Funnel Cake Fries

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/10/23
Tested by
Carrie Parente
Carrie Parente
Tested by Carrie Parente
Carrie is a freelance food stylist and culinary producer who loves having a table full of guests.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Funnel Cake Fries

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 5 to 7
Yield: 40 fries
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
310 Calories
13g Fat
40g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5 to 7
Amount per serving
Calories 310
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 188mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 15%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 101mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 117mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Funnel cake is a classic fair food that is decadent and fun to eat. But, it can also be pretty messy to make on your own. These fries are super crispy and easy to pick up and eat. They’re lighter than fried dough and are made with a batter instead of a dough. 

The batter is super easy to make and can be whisked together in one bowl. The batter is similar to pancake batter, making it very easy to handle. Once you whip up the batter, add it to a plastic bag, then cut off the end and pipe it into the hot oil.

Make this fun snack for the kids on the weekend or serve them as a dessert for a party. We like our funnel cakes fries with marshmallow fluff and strawberry sauce, but the possibilities are endless—Nutella, chocolate sauce, frosting or icing are all delicious options.

“Since the oil takes a while to heat up, I put it on a burner first thing so that by the time the batter was ready, so was the oil. This batter is a little runny and it can be tricky piping fry shapes into the hot oil with a piping bag.”  —Carrie Parente

Funnel Cake Fries Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil, for frying

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Confectioners' sugar, for serving

  • Marshmallow fluff, for serving

  • Strawberry sauce, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Fill a heavy-bottomed pot with two inches of oil and heat to 375 F.

    funnel cake fry ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Beat the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until foamy and bright yellow.

    eggs and sugar whisked in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract until combined.

    milk and eggs whisked in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then gradually add to the wet mixture (be careful not to overmix—just whisk until there are no lumps or pockets of dry ingredients).

    funnel cake fry batter in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Add the batter to a squeeze bottle or large piping bag. For the squeeze bottle, you may need to cut a larger hole on the tip to get the right width for fries and make sure the top is on securely. For the piping bag, once filled, tie the open end of the bag securely, and cut the tip to create a small hole. To avoid the batter spilling out, store the bag upside down with the tip facing up in a large glass or cup.

    funnel cake batter in a piping bag

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Once the oil reaches temperature, pipe a strip of the batter in a straight line into the hot oil. Continue until you have about 5 fries in the oil. Don’t overcrowd the oil. You can fit more or less depending on the size of your pot.

    piping funnel cake into hot oil

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Cook for about 1 minute, then flip with a metal slotted spoon and continue cooking until both sides are golden brown.

    funnel cake fries in oil

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Strain the funnel cake bites out of the oil onto a paper towel lined plate. You can keep them warm in a 200 F oven while you continue cooking the rest of the batter. Make sure the oil returns to 375 F before each batch.

    funnel cake fries

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Dust with confectioners' sugar, then serve with dipping sauce.

    Funnel Cake Fries on a platter

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

How to Store

Funnel cake fries are best served immediately while they are hot and fresh. You can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in an air fryer at 400 F for 3 to 5 minutes or in a 400 F oven until crisp.

How do you make funnel cakes crispy?


Using the batter we’ve outlined above and making sure your oil is at the correct temperature will ensure that the funnel cake fries are crispy and cooked to perfection. Make sure to drain the cooked funnel cake fries on a paper towel-lined plate.

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