Easy Funnel Cake Recipe

Do y'all eat funnel cakes? You know, like at the county fair? Nothing says "carnival food" more than candy apples (or caramel apples), cotton candy, and of course, fair funnel cakes.

One morning recently, we had Funnel Cakes for breakfast. Hubby asked for them for his birthday and I obliged.

Really, that's not so strange, huh? Donuts are batter (dough?)...fried, and covered in powdered sugar. So are funnel cakes. Just in a different shape. Breakfast Funnel Cake. It's a thing.

Yep, funnel cake is perfect for breakfast. Or snacks or dessert or whenever! Maybe even as a birthday treat!

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe

Once I learned how to make funnel cake at home, I'd make them pretty often. But it's been a while. After making them that morning, I remembered how easy and how much fun homemade funnel cake was to make and eat!!

These are super easy to make (you know...that's my favorite kind of recipe), and can be ready in under 15 minutes! That makes this the best funnel cake recipe in my book!

Why You'll Love This Funnel Cake with Pancake Mix

• EASY. It's really easy with common ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
• CHEAP. It costs pennies on the dollar compared to buying a funnel cake at a fair or carnival.
• DELICIOUS. You can add your own favorite topping to make it the best funnel cakes ever!

Tools Needed:

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Hand Mixer
• Piping Bag (or other tool listed above)
• Deep Skillet or large Dutch oven
• Paper Towels
• Serving Plates

Do I need a funnel to make funnel cakes?

Absolutely not. I know this seems counterintuitive, but truly, there are easier tools to get the job done when it comes to making a funnel cake.

You can use a piping bag (my preference because I'm a cake decorator and I have a million of them), a gallon size zip-top bag (cut the corner off), a plastic squeeze bottle, a liquid measuring cup with a pouring spout, or of course, a funnel if you have one. 

Regardless of which you choose or have on hand, you want a ½ inch hole or opening for the best funnel cake thickness when cooking!

If you want to make really official funnel cakes, you can get a funnel cake maker or a whole funnel cake kit. But seriously, you do not need it!

Funnel Cake Ingredients:

The ingredients for pancake mix funnel cake could not be simpler or easier to find. In the past, I made funnel cakes with self-rising flour but this funnel cake with pancake mix is so easy and has less ingredients!

• Pancake Mix. Bisquick, Pioneer Baking Mix, or Krusteaz Pancake mix are some of our favorites. But whatever your favorite premade pancake mix is, it should work for this recipe!
• Egg. One large whole egg.
• Milk. I use whole milk but you could also use 2% or a milk substitute if you like.
• Vegetable Oil. This is a small amount for the actual batter - you'll need more for frying.
• Vanilla Extract (not pictured) - homemade vanilla extract or storebought is fine. You could even use a different extract or skip this if you like.
• Powdered Sugar
• Oil (for frying)  - use a neutral oil like canola oil or vegetable oil
• Topping(s) of Your Choice. See suggestions below.

How to Make Funnel Cake

After you learn how to make funnel cake with pancake mix, you'll be making them all the time. They're so easy and delicious and a million times cheaper than the ones at the fair!

1. Start by adding your pancake mix, egg, milk, vanilla, and two teaspoons of vegetable oil to a large bowl. 
2. Mix on high with a hand mixer until well combined. You could also use a whisk. The funnel cake batter needs to be rather thick, not super runny.
3. Add around 2 inches of oil to a deep skillet. You need enough oil for the funnel cake to float and be submersed or flipped over. 
4. Heat the oil to 375°F. You can check the oil temperature with an all-purpose kitchen thermometer (this is my fave!!) or a candy thermometer. 
5. Transfer batter to a piping bag, plastic bag, or a liquid measuring cup with a pouring spout. You can move about a cup of batter at a time for each cake.
6. Once your oil has heated up, cut a small tip off your piping bag. Drizzle your pancake batter into the oil in a circular motion (swirling motion) or zig-zag lines. You get what I'm saying right... the pattern is really random - just try to have a steady stream of batter. Fair funnel cake is never perfect. I used a little over half a piping bag, per cake. 
7. Let it fry in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes, then gently press it down into the oil with your spatula to fry the top as well for another 1-2 minutes. Or you can flip them, which is what I usually attempt to do, but be careful not to splash oil on yourself. Once it is all golden brown, remove it from the oil and place on paper towel-lined plate or baking sheet to soak up any excess oil.
8. Cover in confectioners' sugar. You can top with any topping you desire! The possibilities are endless. 
9. Serve and enjoy these perfect funnel cakes! Bring the fair food home! 

Funnel Cake Toppings

• Powdered Sugar, goes without saying
• Whipped Cream
• Chocolate Syrup
• Caramel Sauce
• Ice Cream
• Cinnamon Sugar or Brown Sugar
• Fresh fruit such as Strawberries, Blueberries or Sliced Bananas
• Strawberry Sauce
• Maple Syrup
• Crumbled Cookies such as OREOs.
• Sprinkles - if you're making them for a birthday celebration!

How to Store Funnel Cakes

Funnel cake is best served fresh and hot but if you happen to have extra, you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-6 minutes for the best texture. Top with powdered sugar (again?) and enjoy! 

FAQ

Next time fair season rolls around, you can skip the long lines and big price tag and make some of these before you head out or when you get home!! 

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