Air fryer ice cream made with Breyers chocolate.

Air Fryer Ice Cream Is a Thing: Here’s How to Make It

Thought your air fryer was just for fries and wings? Think again. This kitchen MVP is also your ticket to one seriously delicious dessert: air-fried ice cream. It’s golden and crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and can be made with your favorite Breyers flavor.

It’s the kind of treat you’d expect from a restaurant. Only now, you can make it at home without the deep fryer. Sound good? Let’s get into how it’s done.

Frozen chocolate ice cream scoop being rolled in corn flakes

What Is Air Fryer Ice Cream?

Air fryer ice cream or air-fried ice cream is a clever spin on the classic fried ice cream, but without all the oil and deep-frying.

It starts with a scoop of ice cream that’s coated in a crunchy layer (think crushed cookies, cereal or corn flakes) and then frozen until solid. From there, it’s popped into the air fryer just long enough to get golden and crisp on the outside, while staying cold and creamy in the center.

It’s a fun, satisfying twist on a takeout favorite that’s great for when you want a tasty dessert without leaving the house.

Your Air Fryer + Breyers = Dessert Magic

When it comes to fried ice cream, Breyers is the perfect base to choose. Our ice creams are known for their smooth, creamy texture, which makes them easy to scoop, shape, and freeze.

Plus, we’ve got so many flavors to choose from, so you can get as creative as you like. You could try a classic flavor like Natural Vanilla or Chocolate. Or maybe you’d prefer to experiment with Mint Chocolate Chip or a trio of Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry

Scoops of chocolate ice cream on a baking tray.

How to Make Air Fryer Ice Cream at Home

Get ready to enjoy a batch of crispy, golden “fried” ice cream balls. This easy dessert is a fun weekend activity to try with kids or a surprising treat to serve at summer parties.

All you need is a tub of Breyers ice cream (any flavor you love), a couple of eggs, some crushed graham crackers (or cookies or cereal — anything with a bit of crunch), and an air fryer.

The key is to give yourself enough time to freeze the ice cream in stages. You want it super firm, so it holds up to the heat without melting. Top it with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, or whatever you’re feeling, and serve it up right away.

Want the full step-by-step? Find the recipe here: Air Fryer Ice Cream Recipe

Pro Tips for Nailing Air-Fried Ice Cream

Here are a few quick tips to help your ice cream hold up in the heat and taste amazing:

Freeze your scoops well before coating to prevent melting.
Use parchment paper or a lined basket to prevent sticking in the air fryer.
Chill your coating ingredients (like crushed cookies or cereal) so they don’t warm up the ice cream on contact.
Avoid overcrowding so the coating crisps evenly.
Work quickly and refreeze between steps.
Use a generous coating to seal in the cold center.

Love cooking with Breyers? Try our Rolled Ice Cream Recipe.

3 Must-Try Air Fryer Ice Cream Combos

The beauty of air fryer ice cream is that you can customize it to your liking. If you’re looking for some irresistible combos to try, we’ve put some ideas together for you:

Campfire Crunch: Start with Natural Vanilla, coat it in crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows, and drizzle with a touch of chocolate syrup after air frying.

Can’t get enough s’mores? Our Campfire Collection brings the flavor, with no prep required. From crunchy bars to cool sandwiches and creamy tubs, each one is packed with toasted marshmallow flavor, swirls of real HERSHEY'S® Milk Chocolate, and that signature graham cracker crunch.

Strawberry Shortcake Pop: Scoop up some Natural Strawberry and coat with a mix of crushed shortbread cookies and freeze-dried strawberries for a sweet, crunchy throwback to the classic ice cream bars.

Mint Choc Chip: Choose our Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream as your base, then coat with crushed chocolate cookies and sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top after air frying.

A Cool New Way to Fry

Whether you’re hosting or just treating yourself, air fryer ice cream is the ultimate dessert to try. It’s totally doable for beginners, but still big on wow factor. All that’s left to do? Grab your favorite Breyers flavor and get scooping.

FAQs

Does the ice cream really not melt?

Surprisingly, no. It doesn't melt if it's properly prepped. The secret is freezing the coated ice cream balls solid (usually for several hours or overnight) before air frying. The super-cold center and quick cooking time allow the coating to crisp up while keeping the inside frozen and creamy.

Can I make these ahead of time?

You can definitely prep the ice cream balls ahead of time and store them in the freezer. However, we recommend serving the air-fried ice cream as soon as it comes out of the air fryer to ensure maximum crunch.

What’s the best coating for fried ice cream?

A crunchy, flavorful coating is key. Crushed cornflakes are a classic go-to, often mixed with a bit of sugar and cinnamon for extra flavor. You could also try crushed cookies, pretzels, or even granola. Just make sure the coating is dry and coarse enough to crisp up in the air fryer.