The summer I turned twelve, my parents took me to our county fair on what happened to be the hottest day of the year. After hours of sweating through games and rides, I was ready to collapse until the heavenly scent of fried dough caught my attention. I watched, mesmerized, as the vendor swirled batter into hot oil, creating what would become my fair food obsession: funnel cake. Years later, when a rainy weekend canceled our annual fair trip, I was determined to recreate that magic at home. After several oil-splattered attempts (and one minor kitchen disaster), these funnel cake fries were born – all the nostalgic flavor in a dippable, shareable form that improves on the original. Now, my family requests them for movie nights, game days, and any time we need a taste of summer fun without leaving home.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
These funnel cake fries deliver the perfect balance of crispy exterior and fluffy interior, these taste just like the classic funnel cake, but these are more dunkable and easier to enjoy with sauces. The batter’s combination of brown sugar and milk creates that distinctive sweet, rich flavor that immediately transports you to the fairgrounds. Using a squeeze bottle for precise batter control ensures consistent fry size and even cooking. The slightly thicker batter holds its shape beautifully in the hot oil, resulting in fries that are sturdy enough for dipping yet tender with each bite. Unlike traditional funnel cakes that can be messy to share, these fries are perfect for serving a crowd and offer endless dipping possibilities.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Funnel Cake Fries:
- Eggs – Provide structure and richness to the batter
- Milk – Creates tender texture and helps activate the baking powder
- Brown sugar – Adds depth of flavor and subtle caramel notes
- All-purpose flour – Forms the foundation of the batter
- Baking powder – Creates light, airy texture through leavening
- Salt – Enhances all other flavors and balances sweetness
- Vegetable oil – Provides clean-tasting frying medium with high smoke point
- Powdered sugar – Adds the classic sweet finish and visual appeal
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How to Make Funnel Cake Sticks
- Combine eggs, milk, and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until smooth.
- Once you mix the funnel cake batter, transfer it into a clean squeeze bottle with a decent-sized hole. A plastic squeeze ketchup bottle is just about perfect. You can use a piping bag if you don’t have one handy.
- Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees.
- Squeeze a line of batter into the hot oil about four inches long. Repeat two or three times, depending on the size of the fryer.
- Cook for about 30 to 45 seconds on the first side, and then use a slotted spoon or a skimmer to flip the funnel cake fries over. Cook for another 30 seconds or so.
- Using the skimmer or slotted spoon, remove the funnel cake fries once they have turned golden brown from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate or a wire rack resting on a baking sheet. Let the excess oil drip back into the pot for a few seconds.
- Blot the funnel cake fries with paper towels and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
- Sprinkle the warm funnel cake fries with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
Homemade Funnel Cake Fries: Crispy Carnival Treats in 15 Minutes
Ingredients
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and brown sugar.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until smooth. Pour the batter into a bottle that has a spout (a clean ketchup bottle works nicely).
- Add enough oil in an electric skillet or deep fryer so the depth is about 3 inches. Heat the oil to 375°F.
- Pipe the batter into the oil in lines that are about 4 inches long, and fry until golden, or about 30 to 45 seconds on each side.
- Remove the fries from the oil and place them on a wire rack or cookie sheet. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
What to Serve with Funnel Cake Fries
Here are some great dipping sauces you can serve with the fries:
- Marshmallow Fluff Dip with some special flavoring to make it extradorinary.
- Sweet and Creamy Dip made with cream cheese, Cool Whip, and brown sugar.
- Strawberry Cream Cheese thinned out with milk or cream to make it dippable.
- Maple Syrup
- Chocolate Sauce
- Strawberry Jam thinned out with hot water.
- Vanilla Icing Dip – combine a cup of powdered sugar with a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and just enough milk to make it thin enough for dipping.
Hot to Store and Reheat Funnel Cake Fries
While best enjoyed fresh, leftover funnel cake fries can be stored in a paper bag at room temperature for 1-2 days. To reheat, place in a preheated 350°F oven for 5 minutes or in an air fryer at 350°F for 2 minutes. Avoid storing in plastic containers, which can trap moisture and make the fries soggy. Refresh with a light dusting of powdered sugar after reheating.
Favorite Snack Recipes
- Air Fried Apple Chips
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- Reese’s Snack Mix
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Check out more of my easy snack recipes and the best side dish recipes here on CopyKat!
My kids loved these! I served them Hershey’s chocolate syrup.
These taste just Checkers! I don’t even live near a Checkers anymore!