Jeff Mauro's "Fried" Ice Cream, Beauty, as seen on The Kitchen, Season 39/40
Recipe courtesy of Jeff Mauro

"Fried" Ice Cream

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 40 min (includes freezing time)
  • Active: 20 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
No matter how much steak, queso fundido, and chips and guac I stuff in my belly at our local Mexican joint, Maria’s, I always leave room for this honey-drenched crispy and creamy dessert. It's so easy and such a whimsical and delicious sweet treat. This is my inspired version.

Ingredients

Vanilla Honey Syrup:

“Fried” Ice Cream:

Directions

Special equipment:
food processor
  1. For the vanilla honey syrup: Place the honey and vanilla bean paste in a heatproof glass measuring cup. Microwave until loose, about 30 seconds.
  2. For the "fried" ice cream: Scoop roughly a 1 1/2-cup mound of ice cream onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Form into a ball with a slightly flat bottom, then wrap and place on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Repeat until you have four balls and place in the freezer to firm up, about 1 hour.
  3. Add the cornflakes, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt to a food processor. Pulse until uniform yet still coarse, 5 to 8 times.
  4. Heat a large skillet to medium-low heat, then add the butter and melt. Add the cornflake mixture and saute until it smells toasty, about 5 minutes. Take off the heat, then add the almond extract. Place on a sheet tray to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
  5. Remove the ice cream balls from the plastic wrap and roll in the cornflake mixture, pressing the mixture into the ice cream.
  6. Place each in a glass sundae dish, then top and flood the sides with a good drizzle of the warm honey syrup. Top each with whipped cream, some cinnamon sugar and a maraschino cherry.