Some things are better left a mystery. It’s best not to know how many grams of fat are in a really good Pina Colada. When drinks come with umbrellas and a side of fruit… all bets are way way off.
It’s best not to know how many miles you’ve run when your knees are sweaty, your breath is just about gone, and you’re dog tired. It’s the knowing that will have you talking your run-brain into stopping after the next tenth of a mile. Maybe that’s just me.
It’s best not to know how many people hate-follow you on Instagram photos because… how is that even a thing that people have time to do!? Good grief.
It was best to be oblivious to the fact that we can make funnel cake… yes, the fried state fair delicacy… right in our very homes. But now that we know, it feels like out duty to not unknown… and thus, eat a whole heck of a lot of funnel cake.
It’s just that things get a little out of hand once you know you can make things like funnel cake and Beer Battered Onion Rings and Homemade Ranch Sauce right in your kitchen… in your very own kitchen… and you don’t even have to be wearing pants (although you should for hot oil safety… seriously).
I should also mention that making homemade funnel is pretty dang easy. There’s one part where we get nervous and hold our breaths a bit… but other than that, too easy. We’re in real trouble now.
Flour is whisked together with baking powder, salt, and brown sugar. Eggs, a whole and a yolk. This will be the base of our pourable, pancake-like batter.
Also important is our powdered sugar topping, laced with cinnamon.
I added beaten yolks and vanilla extract to a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
Next, a steady stream of milk. We’ll need between 1 1/2 and 2 cups depending on how heavy a flour measurer you are. I used just over 1 1/2 cups. Whisked into the batter until no lumps remain. 
The batter will be on the juuuuust thick side of pourable pancake batter.
If you have a funnel cake batter dispenser, well… look at you!
I used a disposable Ateco pastry bag and a Ateco 804 tip. And if you’re wondering… yes, I made a mess. It was totally worth it.
I poured the smooth batter into a large liquid measuring cup and placed the tip-fitted pastry bag in a pint glass for stability while filling.
Before we go down the road of pouring thin batter into a vessel with a hole at the bottom, it’s a good idea to check the temperature of your fry oil… and don’t even try to make this recipe without a fry thermometer… and make sure that you have a pan ready with paper towels for cooling. Things get crazy once the funneling gets underway.
I poured in enough batter for about one funnel cake, about 1/3-1/2 cup. A bit of batter will come out of the tip, but that’s just fine. This is where things get messy.
I gently lifted the bag from the pint glass, placed my finger over the top to keep the batter from escaping, and headed over to the small sauce-pan with the hot oil. I took my finger off the tip and let the batter meet the oil in a half-haphazard swirling motion. Very technical.
I used a small saucepan, like this one, to fry one funnel cake at a time. I found that this was the best way to control the funnel cake shape. It was defined by the pan.
Fried and dusted liberally with cinnamon powdered sugar. I like funnel cake topped with jam or fresh fruit. Peach and raspberries are always tremendous.
And… now you know. You’ll never go to a state fair again, except for the pie baking contests and fried butter. Is that still happening?
Cinnamon Sugar Funnel Cake
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients
- about 3 cups canola or vegetable oil for frying
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups whole milk (you could make these more vegan by using a milk alternative)
- fresh sliced peaches and raspberries for topping
Instructions
- Pour oil into a small sauce pan (I used a pan with about a 6 to 7-inch diameter), attach a fry or candy thermometer, and preheat oil to 375°F over medium heat. Keep and eye on the oil as it heats. You don’t want it to get too far above 375. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Transfer to a mesh sugar shaker or a small sifter and set aside set aside.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Stir until brown sugar has no or very few lumps. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, yolk, and vanilla extract. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the egg mixture. Slowly begin to add the milk, about 1/1/2 cups, while whisking together the eggs, flour mixture, and milk as you pour. The batter will be like pourable pancake batter. Whisk until no lumps remain and batter is on the juuust on the thick side of pourable. Transfer the batter to a large measuring cup or pitcher.
- If you have a funnel cake batter dispenser, now is your moment.
- If not, I used a pastry bag and Ateco 804 tip. I placed the tip in the bag, placed the bag in a tall pint glass to fill with batter. Some of the batter will begin to come out of the tip in the pint glass so before embarking on this process, make sure your oil is heated and you’re ready to go. Gently remove the bag from the pint glass, place your finger over the tip to keep the batter from spilling all over the floor and move towards the hot oil.
- Take a deep breath.
- Slowly pour 1/3 cup of the batter into the hot oil in a thin stream, forming a circular shape. The batter will immediately fluff up and fry. If the batter is too thick, add more milk so it pours easily. If the batter spreads too much in the fryer, use a fine-mesh strainer to help contain the batter. Fry until the underside of the funnel cake is browned, about 1 minute. Using the strainer, turn the funnel cake over. Fry until browned on the other side, about 1 minute more.
- Transfer the funnel cake to the prepared baking sheet. You can keep the fried cakes warm in a 200 degree F oven while your complete frying all the batter. Repeat with the remaining batter. Dust the funnel cakes with the confectioners sugar mixture and serve immediately.
Alyssa
I felt like I could throw a one woman carnival after I made these! They were delicious! Blueberries and bananas for me. I’m sure if you tried a savory version of this all would be right with the world.. again!
Leo Sigh
This looks fabulous. I detest cinnamon, so I’d leave that out, but the funnel cakes themselves look amazing, and not as difficult to make as I would have expected. Thanks.
Joanna
wow! I looks great! Served with fruit? en better! :)
Bailey
That awkward moment when you’re going though your things and find one of those dispensers. Going to have to make this for my sis in law (who is very pregnant) who gave me the dispenser! <3 <3
Jenny
You’re blog is great! I look forward to!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
Sigh, hot oil…I was making fried chicken last week and the chicken slipped from the tongs, splashed into the oil and burned my eyelid :(
Cecile Zimmer
How many does this make ?
joythebaker
The recipe makes at least six funnel cakes; more if you make them smaller.
aliborgas
So fun!! I’ve never had a funnel cake, but now I want one!! Home-made. ;)
Jodi
I’ve never had a funnel cake but now I want one! Great pictures as always Joy :)
Charlotta
Hi Joy, for an extra sweet and spicy touch, why not grate some fresh cinnamon on top. The smell is so yummy!
anna@icyvioletskitchen
these are my favorite! i had no idea they could be made at home!
Ashlyn @ Pedantic Foodie
First homemade churros, then onion rings, and now funnel cakes?! I’m not sure whether to hug you or hate you but I think I’ll go for the hug because funnel cakes – amazing!!!
MB @ Bourbon and Brown Sugar
My mind is blown. If I start making funnel cakes in my kitchen, I’ll have half the teenagers in the neighborhood taking up semi-permanent residence here. (oh wait, they already have… without the funnel cakes.) Perhaps I should save this recipe as a last-week-of-summer vacation party trick :) Thanks for this amazing recipe… you continue to be my hero.
jess
Oh no you didn’t but thanks anyway!
Helen Veyna
I love funnel cake and knowing that it’s easy to make at home is very dangerous for me! I’m most definitely going to be trying out this recipe in the very near future! I love the idea of adding peaches and rasberries for topping because it makes this treat sound even more delicious!
-Helen
http://www.sweethelengrace.com
Bella Bucchiotti
I have always wanted to try to make these.
http://xoxobella.com/
Eliza
I know I’m going to have a lot of fun trying out this “fun”nel cake recipe, and then adapting it to be an elephant ear recipe.
Sweet Tea Sweetie
What a great recipe! I run a summer camp and I had my campers all learn how to make baked funnel cakes. It was so much fun!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Heidi
So since you’ve informed us that we can make funnel cakes at home I think it’s only fair to tell you that it doesn’t have to be a mess. The final barrier to making these has been removed!
http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-80-4784-Pancake-Pen/dp/B0036DD9OW
joythebaker
amazing! also… i secretly don’t mind the mess.
Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist
You are so right! There are some things better left unknown…like that these funnel cakes can be made at home….I am never making these funnel cakes. EVER. BUT I REALLY WANT TO!
Hate-follow on instagram??…that sounds ominous! I am happy to remain ignorant to that phenomenon. Drooling over your photos.
Sarah
You are my hero, Joy.
Amanda
I never even considered the possibility of making funnel cake at home. This opens up whole new realms of snacking. I’m going to make one of these about mid December when I’m longing for summer days! :)
Aleeha
Oh my gosh… let’s just say that i’m going to have to make this
It’s healthy… there’s fruit in it!
Aleeha xXx
http://www.halesaaw.com/
Justin
These look soooo amazing! Funnel cakes are one of my favorites and these take the cake (pun intended). :)
Rachel @the dessert chronicles
These look heavenly!! Now I don’t even have to leave my house to feel like I’m at a summer fair. Love everything you make!
Warm Vanilla Sugar
I love funnel cakes!!! This is such a neat at-home recipe!
Girl Named Allyn
Funnel cakes and pronto pups: the reasons to go to the fair. Luckily I have an aversion to frying at home, otherwise I’d be in DANGER.
The hate follow… it boggles the mind. If you don’t like somebody, just don’t follow. So simple. I’ve even unfollowed family members on FB because I realized that I was getting permanent eye roll from their statuses, and didn’t want that to bleed into my face to face interactions with them. Life’s too short to be so negative
Julie F
So many people I could make this for! Never for me. LOL “it’s for a friend” Really this looks amazing as do all your recipes. How do you not weigh 8 million pounds?
Catriona
Yum! I don’t know which combo I like better: cinnamon and sugar or peach and raspberry!
cupcake recipes
I alwys like powdered sugar on fruits and kids too, raspberry is a summer friendly fruit. I love your recipe