Thatโs right, I went there.
ON A MONDAY.
And then I added sprinkles! Good glory can every week start like this.
I figured homemade funnel cakes are the perfect treat for Memorial Day get togethers. Or any summer fun because theyโre the epitome of boardwalk food, arenโt they? Iโm all for super coolย food trucks serving up fried cookie dough potato chipย stuffedย macaroni and cheese concoctions, but Iโll always have a sweet spot for the classics. Preferably anything served on a stick (caramel apples!!) and most definitely warm funnel cakes with a snowfall of confectionersโ sugar on top.
Lastย weekend, my friend and I were talking about a beach weekend this summer and she asked me if itโs possible to make funnel cake at homeโlike the kind we used to eat on the boardwalk together. Is it possible?! Anythingโs possible with batterย and aย quart of oil! Because thatโs really all that funnel cake isโbatter and hot oil.
And you know what? Much to all of our surprise, this nostalgic treat is easier than you ever imagined:
- Make cake batter.
- Pour into oil.
- Fry all the calories out of it.
Or something like that.
The recipes started out from All Recipes, but I found a few ways to change it up after I tried it the first time. I wanted the cakes to have a bit more flavor so I added some brown sugar and vanilla extract. I left out the cinnamon on the first try, but added it back in the 2nd time. I loved the cinnamon flavor, so I kept that in the recipe belowโyou can leave it out if youโd like but it makes the funnel cakes taste a little extra special. I found the batter was a little too thin, so I added a little extra flour. And with that, baking powder. Thereโs no yeast involved here. Just baking powder. You donโt have to wait around for dough to rise, punch it down, kneadย it, and all that razzmatazz.
Told you, funnel cakes are so easy.
I ended up loving the batter after these changes and it produced some of the best funnel cakes Iโve ever tasted. Youโll have a batter comparable to pancake batter.ย In fact, Iโve heard you can make funnel cake out of boxed pancake mix but Iโve never given it a go. This homemade version is too simple!
Frying is the next step. Donโt get nervous! The process is really quick. For this batch, I was so concerned with making a fun swirly shape, that I didnโt snap the best picture of the fryingย part.
Everyone says a funnel is best for pouring the batter into the oilย (duh)ย but I most certainly donโt have one in my kitchen drawers. Is this a normal kitchen tool to keep on hand? Maybe Iโm missing out and should get a funnel?? Anyway. A liquid measuring cup will do. And hey! It worked. I use about 1/3 cup of batter per cakeโsoย I really like using a measuring cup to pour becauseย it doubles as the actual way Iโm measuring the batter. Make sense?
Other things thatโll work: empty squeeze bottle, empty salad dressing bottle, emptyย sport water bottle, ketchup bottleโฆ empty that sucker too. You can also pour the batter into a large plastic zipped-top bag and cut 1/4 inch off one of the corners to make a small opening.
When you pour the batter into the oil, make a big swirl starting from either the center or outside. Then you can zig zag your way all throughout the swirl shape, connecting some of the swirl layers.ย Iโve also read that you should pour the batter inย aย spider web shape, but that didnโt work for me because it was taking too long to make an intricate web pattern. Impatience? Check.
There is no specialย artistry to this, as evidenced byย my misshaped and discombobulated funnel cakes, so donโt stress out about how to pour or how they look. Thereโs charm in the haphazardness! At least thatโs what Iโm telling myself.
Just fry for a minute or so on each side, then youโre done. Time to get CA-RAZY!!! Confectionersโ sugar, chocolate syrup, salted caramel, sprinkles, ice cream, jam, apple pie filling, lemon curd, I donโt know, melted peanut butter, whipped cream, berries, a smear of Nutella? Dude, just do it all. I was thinking it would be so fun to have these served at a party where everyone can top their own. So a funnel cake bar of sorts!
So fun to have for a special treat one night and, as you can see, thereโs not much work involved at all. One more thing: how the heck do I categorize these? Under cakes? Thinking of starting a new category called really good fried food. Iโll add these glazed doughnuts, too.
Print
Homemade Funnel Cakes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: about 8
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Hereโs exactly how to make homemade funnel cakes! You only need a few basic ingredients to get started.
Ingredients
- 1 quart vegetable oil for frying*
- 2 and 1/2 cups (313g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- optional for flavor: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
Instructions
- Pour oil into the pot set over medium heat. Heatย to 375ยฐF (191ยฐC). I usually prepare the batter (next step) as the oil is heating.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and milk. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until no lumps remain.
- Place a wire rack over a baking sheet. This is whereย the cakes can cool immediately after frying.
- If using a funnel, cover the bottom of the spout with your finger as you pour the batter in. Measure about 1/3 cup of batter and pour into the hot oil, making one large swirl and making sure to connect some of the swirl layers. It doesnโt have to be pretty, it doesnโt have to be perfect! Fry until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Carefully remove with a metal spatula or metal slotted spoon and place onto the wire rack to slightly cool. Repeat with remaining batter, then turn off heat.*
- Serve the funnel cakes while theyโre still a little warm. Top with favorites like confectionersโ sugar, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel, or sprinkles. Cakesย are best enjoyed the same day, though they keep in the refrigeratorย for a couple extra days.
Notes
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Large Heavy Bottomed Pot or Dutch Oven | High-Heat Thermometer (or this one) | Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk | Cooling Rack | Baking Sheet | Funnel, Liquid Measuring Cup, or Squeeze Bottle | Metal Slotted Spatula
- Oil: The amount of oil really depends on how wide or tall your pot is. You want oil to fill about 1/3 of the pot. I use a little more than 1 quart for my 4 and 1/2 quart Dutch oven.
- Leftover Oil: Do not pour used oil down the sink drain. Allow to cool, then pour into an empty container and discard in the trash. Or reuse it.
- Adapted from All Recipes.
Party cakes!
Reader Comments and Reviews
We really enjoyed this recipe! We stirred cinnamon into the second half of the batter, and while it was very good, I think I prefer it plain. Maybe next time Iโll add cinnamon to some of the powdered sugar as a topping option. It took a little practice to get the shape rightโฆ I initially used a container with a spout lid that was too big and ended up with fried crumbles, although they were still equally as tasty. But I switched to a proper funnel and it was easier. Definitely will make again!
wonderful taste but when I put the batter in the grease the batter scattered in different directions. How can I get all the batter to stick together?
Hi Jo, did your batter seem especially thin? Perhaps the flour was under measured a bitโbe sure to spoon and level (or use a kitchen scale) to ensure just the right amount. After you make that initial swirl, youโll want to โconnectโ the different swirl layersโthis is key for keeping the funnel cakes together. Thank you for giving these a try!
Could I use this same dough to make churros?
Hi Ayla, many readers have reported success using our choux pastry dough for churros. If you decide to try it, we would recommend the same temperature as for frying these homemade doughnuts: 375ยฐF (191ยฐC)
Very easy and fun to make these! Delicious with just a sprinkle of confectionersโ sugar.
Could I use cake flour instead of all purpose?
Hi Rebecca, cake flour is a little too light for this recipe. Best to stick to all-purpose flour here.
Can this batter be made a few hours in advance and stored in the fridge?
Absolutely! The baking powder is initially activated once wet, so keep that in mind. (Donโt wait too long to make them.) You can fry it right from the refrigerator, too. No need to bring to room temperature. Stand back a bit from the oil (as best you can) as it may splatter when adding the batter.
So awesome and delicious my kids loved them!! Better than any we had ever tried before; simple and easy directions to follow. I didnโt have a funnel or empty bottle so I just used a piping bag and tip
Is it okay to use a non-dairy alternative to the milk, like coconut milk or almond milk?
Hi Sarah! That shouldnโt be a problem here.
Tried this recipe today and it was def. worth it. Delish!!! Thank you for the recipe.
The funnel cakes were very good! The next time I make them I will use sugar in place of the brown sugar. My family and I thought they needed to be sweeter.ย
I made these today but with a twist. Instead of milk, I used RumChata everything else stayed the same. It was so delicious!!
Oh. Good. Lord!!! I am in heavenโฆamazing flavor even BEFORE putting on the powdered sugarโฆthis has hit the spot, been craving these for a week!
What is the best way to keep and reheat the extras???
Iโd freeze them, then a quick nuke in the microwave ๐
We made these tonight โ they were delicious!
These were amazing!! Everything about themโฆ.the taste (we opted for a more classic, non-cinnamon version), the crisp, the lightness and no oily residue. You have done it again Sally!!
Questionโฆif you were going to make this for company, could you make the batter ahead and refrigerate it? If so, what would those directions look like?
Thanks Becky! Andโ I feel like you could definitely make it ahead and refrigerate it. Maybe for a day or so? Not much longer than that.
Pinned this recipe a while ago and just made them tonight. Delicious! Hubby said theyโre better than the ones we get on the boardwalk!ย
Iโm so glad to hear that!!
Using Dutch oven as a deep fryer is genius!