Years ago, we had a tradition. We would have a big midday meal every Sunday after church, and then in the evening we had either funnel cakes or ice cream sundaes, depending on the weather and season.
I don’t know what prompted him, but last week Hubby looked up a recipe and requested funnel cakes. I was glad to be reminded. 
If you’ve never had funnel cakes, you’re really missing out. The batter is very simple – like pancake batter. I had to add some extra milk to thin the recipe hubby found. I cut the recipe in half since it said it made 20-30, but we just barely got 10. Next time I’ll use 3 cups of flour and adjust the other ingredients accordingly.
Heat about 1″ of oil in a skillet. Get your oil good and hot, and spoon batter into a funnel. We used about 1/3 cup for a 10″ skillet. If your skillet is bigger, you’ll want to make your funnel cakes bigger too. Cover the tip with your finger until you’re ready to start spiralling.
Hold your breath now – here’s the fun part! Hold the funnel over the oil and take your finger off the end of the funnel. Move the funnel in small overlapping clockwise circles as you make your way around the outside of the pan in a larger clockwise circle. If your batter is the right consistency, you’ll have a web of interlocking circles forming a dense tangle of crispy cooking deliciousness.
You’ll have to do a bit of trial and error with the consistency until you get a feel for things but don’t worry – even the ugly ones will be delicious!
Cook a minute or two, til nicely browned. Carefully turn it over (I use a spatula and spoon together) and cook for another minute or two. I don’t remember if I was turning the one in the photo or if it’s already been cooked on both sides.
Lift from the pan, let the oil drain a bit, and set it on a plate lined with paper towels. Start the next funnel cake and while that’s cooking sprinkle the first one with powdered sugar. Serve each one hot, as soon as it is finished. One cake will make a generous serving. We usually serve from youngest to oldest.
These are a bit time consuming since each one is individually hand-crafted, but oh the memories! We used to buy these at the county fair every year and were delighted when we realized that we could make them ourselves. Just the thought of funnel cakes reminds us of frosty mornings in the livestock barns, rides on the Dragon Wagon and the carousel, and late nights with cotton candy, friends and hot, crispy funnel cakes. Always funnel cakes.
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Ok now girlie. I have your other shoe blog marked in my blogroll. Should it be this one? Should I still visit the other one? You have reading masses who want to know!!
PS- I love funnel cakes! I first had them in Germany and now they are the favorite part of my trip to Santuck in AL. Mmmmmm!
Rhen,
This is the current blog – we won’t be posting on the other one except to remind people to come over here.
Wow! Those look so delicious! How neat to be able to make them at home. Uh oh ..I am trying to lose this post-baby weight. It is hopeless now!
Well, I for one, am VERY glad you changed your blog over to here! The filters at my school block much of Blogger, but I can get into the comments sections here on your new blog, so I’m a happy girl! I read your blog every day, and thoroughly enjoy hearing the stories from your family!
Kim,
We just tried these for our lazy Sunday dinner–they were a real hit! Thanks for the idea!
Oh boy. Those do look good. I have never tried a funnel cake – and have only been contemplating them recently, as in, I just lost weight and now I have an urge to try these things? I think you may have tipped the scale (snort) in favor of trying them – what better way than homemade? I so enjoy your blog!
I am correcting the link in my blogroll so I can now visit you here. I will have to surprise my crew with funnel cakes this week. Mmmmm!
Thanks for the recipe and idea. We made some funnel cakes tonight and enjoyed it very much. Yummmmmmmm. You can see pictures here: http://dinghome.net/2007/10/21/making-and-enjoying-funnel-cake/
LOVE funnel cakes. They’re the best!!!! But I have to ask—is that a tarantula in the jar in the background in the last picture???? Is it ALIVE????? EEEWWWWWWW
Funnel Cakes are so sweet! I just love them. We got to eat some a few weeks ago at out state fair. Thanks for sharing:).
Growing in HIM,
Trina
You know, you have just tossed me down memory lane. And that cannot be that easy considering how delicate you look and how huge I am…
Funny, I remember eating these as a kid, growing up in Canada. Now I am in Germany and I have never had any here… but like a commentor above, I always associated those things to being German…
Go figure.
Bet my kids would love it, though, if I made them here for them! Thanks for the trip and the reminder!
Jen,
I forgot about him but you’re right – that was one of the male tarantulas we caught hanging about the house lately.
We brought him in for observation and kept him and fed him for a few days, then let him go.
Oh, and I could imagine my troops loving a portion of applesauce along side of this… now that is also something I would associate with being typical German. Never ate so much apple sauce in my life. And my inlaws eat the stuff too, so it is not just the fact that I have kids….
Those look fantastic. We will have to try them this week.
I have never had a funnel cake…there, I said it! They seem to be all the rage here since it is fair time. I am assuming they are called “funnel cakes” because you use a funnel? I always assumed it was because maybe they looked like a funnel. Yes, I am blonde!
Congrats on the little one!
Stephanie@inpsired
Oh how I miss funnel cake! I grew up eating them at the fairs in PA and love em. I get so disappointed when I go to the fairs and carnivals in New England because all they have is this fried dough stuff. It doesn’t even come close to funnel cake.
I’ll have to make some of my own this weekend!
This post has inspired me to try to do my own home made funnel cakes…our family has never gone there before.
Just to update you. I made them yesterday. And they were so gross I had to promise to never make them again!
Seldom do I experience such a flop. To date I have never had complains about anything remotely sweet. So I really must have done something wrong.
No fear, we are better off without all the sweets and fat… But it was fun to try anyway!
Wow…I notice that most seem to have to wait for a fair/carnival to enjoy funnel cake.
It’s moments like this when I’m reminded of the variety (and sometimes oddity) of conveniences we have in the city.
You see…for here in Philly, one can get funnel cake from any chinese food spot, which practically means you can get it everywhere in the city.
In other words: funnel cake is available 7 days a week and accessible as late as 2-3:am.