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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
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.
Funnel Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 eggs
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
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
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 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.
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This recipe was originally published September 2014.
Being able to have a fair staple treat at home is dreamy. I introduced this to my kids this week covered in powdered sugar and it was a hit!
How much is 11/2 cups???
Looks like there should be a space between the 1 and the 1/2 for 1.5 cups.
amazing recipe .. i’ll try this soon
I hope you will! Thanks!
TrIed making this recipe with the amount of flour the recipe asks for, but the batter was much too thin. I assume that the measurements here dont match up with the official weight measurement for flour.
I am sorry it did 🙁 I haven’t had that issue, so I am not sure what happened.
2 cups of flour weighs 250 grams. It could also depend on the altitude you are at.
These Funnel cakes are so fun to make as a family! Yummy traditions!
A fairly eaSy dessert thats just like the stuff you get at the fair. The kids love the warmth of this dessert with goOey hot fudge or powdered sugar.
We all like funnel cakes. They taste just like the ones at the fair. Warm and crisp with ooey gooey hot fUdge sauce and sometimes a splash of whip cream.
Have you tried rolling the oreos in milk chocolate and then rice crispys?
I haven’t, but I will try 🙂 Thanks!
tHIS FUNNEL CAKE DEFINITELY TAKES ME BACK TO THE FAIR! lOVE THE CHOCOLATE AND POWDERED SUGAR ON TOP. tHE HUBBY LIKES STRAWBERRIES. i LIKE THAT WE BOTH CAN HAVE WHAT WE LOVE 🙂
My husband loves funnel cake andbi look it up i like the way you yours so am going to try thank you
They are so good!! I hope he likes them!! Thanks!!