Easy, Crispy Homemade Funnel Cake Recipe (Classic Fair Style)
Bring the fun of the county fair to your kitchen with this easy funnel cake recipe. You will achieve crispy, golden swirls with tender centers every time using simple pantry ingredients. This recipe is quick and perfect for a nostalgic dessert.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil, for deep frying
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk these dry ingredients together.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; do not overmix the batter. A few small lumps are fine.
- Pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil into a deep, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to check the temperature.
- Transfer the batter to a funnel with the spout opening covered by your finger, or use a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip (about 1/2 inch opening).
- Working over the hot oil, uncover the funnel spout and quickly move the funnel in a circular motion to create a lattice or web pattern. Make several small cakes or one large one, depending on your pan size.
- Fry for about 1 to 2 minutes per side, until the funnel cake is golden brown and crispy.
- Carefully remove the funnel cake from the oil using tongs or a slotted spoon. Place it on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Repeat with the remaining batter, allowing the oil temperature to return to 375 degrees Fahrenheit between batches.
- Serve immediately while warm. Dust generously with powdered sugar for the classic fair taste.
Notes
- For the best crispy texture, maintain the oil temperature at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If the oil is too cool, the cake will absorb too much oil and become soggy.
- If you do not have a funnel, you can use a large zip-top bag, snip off one corner to create a 1/2-inch opening, and use that to pipe the batter.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients for a spiced flavor variation.
- Serve with fresh berries or chocolate sauce for an enhanced dessert experience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cake
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 50