Funnel cake is a popular carnival food that can be easily made at home. This delicious treat is made by pouring batter through a funnel into hot oil, creating a crispy, fried dough. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make funnel cake recipe, including the ingredients needed, kitchen tools, and cooking instructions. Let's get started!
Ingredients Needed
Before we start making funnel cake, let's gather all the ingredients we need:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
For the Marinade
To add some extra flavor to your funnel cake, you can make a simple marinade with cinnamon and sugar. Here's how:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside.
Kitchen Tools Needed
To make funnel cake, you will need the following kitchen tools:
- Funnel or squeeze bottle
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk or electric mixer
- Deep frying pan or pot
- Tongs or slotted spoon
- Wire rack or paper towels
How to Make Funnel Cake
Now that we have all our ingredients and kitchen tools ready, let's start making funnel cake!
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F.
- Pour the batter into a funnel or squeeze bottle, leaving about 1/4 inch at the top.
- Hold the funnel or squeeze bottle over the hot oil and start drizzling the batter in a circular motion, making sure to connect the lines to create a spiral shape.
- Fry the funnel cake for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
- Using tongs or a slotted spoon, carefully remove the funnel cake from the oil and place it on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar marinade or confectioners' sugar on top of the funnel cake.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
- Serve the funnel cake warm and enjoy!
How to Cook Funnel Cake
The key to cooking perfect funnel cake is to make sure the oil is hot enough and to drizzle the batter in a circular motion. Here are some tips to ensure your funnel cake turns out crispy and delicious:
- Use a deep frying pan or pot with at least 2 inches of oil to ensure the funnel cake is fully submerged.
- Test the oil temperature by dropping a small amount of batter into the oil. If it sizzles and rises to the top, the oil is ready.
- Drizzle the batter in a circular motion, making sure to connect the lines to create a spiral shape. This will ensure the funnel cake cooks evenly.
- Flip the funnel cake carefully using tongs or a slotted spoon once it turns golden brown on one side.
- Let the funnel cake drain on a wire rack or paper towels to get rid of excess oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use a pancake mix to make funnel cake?
Yes, you can use a pancake mix instead of making the batter from scratch. Just follow the instructions on the pancake mix box and add a little more milk to make the batter thinner.
2. Can I make funnel cake without a funnel?
Yes, you can use a squeeze bottle or a plastic bag with a corner cut off to drizzle the batter into the hot oil.
3. Can I make funnel cake ahead of time?
Funnel cake is best served fresh, but you can store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat it in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes before serving.
4. Can I freeze funnel cake?
No, it's not recommended to freeze funnel cake as it will lose its crispy texture when thawed.
5. Can I use a different type of oil?
Yes, you can use any type of vegetable oil, such as canola or corn oil, for frying. Just make sure it has a high smoke point and doesn't have a strong flavor.
6. Can I add food coloring to the batter?
Yes, you can add food coloring to the batter to make it more colorful. Just be careful not to add too much as it may affect the texture of the funnel cake.
7. Can I make funnel cake without eggs?
Yes, you can make funnel cake without eggs by using a vegan egg substitute, such as applesauce or mashed bananas.
8. Can I make funnel cake on a stovetop?
Yes, you can make funnel cake on a stovetop by using a shallow pan and flipping the funnel cake using a spatula.
9. Can I make funnel cake in an air fryer?
Yes, you can make funnel cake in an air fryer by using a silicone mold or a biscuit cutter to create the shape. Cook at 375°F for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through.
10. Can I make mini funnel cakes?
Yes, you can make mini funnel cakes by using a smaller funnel or a squeeze bottle and frying for a shorter time.
11. Can I make chocolate funnel cake?
Yes, you can add cocoa powder to the batter to make chocolate funnel cake. Use 1/4 cup cocoa powder and reduce the flour by the same amount.
12. Can I make savory funnel cake?
Yes, you can make savory funnel cake by adding herbs and spices to the batter and serving it with toppings such as cheese or bacon.
13. Can I make funnel cake without milk?
Yes, you can make funnel cake without milk by using a non-dairy milk substitute, such as almond or soy milk.
14. Can I make gluten-free funnel cake?
Yes, you can make gluten-free funnel cake by using a gluten-free flour blend and adding xanthan gum to help bind the batter.
15. Can I make funnel cake with a cake mix?
Yes, you can make funnel cake with a cake mix by following the instructions on the box and adding more liquid to make the batter thinner.
16. Can I make funnel cake without sugar?
Yes, you can make funnel cake without sugar by using a sugar substitute, such as honey or maple syrup.
17. Can I make funnel cake with beer?
Yes, you can make funnel cake with beer by replacing some of the milk with beer. Use 1/4 cup beer and 1/2 cup milk in the batter.
18. Can I make vegan funnel cake?
Yes, you can make vegan funnel cake by using a vegan egg substitute and a non-dairy milk substitute.
19. Can I make funnel cake without baking powder?
No, baking powder is needed to make the funnel cake rise and become fluffy. You can't substitute it with baking soda.
20. Can I make funnel cake without vanilla extract?
Yes, you can make funnel cake without vanilla extract, but it will lack some flavor. You can substitute it with other extracts, such as almond or lemon.
Conclusion
Funnel cake is a fun and easy treat that you can make at home with just a few ingredients and kitchen tools. By following the steps and tips in this article, you can make perfect funnel cake every time. Whether you serve it with a dusting of confectioners' sugar or a cinnamon sugar marinade, it's sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So go ahead and give it a try!