Funnel Cake Sundae Food

EASY CLASSIC FUNNEL CAKE

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk the egg with the granulated sugar until pale. Whisk the milk into the egg mixture, then gently fold into the flour mixture. It should be a bit thicker than pancake batter but thin enough to pour. Add up to 3 tablespoons milk to loosen the batter, if needed.
• Heat about 2 inches of canola oil in a large high-sided skillet or pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375. Meanwhile, mix the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Hold a funnel in one hand with your finger plugging the hole at the bottom. Pour 1 cup batter into the funnel. Hold the funnel over the hot oil and remove your finger from the hole, letting the batter drop in a spiral pattern all over the surface of the oil. It will look like lots of individual pieces at first, but as you continue to add batter, the pieces will fuse together. Cook until the batter floats and the underside is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Flip with tongs and cook until golden brown on the other side, about 30 more seconds. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and repeat to make 5 more funnel cakes. Dust with the cinnamon-sugar and serve with whipped cream and/or fruit sauce, if desired.

HOMEMADE FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• For the funnel cakes: Add enough oil to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot to come 2 inches up the sides of the pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it registers 360 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Line a baking sheet with a metal cooling rack or a few layers of paper towels.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the milk, vanilla and eggs in a large measuring cup.
• Sift together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl using a mesh strainer (to break up any lumps in the brown sugar). Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture just until smooth and combined.
• When the oil is up to temperature, use your finger to cover the hole in the bottom of a 1- to 2-cup funnel (with at least a 1/2-inch hole) and fill it to the top with about 3/4 cup of the batter. Position the funnel over the pot of hot oil and remove your finger to release the batter. Let the batter flow into the oil in thick squiggles, moving the funnel within a contained circular shape about 8 inches in diameter. Fry on the first side until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, then use a spider or tongs to carefully flip to the second side and fry for an additional 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove to the wire rack or paper towels and let drain and cool slightly. Repeat with the remaining batter.
• For topping: Dust the funnel cakes generously with the confectioners' sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon and dollop with whipped cream before serving warm.

FUNNEL CAKE SUNDAE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and kosher salt in a large bowl. Add the milk, butter, vanilla and egg and whisk until well combined.
• Make one funnel cake at a time: Pour 1/2 cup of the batter through a funnel (see Cook's Note) into the hot oil while making swirling and overlapping motions. Allow to fry and brown for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar and transfer to a plate. Top with a scoop of rocky road, cherry and caramel ice cream, a drizzle of hot fudge, some whipped cream and sprinkles.

FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine baking mix, eggs, milk and coffee creamer. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• In a deep-fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees F.
• Cover the bottom of a funnel with your finger. Ladle 1/2 cup of batter into funnel. Holding funnel over oil, slowly release finger and move in a spiral motion, then cross over to create criss-cross pattern. Fry golden on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar.
• Alternate method: Instead of using a funnel, try squeezing batter out of a plastic ketchup bottle. This can help you make the design more accurate and is also less messy.

FUNNEL CAKES

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a large saucepan to come halfway up the sides, it should be about 7cm deep. Heat until the oil reaches 170C-180C on a thermometer, or if you don't have one drop in a chunk of bread - the oil is hot enough when it browns in about 30 secs.
• Whilst the oil heats up, whisk together the flour, icing sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs and a good pinch of salt. Transfer the batter to a disposable piping bag and secure the end with a peg (you'll need another peg for the other end, once you've cut it open.)
• When the oil is hot, snip off the end of the piping bag to make an opening about 1cm wide - the batter will drizzle out so pinch it closed until you're ready. Hold the piping bag over the oil, release your finger and drizzle the batter in in a swirly circle shape. Pinch the opening to close it, then make another cake, you should fit about 3 in the pan it one time, depending on the width of your pan. Secure the piping bag with another peg whilst the cakes cook, they'll need about 1 min on each side, or until they're golden brown and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper and dust generously with icing sugar, best eaten straight away.