How to Make Ice Cream Balls

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: October 2, 2020 References Tested

If you're preparing ice cream for a group or want to serve a fancy dessert, make ice cream balls. Scoop large or bite-sized balls and freeze them for several hours until they're frozen. You can serve them whenever you'd like or coat them with a chocolate shell, crunchy toppings, nuts, or fruit.

Ingredients

1 pint (473 ml) of ice cream, any flavor
2 cups of toppings such as chocolate, crushed cereal, nuts, toffee
8 ounces (225 g) finely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate for chocolate coating
1 tablespoon (13 g) vegetable shortening for chocolate coating
Toppings such as whipped cream, sauce, and fruit

Makes 4 ice cream balls

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Scooping and Freezing

1
Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Get out 1 rimmed baking sheet and lay a sheet of plastic wrap across the bottom. The plastic wrap will prevent the ice cream balls from sticking to the sheet.^{[1]
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- If you don't have plastic wrap, you can line the sheet with waxed paper.
2
Let the ice cream sit out for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove 1 pint (473 ml) of ice cream from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. This will soften the ice cream a little so it's easier to scoop.^{[2]
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- Don't leave the ice cream out too long or it will melt.
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3
Use a cookie or ice cream scoop to scoop large balls of ice cream. Take a large cookie or ice cream scoop and spoon it into the slightly softened ice cream. Keep moving the scoop in circles to make the ice cream ball-shaped. Place each ball on the plastic-lined baking sheet.^{[3]
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- Consider using a large #16 scoop for ice cream balls that are about 1/3 cup (60 g) in size.
4
Make small ice cream balls, if desired. If you'd like to make small ice cream ball truffles, use a small 1 to 1 1/2 in (2.5 to 3.5 cm) scoop. Keep in mind that if you're making smaller balls, you'll get 12 to 16 servings. Set the balls on the plastic-lined baking sheet.^{[4]
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5
Cover and freeze the ice cream balls for at least 1 hour or overnight. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the ice cream balls on the baking sheet. Seal the edges tightly to prevent freezer burn. Freeze the balls until they're completely hard. If you've made small balls, check them after an hour. For large ice cream balls, freeze them for at least 4 hours before you check them.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Decorating the Ice Cream Balls

1
Dip the balls in a chocolate shell, if desired. To give the balls a hard shell, melt 8 ounces (225 g) of finely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon (13 g) of vegetable shortening over low heat. Cool the melted chocolate for a few minutes and then dip each of the hard ice cream balls into the chocolate. Put the ice cream balls back on the sheet and freeze them for 30 minutes so the chocolate hardens.^{[6]
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- If you want to add other coatings such as nuts or coconut, sprinkle them over the chocolate-coated balls before freezing them again.
2
Coat the ice cream balls in crushed cereal, pretzels, or cookies. For a crunchy coating, crush your favorite snack and put some in a shallow pie plate. Roll the frozen or chocolate-coated balls of ice cream in your choice of:^{[7]
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- Waffle cones
- Sugar cones
- Pretzels
- Cereal
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Chocolate sandwich cookies
- Toffee bits
3
Roll the balls in chopped nuts. Toast chopped or slivered nuts and set them in a shallow plate. Coat the ice cream balls in the nuts or just sprinkle a little over the tops to finish them. Try using:^{[8]
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- Almonds
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
4
Toss the balls in sprinkles or flaked coconut. For a delicate texture and flavor, sprinkle or roll the ice cream balls in chocolate or rainbow sprinkles, mini-chocolate chips, or flaked coconut.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Serving

1
Squirt whipped cream on top. For an extra creamy flavor, top each ice cream ball with whipped cream. If you're making your own whipped cream, consider flavoring the cream with cocoa powder and sugar to make a chocolate whipped cream.
2
Drizzle sauce over the ice cream balls. To make the ice cream balls even more decadent, spoon hot fudge or chocolate sauce over them. Serve the ice cream balls immediately since the hot fudge will begin to melt the ice cream.
- You can also use caramel sauce or dulce de leche.
3
Top with a cherry or fresh fruit. Add a maraschino cherry to the top of each ice cream ball or spoon a little fresh fruit around the base of each ball. Consider using:
- Crushed pineapple
- Banana slices
- Strawberry halves
- Blueberries