What comes to mind when you think of funnel cakes? I think of two things: Greasy and Expensive
Okay…three things: Greasy, Expensive and Yummy
Funnel cakes are one of the most popular items at the fair. People stand in long lines for them. But I never can make myself buy one (because of the greasy and expensive part).
Recently my kids asked me, “Mom can you MAKE a funnel cake at home?”
Oh wow…I never thought about trying that. Sure, why not? And so I did.
Do you know how EASY it is to make a funnel cake? I whipped some up in just a few minutes. (And the family wolfed them down in just a few minutes too…)
Homemade Funnel Cakes
1 1/4 cups flour (I used freshly ground whole wheat)
2 T. sucanat
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. sea salt
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
Oil for frying (I used coconut oil)
Organic powdered sugar or raw honey
Whisk together flour, sucanat, baking powder, salt, egg and milk. Heat oil in a skillet.
There are different ways to create your funnel cake. You can pour your batter through a funnel…or you can do what I did: Use a cake decorating tip (the one with the biggest hole) and a plastic baggie.
Squirt batter into hot oil (I used my electric skillet heated to 350° with a few tablespoons of oil). Cook thoroughly on one side, then flip and cook the other side (about two minutes per side).
Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with honey!!
With these few ingredients, it is amazing what you’ll save by making these treats yourself at home. Now if I could figure out how to recreate the rides at the county fair so that allowing our kids to ride on them won’t require taking out a second mortgage. Any suggestions? :)
Amanda says
*Drool*
Catherine says
I’ve never heard of Funnel Cakes before.
Crystal says
you may know them as fried dough
Erika says
Laura, you are now my hero! I read your blog daily, and usually steal your recipes almost as often, but now that you’ve posted a (sort of) healthy version of funnel cake, you might have overtaken my husband as my favorite grown up in the world!
I know what we’re having for breakfast tomorrow… Yum!
Joy says
Love it love it love it!
sammie johnson says
Funnel cakes are my favorite thing at the fair! Thanks for the recipe! I’m starting on it right now!!!
Keli says
our county fair is next week…I’m trying to figure out how to get us IN the fair without taking out a second mortgage!! thanks for the recipie, cant wait to try it.
Shannon says
Well, you could make a swing out of old dryer drum like we did recently when our dryer died. Totally redneck, but they crawl inside and you give it the highest push you can imagine and the kids scream with delight! I blogged about it on my blog at http://littlethingstx.blogspot.com/2009/05/kir-watermelon-rednecks.html . If you you don’t mind looking like the crazy neighbors I highly recommend it. If you decide to try it, contact me and I will give you some tips that will save you some trouble.
Josette says
is this like sopapillas?
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Real-Sopapillas/Detail.aspx
we made these growing up. I think I could just change out the ingredients to make them healthier!!
Laura says
Yes, when I made them I thought they seemed a lot like a sopapilla!
tarena says
made it. it was good! not awesome, just because I had to make mine GF, but still-for not having a treat like this in SO LONG-YUMMO!
Thanks!
And hopefully it will satisfy me until next tuesday when we take the kids to our fair! Is your fair expensive???
Our fair has a kids get in free day…that does help!
Laura says
It doesn’t cost money to get in at our fair, but the rides are OUTRAGEOUS. My kids got to ride one ride each and it cost me ten bucks. I couldn’t fork over anymore than that for a one minute ride. Crazy.
Lyndsay says
Our fair is free to get into, but our boys have animals there, so it is carazy expensive to try to eat there the whole week (and unhealthy!) We have made a deal with the rides for them. Tthey do their projects, and we let them use part of their premium money to buy wristbands and they get to ride the rides as much as they want one afternoon. Kind of a reward for their hard work. The rest of their money goes into a savings account.
Joy says
What does GF stand for?
tarena says
Gluten Free =)
Jennifer3 says
Ooooh! I will have to try this! Except I want mine with fresh strawberries and whipped cream :)
Twisted Cinderella says
sounds yummy!
Heather says
Do you think this would be less rich/easier on my tummy? I love funnel cakes but got a tummy ache the last time I sampled one at the fair :0
Laura says
I do think that it would be easier on the tummy, especially if you use coconut oil. Also, I didn’t dunk mine in oil to cook it, just had a little in my skillet and turned it over as it cooked.
Emily Kay says
I make these every now and then, too…I use an old ketchup bottle to squirt the batter in the pan…it works great and you can use it over and over! My kids call these “funny cakes” instead of funnel cakes:)
P.S.~ I am having a giveaway on my blog!
http://www.thewoodallfamily5.blogspot.com/
Danielle says
I’m assuming the big “T”‘s are tablespoons, and the small “t”‘s are teaspoons?
i’ve been looking for a recipe for a good funnel cake, one person told me to just use pancake batter.
Laura says
Yes, big T’s are tablespoons and little t’s are teaspoons!
toni says
Hi Laura!Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I can`t waite to try it!!
I do have a few questions.First,what is sucanat?Secondly,can I use raw sugar instead?If not,then where can I buy the sucanat?Thanks so much!!
Also,”I made your zucchini bread on Monday.It was so yummy!!I gave a loaf to a friend and she had never tried zucchini bread before.She loved it as well.I will be making more to freeze because I got two huge zucchinis and need to use them before they go bad.Lol!Hope your having a blessed day!!!!
Laura says
Sucanat is dehydrated cane sugar juice. It’s one of the most nutritious forms of cane sugar out there. I usually order mine from my food coop, but you can get it at Amazon also (follow the link in my post). I love using sucanat…it tastes great and substitutes one for one in recipes.
All that said, yes you can use raw sugar or even regular sugar if you want. I just like using sucanat for it’s health value.
Ezzy says
I was wonder how to mack them at home. I figured out fried breads dough but I thought that funnel cakes would be compliced. Thanks
Kari says
I don’t have sucanat in my cupboard. Could I just use (gasp) sugar?
Laura says
Yep…you can use sugar!! :)
Taryn says
my husband is going to love you! Forever!
Lois says
Well, I’ll have to try these with the kiddos. Everytime I try a new recipe, someone asks me, “Is this from Heavenly Homemaker?” Good grief, how many years have I served delicious, creative foods from my vast recipe collections, and now that they see me on your blog almost daily, they think I don’t make any decisions of my own anymore. Hmph.
Becki says
Thanks A LOT!!! I had healthy cottage cheese and fruit on the menu for snack today, then went to look for your cornbread recipe…and guess what I found! And guess what we made instead of cottage cheese.
Wow good, and so easy! Thanks for the great recipes. Love your blog.
Brenda says
Thank you, thank you. These are my favorite fair food every. I got the state fair just to get funnel cakes. Now I can have them anytime. Yum…by the way I live in Lincoln.
Amy Green - Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free says
My husband loves funnel cakes…I honestly don’t fry anything. But, for him, I would do this. It would make his month. In fact, we were going to go to an antique show that has funnel cakes but our plans changed and he was disappointed. Maybe I’ll surprise him.
Heather says
would EVOO work for these? i LOVE that you don’t “fry” these in oil! Hi, i’m heather, btw!
Jennifer says
You are no doubt going to make me the best mom with that recipe!
Amy @ Finer Things says
Who needs to go to the fair when you can make your own funnel cakes?!
Tanya says
LOVE IT! Just what I was wondering about after working the funnel cake booth and wondering how to get it healthier:)
pictures of cakes says
I have never heard of a funnel cake before seeing this post. So basically its a delicious gooey cake in a bag that you squirt out onto a plate. Great idea for cakes on the go! lol
Katie says
I am in the middle of making these with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for toppings. The boys love them! They are an easy and fun special dessert to top off our family night! Thanks so much for the great recipe.
Erin says
I love funnel cakes, and other very bad fair food. But getting in the fair, rides, and food is all so darned expensive. Fortunetly, my husband is an Aztec dancer and his group preformed at a big local fair last year and most likely will this year. Who can say “yay” to free entry (as often as you’d like within his preformance days)!?!?!
Chris says
Made these today and they were awesome!!!
Lauren says
Funnel cakes are also delicious with pure maple syrup over the top…It’s how my mom makes them :)
Amy Tucker says
Hello again! ;o)
I’m definitely gonna have to try these to my list of
your recipes to try!! Just was wondering if you “soak”
the flour first or what your overall rule is with this
soaking thing out of all the yummy things you make with
whole wheat?
Thanks for getting back with me when you get the chance!!
Happy CHRISTmas!!!
me
LindseyforLaura@HHM says
Laura has not tried soaking this one. :)