Putting the Fun in Funnel Cakes!

Putting the Fun in Funnel Cakes

Why not try something you’ve never made before? Something that has a “special occasion” feel to it? The only time I’ve had funnel cakes in at the Main Street Car Free Day Festival. They were made to order and served piping hot with icing sugar sprinkled on top. What are funnel cakes? Basically just pancake batter dripped into an inch of hot oil and fried on either side. You put the batter into a standard kitchen funnel and swirl it round and round until it forms a lacy cake. It’s fun and delicious and if you have teenagers at home, this is a good special occasion treat for them to learn how to make. It’s also easier to make with two people, so good for developing cooperation skills in the kitchen. It’s messy, kinda goofy and fun!!

Start with a small batch first, to get the hand of it, and then double it once you’ve got the confidence.

You’ll need a small frying pan that you can put about an inch of oil inside for frying.

Ingredients:

1 egg

½ cup milk (I used milky masala chai I had in the fridge)

2/3 cup water

½ tsp vanilla

1 ½ c AP flour

1/8 c sugar

1 ½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground cardamon seeds

Sunflower oil for frying.

Mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls and then mix together until combined.

Heat the oil until a drop of batter fries and turns golden.

Here’s the fun part: Take a half cup measure and fill it with batter. Have your assistant hold the funnel and put their finger under the bottom to plug the hole. Put the batter in the funnel. Your assistant will then carefully unplug the hole over the middle of the pan and start swirling the batter around and around to make a lacy cake. 

When it’s golden and stiff use a slotted spoon to turn it over to fry the other side. Lift out and drain on paper towels. If the batter seems too thick to drop, add a bit more water. If it’s too thin, add a bit of flour.

Serve warm with icing sugar mixed with cardamon powder. Enjoy!