Happy Fiesta Friday all! Today is an especially exciting FF, as I’m taking on co-hosting duties along with sweet Ngan from Ngan Made It! Hopefully, Ngan and I will be able to match the great job Hilda and Julianna did 2 weeks ago. Angie, of the Novice Gardener is getting a little R & R with her family. Be warned, she’s sure to make an appearance every now and then though, so any wild shenanigans may not go unnoticed! If you’ve been hesitating to join the party, hesitate no longer. Link up, join us and find out what you’ve been missing!
I can’t wait to see what everyone brings this week. My offering today is something a little different, yet extremely easy, allowing me a bit more time to mingle. Hope you enjoy it, as we get this party rolling.
The thoughts in my head are still wandering around amusement park food, and I’m stuck there ever since those darn lobster corn dogs. No matter how hard I try…evil thoughts of fried foods just won’t go away. So on this Fiesta Friday #12, I bring you Funnel Cakes! And yes, I know what you’re thinking…they sure are funny looking! In addition, they’re fried and yes indeed… they’re kind of bad for you. But, I will ask, what am I eating spinach for? I’m eating spinach and other super foods to allow myself a guilt free indulgence every now and then 😉 And indulge I shall! I’m heading over to the Novice Gardener’s, hopefully they’ll be willing to indulge too….
…..Even if it is a Funny looking, Fried Funnel Cake on Fiesta Friday. 
Actually, now that I think about it, the funnel cake may be the real culprit of my cravings! I do believe I have Cita at Loving Food Fashion, & Life to blame for this one! Cita did a post on Funnel Cake over two months ago. Ahh yes, it’s coming back to me now! Cita’s version used a prepared mix that I searched high and low for [for weeks on end!] with no success. It was once I started talking about amusement park food in my Lobster Corn Dog post, that the desire for funnel cake grew…and grew… I finally decided, enough is enough!… I broke down and found my own recipe!
Have you ever thought about where funnel cake gets it’s name? I really hadn’t. But I owe thanks to Cita for the realization that an actual funnel is used in the making of funnel cakes! It was a real “light-bulb” moment. Read her post…you’ll understand 🙂 Keeping that in mind, I decided the use of a funnel could prove to be quite messy, so I cheated and used a disposable squeeze bottle. I cut most of the tip off and it ended up being the same size opening as my funnel. Much neater indeed!
Thankfully, this craving has been cured and I can move on to the next!
Funnel Cakes
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1 egg, beaten
1½ teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons sugar
Powdered sugar and/or cinnamon sugar, for topping
Fresh fruit to garnish if desired
Directions:
Heat at least 2-inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan to 375ºF. I used my 9-inch diameter dutch oven which was plenty big enough. Just remember, the larger the pan, the more oil you will use. Also, the batter will spread and pretty much use whatever space is available.
Combine the milk, egg and vanilla in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar. Add dry ingredients to wet in 3 additions.
Beat with a mixer until a smooth batter forms. Pour batter into a funnel or squeeze bottle while using your index finger to stop the flow of the batter.
Bring the funnel over the hot oil and release your finger to start a stream of batter while moving the funnel in a circular motion to create spiral-like shapes.
Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown and slightly puffed. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, fresh berries or all of them for a delicious treat.
Recipe adapted from here.
I bet those are delicious! Sometimes you just have to indulge your cravings so they will go away and leave you alone!:) I didn’t know about the funnel, either. Thanks for enlightening me!
Thank you, Shari. 🙂 So true…I fed my craving…and fed it well! The funnel was a real “Duh” moment for me!
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Is that so terribly unhealthy? Yes, it’s fried. But there’s very little sugar in it. I’ve never heard of this, and keen on trying it.
It’s not so much the sugar in the batter that is “bad”. It’s the sugar cinnamon mixture and powdered sugar that tops off the fried batter which has the potential to create quite a sugar buzz! Compared to funnel cakes I’ve purchased at fairs and such, I showed much restraint in the powdered sugar department! Thanks for your comment Johnny!
I’ve never had funnel cake and now you’ve got me curious 🙂
Essentially, it’s very simple ingredients fried up to deliciousness! You can top them with powdered sugar, fruit, ice cream or a combination of all. It’s a fabulous, once in awhile type, treat!
Oh Nancy these look so wonderful although i have never had a funnel cake before! But I can easily see why one could be craving for it! My kids would love it I am sure and so I will just have to make it. What this reminded me was of -Indian ‘jalebis’ which are slightly similar to this – except that those are deep fried and then dipped in sugar syrup! 🙂
Thanks Indu! You’re not the first one to mention jalebis, I bet they’re very similar! And I’m sure your kids would like them…I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t. 🙂
These look sinfully delicious! I love your technique with the squeeze bottle and the beautiful presentation. This is fine dining fair food, such a treat to bring to Fiesta Friday!
Thank you…they will definitely be enjoyed again 🙂
I’ve had something like this before at friend’s place, it was really good and difficult to stop at just a few pieces.
I had a similar experience myself – which is why I served them with berries – it felt slightly healthier! 🙂
Good idea 🙂
Oh, Nancy!! I love to try this Funnel Cake!! I am glad you brought them on Fiesta Friday. 🙂 I will be making this!! 😀
They are yum, yum, yum! Enjoy!
I’ve been reading all of the comments and I really don’t know what I’m missing. I’ve never tried a funnel cake. I know. I had such a deprived childhood. I’m a tad older now (ahem) and it sounds to me like I need to do something about that. I mean, it’s fried dough with powdered sugar on top. How did these escape my notice?
You are not alone – I have not tried Funnel Cake either. 😀 We should probably start working on that. 🙂
Hahhah, you were another deprived and sheltered child, Jhuls! Time to get frying…
Poor me! 😀 I bookmarked this and I will really try this!!
😛
Apparently, you were were a sheltered AND deprived child, John! I’ve yet to set foot in an amusement park / fair that didn’t sell these: Disney World, Cedar Point, State Fair or the cheesy “carnival” set up in a mall parking lot. Life simply won’t be complete until you try one, 😉 Time to heat up some oil, whisk up some batter and dig in!
Happy Easter 🙂
I see the dog is waiting for his funnel cake lol. My kids would love that! So people are putting their entries on your blog aswell as Angie’s or does your linsky go to her blog? Hah yes I’m a techno know nothing you see and it will now baffle me so I won’t sleep :-p
Yes, George wanted a funnel cake 🙂
The link goes to Angie’s LinkUp for Fiesta Friday, where we insert our links & photos each week. There…now you can sleep 😉 Sweet dreams Justine!
Hehe thank you omg I didn’t sleep it was first night back from hols I was tossing and turning thinking i was having a hot flush and turns out somehow the heating in this warm weather was on constant!!!! X
Lol :))) That wasn’t a very nice welcome home 😦
I know!! The heating system has it in for me…..war has been struck!
Ps thanks for telling me that’s very clever I didn’t know one could do that z
Me neither! I was taught not more than 3 days ago
you learn quickly 🙂
Can’t wait to try this! Mmmm…
I hope it meets your expectations 🙂
Thanks for liking my blog entry for Saturday. sweet. Funnel Cakes are a staple at the Great Minnesota Get Together, otherwise know as the Minnesota State Fair. But I never have tried them! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Funnel cakes are a staple at the Michigan State Fair too! You really must try them… it’s all the “bad” stuff [deep frying, sugar] concocted into a delicious treat 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Thanks! IT’s finally sunny today. It should be great.
Funnel cakes sound so interesting!
It’s definitely a unique sweet!
Okay, first off, I don’t think I actually got round to letting you know how much Tom and I enjoyed reading your post on Lobster Corndogs; brought back wonderful memories of the Jersey Shore. So, funnel cakes take us tight back there too (Tom always had one everyday). Impressive that you made them yourself.
Most importantly though, your dog is beautiful and looks so sweet and well behaved. What is her (?) name? Buffy, my first baby, looked similar but completely different (if that makes sense).
Thank you Stacey! I love hearing when a simple little post can invoke such wonderful memories for someone else 🙂 You should really give these a try at home…the hardest part is waiting for the oil to heat up.
And that cute baby is George, one half of our Cockapoo “Bobsy Twins”. His litter mate is Gracie and they are quite a pair! George is indeed very sweet and laid back. Plus, we have a 3rd dog, Ozzie. He’s the “handsome stepbrother”, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. All 3 were featured in my eggplant capanota post. What kind of dog was Buffy?
The funnel cakes look absolutely delicious. My mouth is watering….if pictures were edible…
:)) Thank you Liz…we certainly enjoyed our mid-week treat!
Happy fiesta friday! 🙂 Those funnel cakes look so delicious! And I would have used a squeezer bottle too, I think. 🙂 I’m imagining these hot, drizzled with maple syrup or chocolate sauce, and then topped with fresh strawberries!
Mmm…maple syrup? Chocolate sauce? Oh no…I might have to make them again now! Ice cream was suggested too from Patty. Maybe I need to set up a sundae bar next time, lol. Thanks for stopping by Nell, enjoy the rest of your weekend 🙂
Oh it took me so long to get to these funnel cakes. Yum and so love them. Have always wanted to make these at home. We once had them at a food fest here in Cincinnati and out of excitement had the powdered sugar all over myself
Hahhah…I should have included a warning in my post of possible powdered sugar mishaps! Or perhaps a photo of my black top after greedily eating one 😉 I hope you give these a try and they bring make memories of your Cincinnati outing!
Funnel cakes are such a treat! I’ve never made my own, but these look so good!
Thanks Nancy – they garnered two thumbs up from the whole family!