for the ultimate sweet treat sensation. Once plated and topped, this dessert moves fast to reach your table before it begins to cool. 

Make room for dessert tonight, and try the frozen ice cream! It’s crispy and warm on the outside, cold and creamy inside, and topped with rich melted caramel and chilled, delicate whipped cream. It’s our most popular dessert option, along with our own homemade Oreo churros. Try both and let us know which one you love!  The Corner Taqueria is serving delicious fried ice cream at our Smyrna Market Village Mexican restaurant seven days a week, and into the late-night on Friday and Saturday. Join us for hot tacos, cold drinks, and dessert all summer long!