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Home » Recipes » Pie Recipes

Easy Homemade Funnel Cakes Recipe

Published: Sep 28, 2015 Last Updated: Mar 23, 2023 by Marye 876 words. | About 5 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe
8 hours hrs 8 minutes mins
Light, homemade funnel cakes are a State Fair favorite and you can easily make them at home with this recipe. Although this recipe calls for these to be made in a deep fryer some people prefer to make them in a high sided frying pan. Difficulty level 4/10

This easy, homemade funnel cakes recipe brings that State Fair food you love home to your own kitchen. Light, crispy, and delicately sweet, funnel cakes make a great base for everything from fruit to ice cream.

Homemade funnels cakes are easy to make and taste just like the state fair! Restlesschipotle.com

We love funnel cakes around here. Whether we're at Six Flags or the State Fair it's pretty much a given that at least one funnel cake will be consumed. At least one.

There are all kinds of ways to make them -- I've seen recipes with pancake mix, cake mix, and from scratch. I really like my recipe because it comes out crispy and light every single time I make it. There's nothing worse than a grease-laden, chewy funnel cake!

I'll be honest with you. It takes awhile to get the hang of creating the perfectly shaped homemade funnel cake. The batter has to be the exact consistency and you have to move the funnel over the oil in an even motion. You are probably not going to get it on your first few tries, and I have been making them for years and still have problems at times. Here's the deal, so listen closely...

These easy, homemade funnel cakes are quick to make and your family will love them. Totally addictive. Restlesschipotle.com

It's OK. They are still delicious if they are not perfect or if they look more like light colored Cheetos.

You want the oil to be hot enough that the batter fries quickly without soaking up oil. The funnel should be light and crispy. The batter also has to be thick enough to hold together but not so thick that it fries up heavy. Like I said, it takes awhile to get the hang of it and even then there will be times when they aren't perfect.

We were at the State Fair of Texas yesterday and filled up on our yearly quota of fair food. We tried the fried alligator, the chicken fried lobster, deep fried Reeses, deep fried Oreos... I'm not sure what all we chowed down on. The past couple of years they've had red velvet funnel cakes, too. I don't really care for them because I think they are kind of tasteless but whatever.

Homemade funnel cakes are easy to make and totally addictive. Top with your favorite toppings. Restlesschipotle.com

One of the fun things about funnel cakes is that they are HUGE. Don't make them skimpy! I honestly like them best with just a dusting of powdered sugar but the kids like them with whipped cream and sprinkles. Other ways to top a funnel cake are:

  • Strawberries and ice cream
  • Ice cream and hot fudge ( I like this peanut butter ice cream on top)
  • Caramel sauce
  • Syrup

There's no right way to do it. Think of them as a weirdly shaped waffle.

The following is an affiliate link. If you click through and buy something I get a small commission which helps support the blog. Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle.

One thing you will need is a good deep fryer. I have this one from Presto. It maintains an even heat, which is important, and it has two baskets so that you can fry two different things at a time. It's also got a filter in the top so the house doesn't smell awful while the oil is heating up. I use peanut oil and I suggest, as long as there are no peanut allergies, that you use it, too. It really does fry light and crispy. If you can't use it any light oil will do.

Presto 05466 Stainless Steel Dual Basket Pro Fry Immersion Element Deep Fryer

One caution... Homemade funnel cakes, like the ones that you get at the fair, are meant to be eaten immediately. They are no good once they cool down. Make only as much as you'll eat. The batter will stay good in the refrigerator for about a week if you put it in a Mason jar with a tight fitting lid.

funnel cake feat
4.92 from 12 votes

Easy Homemade Funnel Cakes Recipe

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Light, homemade funnel cakes are a State Fair favorite and you can easily make them at home with this recipe. Although this recipe calls for these to be made in a deep fryer some people prefer to make them in a high sided frying pan. Difficulty level 4/10
Course Dessert
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes
Chill: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 8 hours hours 8 minutes minutes
Servings:8
Calories:174
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Deep Fryer

Ingredients

  • Oil , to fill your deep fryer
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 cups all purpose flour, may need up to ½ cup more
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • Confectioner's sugar

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in the fryer up to 375F.
  • Beat the eggs and egg white until frothy.
  • Add the vanilla and milk and blend well.
  • Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and quickly blend. Don't over beat.
  • If you have time let the mixture sit in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Put the mixture in a funnel or a squeeze bottle cut to have an opening about the size of a pencil.
  • Hold your finger over the opening and bring as close as possible to the surface of the hot oil.
  • Remove your finger and move the funnel in a smooth circular motion over the top of the oil.
  • Fry until golden on one side.
  • Flip and fry until golden on the other side.
  • Remove from the oil to an absorbent paper towel.
  • Sprinkle with Confectioner's sugar or sugar and serve hot.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Millican Pecan

      July 28, 2020 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is so dangerous! We love funnel cakes, and to make our own is a dream come true! My husband will be happy I found this recipe! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Marye

        July 30, 2020 at 11:45 am

        Glad you like it!

        Reply
    2. Heather Kinnaird

      June 28, 2016 at 12:21 pm

      you really cannot beat fair food, and the fair wouldn't be the same without a funnel cake!! these look perfect

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        June 28, 2016 at 5:40 pm

        Thankyou!!

        Reply
    3. Catherine

      June 28, 2016 at 11:45 am

      Dear Marye, these funnel cakes look fantastic. What fun treat! xo, Catherine

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        June 28, 2016 at 5:41 pm

        Thanks Catherine!

        Reply
    4. Cynthia | What A Girl Eats

      June 28, 2016 at 11:43 am

      Love this! So fun to make at home, and how cute is your little model?

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        June 28, 2016 at 5:41 pm

        She's pretty adorable!

        Reply
    5. allie

      June 28, 2016 at 10:04 am

      Love funnel these cakes Marye!!! So delicious, I can't pass them up at at the Deerfield State Fair!

      Reply
      • Marye Audet

        June 28, 2016 at 5:42 pm

        🙂 Me either, Allie. They're my downfall.

        Reply
    6. Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert

      September 30, 2015 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      This totally brings back carnivals to me!! And now I am thinking about how expensive those were for no reason, I have to make it at home! Yum! Thanks!

      Reply
    7. Healing Tomato

      September 29, 2015 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      I would stuff myself with funnel cake whenever I went to Cedar pointe in OH. They know how to make funnel cakes there. Now, I will try your recipe at home and remember the good times. 🙂

      Reply
    8. Julie

      September 29, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      I didn't know that homemade funnel cakes were even a thing. This is dangerous information for me to have!

      Reply
    9. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass

      September 29, 2015 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      Marye, these look wonderful! I've always enjoyed funnel cakes, never actually made them. Great fry tips! (My children will thank you!)

      Reply
    10. The-FoodTrotter

      September 29, 2015 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      Such a lovely recipe 🙂

      Reply
    11. GiGi Eats

      September 29, 2015 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      GIVE ME! Holy moly! The last time I had funnel cake - man, like 15 years ago!

      Reply

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