The Game-Changing Ingredient To Make Quick And Easy Funnel Cakes

Each year, county fair fans and festival goers get to indulge in their favorite carnival fare. Fried food fans get their fill of all things battered by sampling golden brown goods ranging from churros to pickles. Savory food lovers go medieval on monster turkey legs and various foods on sticks, and sweet tooths are endlessly satisfied by cotton candy and kettle corn. Perhaps the most iconic of all the carnival treats is the beloved funnel cake, and one simple ingredient makes it easier than ever to enjoy its sweet fried goodness year-round.

Although the origin of the funnel cake is a hotly debated topic, Parade links the fried treat to a group of German immigrants who settled in Pennslyvania in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was a Dutch culture celebration called the Kutztown Folk Festival that brought funnel cakes to the masses, and the sweet tendrils of fried dough became wildly popular at fairs and holiday celebrations.

Variations on funnel cakes abound, and nowadays, you can get the light, sweet treat topped with anything from Nutella to jam. The traditional recipe calls for multiple ingredients that make it easier to wait for the next local festival to satiate your funnel cake craving. If you want to skip a trip to the fair and the grocery store, one simple ingredient will have you enjoying homemade funnel cake in no time.

Just because the fair left town doesn't mean you can't have a little funnel cake in your life. Forget the grocery store list of ingredients used to make traditional funnel cakes and sub in your favorite buttermilk pancake mix that might already be in your pantry to make this simple funnel cake recipe that tastes just as good as the original.

The recipe creator, Jessica Morone, says that the key to making easy funnel cake with pancake mix is to ensure that you're using a mix that says "complete" on the container, as it indicates that you will only have to add water to the mix. All you need to do is add a bit of sugar and vanilla to the complete buttermilk pancake mix before adding water to reach your desired consistency.

After mixing your simple batter, it can be poured into a squeeze bottle or plastic bag and drizzled into a skillet of oil heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the cake has reached golden brown deliciousness, you can top it with powdered sugar and enjoy. For folks who prefer visual instructions, this Tasting Table funnel cake video shows how to prepare the delicious treat step-by-step. Even if the festivals are over, any trick to get funnel cake in our mouths faster is worth celebrating.