Your family will cheer when you make funnel cakes at home. What is the secret to enjoying this classic fair food at home? It turns you can easily make funnel cake with pancake mix!
Funnel Cake
Funnel cake is one of those foods that I’ve only eaten at fairs or carnivals. If you’ve never had funnel cake, this drool worthy dessert is always hard to resist. It’s a crispy fried sweet cake usually topped with powdered sugar, whipped cream or chocolate sauce. You know that amazing smell in the food court area at a fair? That is usually funnel cake. Well or the churros, another favorite of mine!
Funnel Cake Made With Pancake Mix
Funnel cake can seem a bit intimidating to make at home, but it’s actually pretty easy thanks to Krusteaz Pancake Mix. Yes, you read that right, you can make funnel cake with pancake mix! The delicious Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix you use to whip up a stack of pancakes can also be used to funnel cake. And let me tell you, it is a beautiful thing.
I love that Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix makes this SO easy. I also love that they use delicious, quality ingredients, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Thanks to Krusteaz for sponsoring this post.
How To Make Funnel Cake
Making homemade funnel cake is really quite simple. Pancake mix is combined with eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, salt and milk.
The batter is then funneled or poured into hot oil and fried until golden brown. While I’ve never been overly comfortable with frying foods, this really is as simple as it gets. We tried both funneling our pancake batter into the pan, and using a squeeze bottle. The squeeze bottle is a bit easier to control, but the results were the same either way.
Make sure to be careful when frying these, or anything, and keep the kids and pets away from the stove to be safe in case hot oil spatters, as it sometimes does. The US Dept of Agriculture has some great tips for safety when frying foods. If you are new to frying foods, or need a refresher on safety (we can all use that!) please check out their safety tips here
Like most fried foods, funnel cakes are best served immediately after they are made. While they are delicious plain, most people really enjoy the toppings! Powdered sugar is a classic funnel cake topping. A few shakes of powdered sugar onto a hot funnel cake is a thing of beauty.
You can take these to the next level by adding additional toppings such as whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, fruit… you name it! These are quite rich, making them perfect for sharing. This recipe made enough for our family of four to each have a generous serving.
I can’t wait for you to try this easy funnel cake recipe made with Krusteaz Pancake Mix! While you have that box of Krusteaz out, you might want to try my Hot Chocolate Pancakes or Breakfast Pizza – both made with Krusteaz Pancake Mix.
For another delicious fried treat, make sure to try my Struffoli Recipe!
Funnel Cake Made With Pancake Mix
Equipment
- Funnel, squeeze bottle or piping bag. A food thermometer is very helpful but not required.
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 cups Krusteaz Pancake Mix
- Oil For Frying Canola and peanut oil work well, provide a neutral flavor and have a high flash point.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar, milk and vanilla. Whisk well until combined.
- Add Krusteaz Pancake Mix and salt to the liquid mixture and stir to combine. Ingredients should be well incorporated, but do not over mix.
- Add approximately 1 1/2" - 2" of oil to a heavy bottomed fry pan, dutch oven or cast iron pan*. Heat oil to 375 degrees F. If you do not have a thermometer, you will know the oil is ready when you drop a small drop of the batter into the oil and it immediately bubbles and sizzles.
- Add approximately 1/4 of the batter to a funnel, piping bag or squeeze bottle, with your finger covering the opening until you are ready to dispense it into the oil. Holding the funnel/bag/bottle several inches above the oil, remove your finger and swirl the batter into the oil, overlapping it on itself, until the batter is all dispensed.
- Fry until the bottom side is golden brown, approximately 1-2 minutes, then gently turn over with tongs and fry until the second side is golden brown. Carefully remove and immediately place on a plate covered with paper towels to help drain off any extra oil. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, add toppings and serve immediately.
Joe says
Can the batter be held overnightin the refrigerator?
Christi Johnstone says
I haven’t tried so I can’t speak to it. Since it’s so quick to make, I really recommend just making it when you need it.
Shawna says
Love the recipe made these over the weekend and the kids love it
Michael P says
Awesome! I used funfetti batter and it was amazing! Thank you!
Christina says
Turned out great! Added a little cinnamon to the mix. Yummy.
Sameh says
If you use the complete Krusteaz pancake mix that only requires water, why do we need to add milk eggs etc.?
Christi Johnstone says
Because you aren’t making pancakes, you are making something else entirely. Doesn’t apply to any and every use of the mix.
Alaya Ransom says
They came out so good!!!!
BRENDA says
Recipe needs to be re-worked you have sugar ingredient being added in step one with the wet…and again in second step with dry.
I am sure most cooks in the kitchen will skim right over and instinctually will incorporate the ingredients properly.. . Wet ingredients together and add assembled dry while they just keep going with out a hiccup. But for a beginner one may be left with a heavy or burnt end result. And this recipe is perfect!!
So with all due respect I am only suggesting the clarification and no other modifications…
Yum!
Easy, perfect, and simple.
Janie Ramirez says
So easy and Delicious
Sarah Brown says
worked great love them with all kinds of topping we use choc. and caramel powder sugar.
Rick says
These turned out great!
Pretty simple but delicious.