Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (2024)

By Debi 5 Comments

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If you love Funnel Cake, you have to make this Easy Funnel Cake recipe! Made with only 3 ingredients, this is the best recipe ever.

Top the fried deliciousness with powdered sugar, whipped cream, or make it a truly decadent treat with vanilla ice cream.

3 Ingredient Funnel Cake with Pancake Mix

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (1)
Jump to:
  • 3 Ingredient Funnel Cake with Pancake Mix
  • ❤️ Why you’ll love it
  • 🥘 Equipment
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🍳 How to Make
  • 🎥 Video
  • 🥄Variations
  • 🍽️ What to Serve With
  • 🍶 Storing
  • 💭Tip for Making the Perfect
  • ❔FAQs
  • 📖More Recipes
  • Easy Funnel Cake

❤️ Why you’ll love it

This classic carnival treat is easy to make and ready in just minutes. Plus, you can top it with your favorite toppings for a truly indulgent dessert.

  • Enjoy your favorite treat all year long
  • It’s made with pancake mix.
  • It’s only 3 ingredients, not including the oil for deep frying.

🥘 Equipment

🧾 Ingredients

Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (2)
  • Complete Pancake Mix
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil
  • Powdered Sugar

🍳 How to Make

Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.

How to Make Funnel Cake Recipe With Pancake Mix

Combine the dry ingredient with the wet ingredients together in a large bowl, making sure there are no clumps.

Heat the oil. Drizzle the batter into the oil.

Once the first side is golden brown, flip and cook the other side until golden.

Once cooked, move the funnel cake on a paper towel placed on a baking sheet or cooling rack to soak up the excess oil.

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (3)

Hint: To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a tiny piece of the batter into the oil. If it sizzles and cooks quickly, your oil is ready to go.

🎥 Video

🥄Variations

  • This recipe is super customizable. Here are a few delicious variations to try:
  • Add cinnamon to the pancake funnel cake batter for an extra flavor kick
  • Top with chocolate sauce or caramel sauce for an extra indulgent treat
  • Mix in some chopped nuts or sprinkles into the batter before frying
  • Don’t be afraid to play with the ingredients – if you want a chocolate funnel cake, try using some cocoa powder in the batter. Add strawberry powder, like the kind you use for strawberry milk, for a strawberry-flavored funnel cake.
  • Instead of adding whipped cream or fresh fruit, top the 3 ingredient funnel cake with Serve topped with strawberry compote, crushed Oreos, marshmallows, or any other favorite topping.
  • Want to add more protein? Or save a few calories? You can use a high-protein, low-calorie pancake mix, like Kodiak cakes. This type of mix tends to have less cholesterol and sodium and has more fiber and vitamins. There are ones that are lower in carbohydrates but I have not tried them personally.
  • You can use gluten-free pancake mix to make this funnel cake with pancake mix.

🍽️ What to Serve With

🍶 Storing

While this 3 ingredient funnel cake recipe is best served warm, straight from the fryer, you can store leftovers for later.

Refrigerator Storage: You do not need to refrigerate your funnel cake. Leftovers can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days

Freezer Storage: You can freeze leftover funnel cakes tightly covered with plastic wrap or foil, and place it in a re-sealable freezer bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating and eating. Funnel cakes can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Reheat in the oven or toaster oven at 350 degrees F until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (4)

💭Tip for Making the Perfect

  • Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of this recipe:
  • Do not over-mix the batter. The consistency should be thick, but pourable. Over-mixing will result in dense and rubbery funnel cakes.
  • Make sure your oil is hot enough before adding the funnel cake batter. If the batter is not hot enough, the funnel cake will soak up too much oil.
  • Be careful with the oil. It can be dangerous if it gets too hot or is handled improperly.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pot when deep frying. Overcrowding will result in unevenly cooked funnel cakes.
  • Make sure to check for doneness before removing from the oil.
  • It’s also important to drain excess oil off after deep frying.

❔FAQs

What is Funnel Cake Batter Made of?

When you are wondering how to make funnel cake, you might think you need a bunch of fancy ingredients. Typically funnel cake batter is made using egg, flour, and baking powder as well as other simple ingredients, however, this funnel easy funnel cake recipe, it is made using pancake mix. The funnel cake from pancake mix means you only need 3 ingredients and the oil to fry it in. Then you can have carnival pancake funnel cake anytime you want.

Does The Best Funnel Cake Recipe Need to Be Fried

You do want to fry it to have the best funnel cakes at home. While many people think you have to deep fry the funnel cake, and this is the easiest way to fry it, you can pan-fry it as well. Use a deep frying pan if you are not using a deep fryer.
You can make this funnel cake in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Be sure to check on it often so it does not burn.

Can I Use Bisquick to Make Funnel Cake?

Yes, you can definitely use Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix to make funnel cake. The steps and ingredients are the same as this 3 ingredient funnel cake made with pancake mix recipe. Simply combine the Bisquick with water, blend together until combined, then deep fry in hot oil as instructed above.

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (5)

📖More Recipes

Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.

If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (7)

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (8)

Easy Funnel Cake

Our Wabi Sabi Life

If you love Funnel Cake, you have to make this Easy Funnel Cake recipe! Made with only 3 ingredients, this is the best funnel cake recipe. Top the funnel cake with powdered sugar, whipped cream or make it a truly decadent treat with vanilla ice cream.

4.46 from 51 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 135 kcal

Ingredients

Directions

  • Mix your dry ingredients together complete pancake mix and sugar, with the wet ingredients, the water, and vanilla all together into a large bowl.

  • Mix well and until batter is nice and smooth with no clumps.

  • Heat the oil until it is hot enough to fry the funnel cake.

  • Add the batter into a funnel and move batter to a squeeze bottle or bag to pour into hot oil. Be very careful when pouring the batter so it does not cause the oil to splash.

  • Fry until golden brown and then flip. (About a minute or so on each side. A bit longer if making larger ones).

  • Once cooked, move the funnel cake on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

  • Plate, sprinkle with confectioners sugar and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 135kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 249mgPotassium: 100mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 122IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 1mg

Keyword funnel cake

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (9)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Glenda

    I love them, but had never tried to make them until I saw your post. The recipe is simple and it was actually pretty fun making the designs. lol Not to mention they were absolutely scrumptious!

    Reply

    • Debi

      Careful, it’s addicting.

      Reply

  2. Kari L Candland

    Would you consider a “complete pancake mix” one that you just have to add water?

    Reply

    • Our Wabi Sabi Life Staff

      Yes, many of them just require water. Thanks for your question.

      Reply

      • Loreen Sekerak

        I’ve always wanted a nice funnel cake recipe.This one looks wonderful! Thanks so much!

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Funnel Cake Recipe Just like the Fair - Our WabiSabi Life (2024)

FAQs

How to make homemade funnel? ›

How to Make a Funnel
  1. Step 1: Step 1: Find a Plastic Cup. Find a plastic cup of any kind. ...
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Cut a Slit Down One Side. This will make it super simple to cut off the bottom in the next step.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Cut Off the Bottom. You should be left.
  4. Step 4: Step 4: Roll Into a Funnel Shape and Tape. ...
  5. 4 Comments.

What is funnel cake batter made of? ›

Traditional recipes call for a fairly standard batter: flour, eggs, sugar, milk, baking soda or baking powder, but I discovered that you can make awesome funnel cakes with "complete" buttermilk pancake mix (look for brands that only require the addition of water).

Why are my funnel cakes soggy? ›

It's important to keep to a frying temperature of around 375 degrees. Any higher than that, and your funnel cakes will brown before cooking through. At too low a temperature, the batter will absorb excess oil, resulting in a greasy, limp funnel cake.

Is peanut oil good for funnel cakes? ›

What oil is best for funnel cake? I recommend using a neutral oil for in my funnel cake recipe. Vegetable, canola, or peanut oil all work great for this recipe and are my frying oils of choice for frying everything from apple fritters to fried pickles.

How do you keep a funnel cake from falling apart? ›

A funnel cake needs to be drizzled with portions overlapping so that when it puffs up and cooks, the streams of cake hold together. If your funnel cake is falling apart, try overlapping the drizzle as it falls into the hot oil.

How unhealthy is a funnel cake? ›

But for someone looking to eat healthy, fairs can be a tricky situation. The classic funnel cake has 760 calories and 44 grams of fat— roughly the same amount as four servings of cheese pizza, according to food nutrition comparison sites.

What is Disney funnel cake? ›

Dining located in World Showcase at EPCOT. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a classic funnel cake or cookies 'n cream funnel cake—topped with your choice of powdered sugar, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream and other tasty options. You can even bring the delightful experience home with a funnel cake gift kit!

Is fried dough and funnel cake the same thing? ›

Fried dough and funnel cake are the fraternal twins of fried food: similar but with their own distinct characteristics, their common bond a vat of oil. Fried dough doesn't put on airs or pretend to be something it isn't. It's simply fried dough.

Why won't my funnel cake stick together? ›

For a funnel cake to set up properly and to cook through before burning on the outside, it must have the right consistency. Too thin, and the batter will scatter in the oil, too thick and it will clump, not forming the fun strands and, possibly, not cooking inside before the outside is done.

Do you refrigerate funnel cakes? ›

Funnel cakes are best served fresh. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat them in the oven instead of the microwave to crisp them back up.

Can I use peanut butter instead of oil in cake mix? ›

Use an equal amount of nut butter to replace the oil in any recipe, measuring by volume. If the nut butter feels too hard to measure, microwave it in 10-second increments to slightly soften it.

What is the best oil for making cakes? ›

Best Oils for Baking

Choosing vegetable oil is the best option for baking moist, delicious baked goods. Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture.

What can I use as a funnel for oil? ›

How to Make a Funnel
  • A plastic cup.
  • A milk carton.
  • A plastic bottle.
  • A mustard bottle (Plochman's specifically!)

How to make a funnel with aluminum foil? ›

Lightly tape one end of the foil to the funnel model. Wrap the foil around the model to create the foil funnel. Tape the other end of the foil together to complete the funnel. You may want to line the entire edge with tape to ensure it fully adheres.

Can I use a water bottle as a funnel? ›

Use the utility knife to cut off the bottom of the bottle. If you'll be using the funnel at an angle you can get fancy and cut the funnel at an angle that would keep the opening horizontal. I'd also suggest rinsing and drying the inside of the bottle. Note - in some cases this is the only step you need.

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