Homemade Funnel Cake Recipe

Name: Funnel Cake Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: vegetable oil, (for frying); 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; 1½ cups milk; 2 eggs; whipped cream, fruit, chocolate fudge sauce, caramel sauce, powdered sugar

Funnel Cake Ingredients
How to Make Funnel Cake
Kristyn's Recipe Tips
Funnel Cake Recipe Recipe
Recipe FAQ
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Since we were little, Funnel Cakes have been a favorite at fairs! Fortunately, mom was able to come up with a recipe for it, so we are lucky to have been making homemade funnel cake since we were little. They’re a family FAVORITE dessert that we all enjoy and LOVE making!

It’s not only easy to whip up the batter, but it’s fun to cook! Although our favorite part is adding the toppings – a chocolate, strawberry, or caramel drizzle, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, or a pile of whipped cream. We all love to customize them to our liking.

For more classic fair treats you can make at home, check out our Fried Oreos, Homemade Kettle Corn, and our Churro Recipe.

Why we think you’ll love it:

They’re incredibly delicious! They’re fried and covered in powdered sugar, chocolate sauce, berries, and whipped cream. What’s not to love?
Few ingredients. Not only do they take a few ingredients, but they are pantry staples that you probably have on hand. The batter preps in only 5 minutes!
Easy to change up. Based on the toppings and mix-ins, you can easily change this recipe to fit any occasion!

Funnel Cake Ingredients

vegetable oil for frying – Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil. To cook properly, be sure to use hot oil so that it cooks quickly and starts to make the funnel cake strands we all know and love. The best temperature to heat oil for funnel cakes is 375°F.
2 cups all-purpose flour – see How to Measure Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1½ cups milk
2 eggs
toppings – Whipped Cream, fresh strawberries or blueberries, Chocolate Sauce, Caramel Sauce, Strawberry Sauce, Chocolate Syrup, powdered sugar, Vanilla Ice Cream, or cinnamon sugar mix

Funnel Cake Batter in bowl with a whisk.

How to Make Funnel Cake

PREP. Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a frying pan and heat over medium-high heat to 375°F.
BATTER. In a medium or large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and eggs.
FRY. Pour batter into a funnel (blocking the tip of the funnel with your finger) or use a squeeze bottle. Position the funnel over the hot oil and slowly pour the batter in a criss-cross and swirling motion over the oil. Fry for 1–2 minutes or until golden brown.
- Using tongs, flip the funnel cake and fry the other side for 1–2 minutes.
- Remove the fried dough to a paper towel–lined plate to drain.
- Repeat with the remaining batter.
SERVE. Serve this homemade funnel cake recipe warm with desired toppings such as Chocolate Sauce or Caramel Sauce.

Kristyn’s Recipe Tips

We found that squeeze bottles (like a cleaned-out ketchup bottle) work better than funnels. You can also purchase this Funnel Cake kit from Amazon.
Use the tongs to make sure the batter is submerged in the oil, and a metal spatula to flip the cake.
For funnel cake fries: Follow the instructions as written, but pipe batter in long straight lines into oil. Fry until golden and remove.
For funnel cake bites: Use a cookie scoop to drop the batter into the oil. Fry until golden brown and remove.

Homemade Funnel Cake recipe close up with chocolate sauce drizzled all over it.

4.94 from 32 votes

Funnel Cake Recipe

By: Kristyn Merkley

Learn how to make a funnel cake and bring that best-loved fair treat home with this easy recipe and your favorite toppings!

Servings: 6

Prep: 5

Cook: 25

Total: 30

Equipment

candy and deep fry thermometer

Ingredients

Toppings

▢ whipped cream, fruit, chocolate fudge sauce, caramel sauce, powdered sugar

Instructions

Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a frying pan and heat over medium-high heat to 375°F.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and eggs.
Pour batter into a funnel (blocking the tip of the funnel with your finger) or use a squeeze bottle. Position the funnel over the hot oil and slowly pour the batter in a criss-cross and swirling motion over the oil. Fry for 1–2 minutes or until golden brown.
Using tongs, flip the funnel cake and fry the other side for 1–2 minutes.
Remove to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter.
Serve funnel cakes warm with desired toppings.

Video

Notes

Recipe tips.

We found squeeze bottles (like a cleaned-out ketchup bottle) work better than funnels. You can also purchase this Funnel Cake kit from Amazon.
Use the tongs to make sure the batter is submerged in the oil and a metal spatula to flip the cake.
For funnel cake fries: Follow the instructions as written, but pipe batter in long straight lines into oil. Fry until golden and remove.
For funnel cake bites: Use a cookie scoop to drop the batter into the oil. Fry until golden brown and remove.

Prep ahead of time. You can make the batter ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days before making funnel cakes.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. For cripsy funnel cakes reheat in an airfyer, toaster oven, or broil in the oven. You can also microwave them.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cake, Calories: 210kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 239mg, Potassium: 224mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 178IU, Calcium: 118mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

Make ahead of time?

You can make the batter ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days before making funnel cakes.

How to store?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. For crispy funnel cakes, reheat in an air fryer, toaster oven, or broil in the oven. You can also microwave them.