In this Instructable, I will show you how to make funnel cakes. This easy homemade funnel cake recipe is awesome and tastes just like the ones you get at theme parks, the county fair, etc. What are your favorite toppings for funnel cakes? Powdered sugar? Strawberries? Chocolate? There are lots of variations you can do with it. I love these desserts! They are so simple to make from scratch at home, if I can do it, you can do it. Let's get started!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial, or do both! :)

Step 1: Ingredients

You can print the recipe here if you like.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose/plain flour (180g)
3 Tbsp. of white granulated sugar (38g)
1/8 tsp. of salt (less than 1 g)
1 1/2 tsp. of baking powder (6g)
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (2ml)
1/2 cup of milk (whole, 2%, 1%, skim, almond, etc.) (120ml)
1/2 cup of water (120ml)
Powdered sugar for dusting and other toppings
Oil for frying (vegetable, coconut, canola, etc.)

Tools:

Bowls
Whisk
Liquid measuring cup
Funnel
Tongs
Wire rack

Step 2: Start the Oil

Begin by taking a large pot and adding enough oil to fill the bottom about 1 to 1 and 1/2 inches deep. Set the burner on the stovetop to medium heat and begin heating the oil. Heat it to around 350 F/176 C. It will take a little while to heat up the oil, you can set the temp to medium-high if you like to heat it up faster.

Step 3: Flour Mixture

Now in a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder.

Step 4: Complete the Batter

In a large bowl, add the egg, vanilla extract, milk, and water. Whisk those until well combined. Then add the flour mixture half of it at a time until well blended. You also can do everything in a blender if you like. The consistency should be fairly runny, but not quite as thin as crepe batter, and not quite as thick as traditional American pancakes batter.

Step 5: The Funnels

To make it easier, pour the batter into a liquid measuring cup since it will be easier to pour into the funnel. Or if you use a blender, leave the batter in there. Choose a funnel with a diameter spout between 1/2 inch and 7/16 inch either size will work. It just depends on how large you want the squigglies.

Step 6: Pour in the Batter

Once the oil is at the right temperature (350 F/176 C), place your finger over the hole of the spout of your funnel. Then pour in roughly 1/2 cup worth of batter into the funnel. Next, hold the funnel and your finger about 1 inch over the oil and remove your finger allowing the funnel cake batter to drain. Move the funnel around in circles and zig zags fairly quickly while it drains. This will create the classic funnel cake shape.

**If you are young please please have adult supervision whenever working or deep frying with oil. :)

Step 7: Cook the Funnel Cakes

Allow the funnel cake to cook for 45 seconds to 1 minute and a half until it gets lightly golden brown on the first side. Use tongs and grab the funnel cake and gently flip it over to the other side and allow that side to cook, again until nice and golden brown. The whole thing takes 3 to 4 minutes to cook.

Remove it from the oil and hold it above the pot for a few seconds to allow excess oil to drain off of it. Then place it on a wire rack to drain further and dry out and cool for 5 minutes or so. Even if you have only a little bit of batter leftover at the end, still put it in the fryer, it will make a tiny one, but that is totally fine it will still taste the same. :)

*Allow the oil to cool completely, then strain it and pour it back into the original container and you can store it at room temp and reuse it several more times before it goes bad. I recommend using it for other similar types of fried dishes, like donuts and fry bread. I don't recommend using it for chicken, shrimp, etc.

Step 8: Enjoy!

Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top for a classic funnel cake and drizzle on some strawberry syrup if you like. These would also be great with strawberry sauce and or whipped cream and chocolate or Nutella. So many options. Enjoy! :)