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Homemade Funnel Cake Just Like the County Fair

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No more waiting for the county fair, now you can enjoy yummy funnel cake in the comfort of your own home. This easy recipe takes only a few ingredients and will be sure to please.

top down view of funnerl cake on a black plate with powdered sugar

The lights, the music, the rides, and of course the food. What’s better than the county fair? Delicious treats that stretch as far as the eye can see. Sweet and savory aromas wafting through the air. Ah so so yummy.

And of course a popular fair food item is the good old funnel cake. Deep fried ribbons of pancake like batter. Crunchy outside, soft inside, and sprinkled with a heavy hand of powdered sugar. 

But why wait just once a year to enjoy this delicious treat? You can make this easy funnel cake recipe at home. With just a few ingredients you can bring this delicious fair food to the comfort of your own home.

funnel cake ingredients

First let’s talk ingredients. You will need:

  • Oil for frying: Use any neutral flavored oil like vegetable, canola, avocado.
  • Flour: All purpose flour works well here. You can also use a gluten free alternative.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Baking powder: Helps with rising
  • Salt
  • Powdered sugar: Use this to dust over your funnel cake.
  • Milk: Use any milk or dairy free milk you’d like here.
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla: Check out my homemade vanilla recipe

What is funnel cake?

Funnel cake is a popular fair and carnival food made by deep frying a pancake like batter that is drizzled into hot oil in a circular and criss cross pattern.

What toppings go well with funnel cake?

funnel cake on a black plate with powdered sugar

Do I need a funnel to make funnel cake? 

Although traditional funnel cake is made with a funnel, you can definitely make it without one. A spouted measuring cup works well to pour out the batter.

Can funnel cake batter be refrigerated?

Yes. You can make your batter ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready for use.

How long will funnel cake batter last?

Store batter in an airtight container and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Can you make funnel cake with pancake batter?

Funnel cake batter is very similar to pancake batter. If you are not up for the homemade option you can also use store bought pancake batter mix.

Can you freeze funnel cake?

Funnel cakes are best eaten fresh out of the fryer, however if you happen to have left leftovers you can store it in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Can you reheat funnel cake?

Allow funnel cakes to come defrost either at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight. You can also defrost in the microwave. If you want to get the crisp back you can toast it in the toaster oven or deep fry it again.

funnel cake with a piece missing

Other fair food favorites

How to make funnel cake?

Add oil to a pot and set over medium high heat. Heat to 350F. While the oil is heating up, begin the batter.

To a large bowl add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well combined and set aside.

To another bowl add milk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.

Once the oil has reached 350F you can begin the frying process. If you do not have a thermometer you can test the oil by adding a drop of the batter to the oil. It should sink, bubble, and then rise to the top and float.

Traditional funnel cakes are made with a funnel. A funnel with about a 1/2 inch opening works best. Place the tip of your finger over the bottom opening of the funnel. Add about 1/2-1 cup of the batter to the funnel being sure to leave your finger blocking the opening.

Then place funnel over the pot of oil. Remove your finger and allow the batter to slowly stream into the pot. Move the funnel in a criss cross back and forward motion until all the batter has been poured out.

Fry for about 2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip the funnel cake using tongs and allow to fry for about another 2 minutes on the other side.

When done, remove from heat and place on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

Top with powdered sugar or the toppings of your choice and ENJOY!

top down view of funnerl cake on a black plate with powdered sugar

Funnel Cake Recipe

Relle Lum
No more waiting for the county fair, now you can enjoy these yummy funnel cakes in the comfort of your own home. This easy recipe takes only a few ingredients and will be sure to please.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 251 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Add oil to a pot and set over medium high heat. Heat to 350F. While the oil is heating up, begin the batter.
  • To a large bowl add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well combined and set aside.
  • To another bowl add milk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.
  • Once the oil has reached 350F you can begin the frying process. If you do not have a thermometer you can test the oil by adding a drop of the batter to the oil. It should sink, bubble, and then rise to the top and float.
  • Traditional funnel cakes are made with a funnel. A funnel with about a 1/2 inch opening works best. Place the tip of your finger over the bottom opening of the funnel. Add about 1/2-1 cup of the batter to the funnel being sure to leave your finger blocking the opening.
  • Then place funnel over the pot of oil. Remove your finger and allow the batter to slowly stream into the pot. Move the funnel in a criss cross back and forward motion until all the batter has been poured out.
  • Fry for about 2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip the funnel cake using tongs and allow to fry for about another 2 minutes on the other side.
  • When done, remove from heat and place on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
  • Top with powdered sugar or the toppings of your choice and ENJOY!

Notes

*Use a neutral oil like vegetable, canola, or avaocado.
*If you do not have a funnel you can use a measuring cup to stream the batter into the oil.
*Yummy toppings include: fresh fruit, chocolate, caramel, vanilla ice cream.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 306mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13g
Keyword carnival food, desserts, easy desserts, easy recipes, fair food, funnel cake, funnel cakes, keeping it relle
Did you make this recipe?Share a photo and tag @keeping.it.relle on Instagram so I can see all your delicious creations and Let me know how it was!

© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!

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funnel cake pin

By on October 3rd, 2020

About Relle

Aloha, my name is Relle and welcome to my little home on the internet where I like to share all my favorite Hawaiian recipes (and local ones too).

I am a wife, mom of two, and nurse practitioner here in the beautiful state of Hawai’i. I was born and raised in Hawai’i and I am of native Hawaiian descent. In my spare time I love to cook and bake and I have compiled many of my favorite recipes here for you to enjoy.

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5 thoughts on “Homemade Funnel Cake Just Like the County Fair”

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

    Reply

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