Classic Funnel Cake

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Vanilla: Extract Easy

A fair-style fried pastry made by running a thin batter through a funnel into hot oil in a tangled swirl, then burying it in powdered sugar. This classic version is lightly sweet and vanilla scented. Makes 4 cakes in about 30 minutes.

Prep 15 min

Cook 15 min

Total 30 min

Servings 4

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2 cups (250 g)all-purpose flour
2 tsp (8 g)baking powder
3 tbsp (40 g)granulated sugar
½ tsp (3 g)fine salt
2 (100 g)eggs
1 ¼ cups (300 ml)whole milk
1 tsp (5 ml)pure vanilla extract
4 ¼ cups (1000 ml)vegetable oil, for deep frying
½ cup (60 g)powdered sugar

Baking tools for this recipe

Convert to grams Scale it Change the pan

Instructions

Whisk the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl.
In another bowl whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla, then whisk into the dry ingredients until smooth. The batter should be thinner than pancake batter and pour in a steady stream.
Heat about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of oil in a wide, heavy skillet to 375 F (190 C).
Cover the funnel's spout with a finger, fill it with about 3/4 cup (180 ml) batter, then release it over the oil in a spiral and crisscross, forming a round about 6 inches (15 cm) wide.
Fry 1 to 2 minutes until golden, flip with tongs and a spatula, and fry 1 minute more.
Drain on a rack set over paper towels and dust generously with powdered sugar. Serve hot.

Tips

Keep the oil at 375 F (190 C); a drop of batter should sizzle at once.
Pour from low over the oil to avoid splashes.
Make one at a time and keep the oil temperature steady.
Good with hot chocolate.

Made this?

Log it to keep your bakes, ratings and notes together in My Kitchen.

Be the first to share one.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make classic funnel cake?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 4 cakes (4 servings).

How should I store classic funnel cake?

Best eaten right away; leftovers keep a few hours loosely covered.

Can I make classic funnel cake ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Serve it with hot chocolate.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 4 servings this recipe makes.

481 Calories / serving

13.6g Fat

76.5g Carbs

11.9g Protein

29.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (4 servings): ~1924 cal · 54g fat · 306g carbs · 48g protein · 116g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.