T’s back with another fun Tip for today – Homemade Funnel Cakes – her favorite fair foods – you can make your own funnel cake right from your very own kitchen with this easy recipe!

Homemade Funnel Cakes!

Every year the State Fair of Texas (you will often also find them at your State Fairs or local theme park if you’ve never had one) comes to town and ever year I choose not to go. I only want the delicious funnel cake and Fletchers Corn Dogs.

Instead of spending a ton of money just so I can go spend a ton of money, I am making fair food at home.

What is funnel cake made of?

Funnel cakes recipe is generally made of a simple batter that is then poured into hot oil to form the decorative cakes.

How do you make funnel cakes without a funnel?

You can use many things to make funnel cakes: ladle, water bottle, condiment squeeze bottle, plastic baggie with the bottom corner cut off. You can use anything that will give you a little control in how you form your cakes in the oil.

What kind of oil do you use for funnel cakes?

Peanut oil makes them the crispiest, but of course with peanut allergies that might not work for you, you can use coconut oil or pretty much any oil can work.

Is funnel cake made from pancake batter?

You can actually use a pancake mix to make them as funnel cake batter is a basic dough.

Can you freeze funnel cakes?

As we just talked about it’s a lot like pancake batter and just like pancakes, funnel cakes can be frozen and thawed and they still taste great.

How were funnel cakes invented?

Funnel cakes were created in the United States and originally came from the Pennsylvania Dutch who called them: drechter kuche which means funnel as that’s how they were made by pouring the dough into the oil through a funnel.

Are elephant ears and funnel cakes the same thing?

A Funnel Cake is light, crisp, lacy, and decorative, dusted with powdered sugar, whereas an Elephant Ear is fried dough that is flat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar (or brown sugar). Both are common treats at the fair.

Today we are making an easy Funnel Cake recipe. You will need:

3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1 egg
2/3 c milk

You will also need a few inches of oil for frying, paper towel (s) for draining, and powdered sugar (or fruit) for topping.

Let’s get started:

• Beat one egg and put it into the mixer
• To the egg, add 2/3 cup of milk
• In a separate medium bowl or large bowl, sift together your 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 1/3 cup flour, and 2 tbsp. sugar
• Slowly pour the dry ingredients in with the milk and egg mixture wet ingredients while mixing. Your batter will become a slightly thin looking consistency, if you have thin batter you’re doing it right
• Pour batter (about a cup of batter) into a piping bag (plastic bag with the corner cut off) or pour it into a candy funnel
• You will need a skillet, deep fryer, or Dutch oven filled with vegetable oil on medium heat
• When the oil is nice and hot, you will swirl your batter in a circular motion or spiral motion into the hot cooking oil using a pastry bag, funnel (hence the name), plastic squeeze bottle, or a funnel cake stand that looks like a funnel pitcher
• Initially, the batter will sink but will quickly float back to the top
• Let it start the browning process before you flip it over.
• Do not let it brown completely
• You only want a light brown not quite a golden brown because all things fried in oil continue to cook once they are out of the oil.
• This means it will continue to brown when you put it on the napkin and drain the excess oil
• Dust with powdered sugar or top with your favorite toppings (like maple syrup)
• Any remaining batter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days