Homemade Caramel Apple Funnel Cake Recipe

Bring on fall, bring on the fair, and bring on this delicious and flavorful Caramel Apple Funnel Cake Recipe! A tasty apple recipe that you won’t get enough of!

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I know I have said this many many times before, but one of my husband’s favorite desserts is my funnel cake recipe! Any and all types but this Caramel Apple version is really one his mouth waters for.

We both go nuts for them. I love caramel apples and funnel cakes and when you mash the two together in one dessert, you have absolute heaven.

There is a good reason these things are so popular at the county fair. Deep fried batter tastes great with all kinds of toppings.

I think this version is our absolute favorite, though. Sugar and spice and everything nice, haha!

This Homemade Funnel Cake Recipe is spiced with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, adding finely shredded apples, powdered sugar, and caramel sauce which makes this a unique fall dessert!

Once you take one bite of these I will guarantee that you will absolutely fall in love with them. We have and everyone we serve them to loves them!

Trust me, this holds the torch to your original Funnel Cake Recipe! I love them both but when you add in the fall flavors it takes it to a whole other level.

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1. With the apple fried right into the funnel cakes, you get the flavor in each bite.
2. You can drizzle this or dip it in caramel sauce, we use my Cinnamon Buttermilk Caramel Sauce.
3. Double this recipe to serve more people, trust me they will want that!

• Granny smith apple
• Eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Milk
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Powdered sugar and caramel sauce for topping

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1. Place three inches of vegetable oil in a heavy bottom skillet with deep sides. Heat over medium heat until hot, around 350°F. You can also use a deep fryer set to 350°F.
2. Whisk the eggs and sugar together until smooth in a large bowl.
3. Carefully whisk in the milk and vanilla.
4. Add the flour, baking powder, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and salt until smooth with no lumps.
5. Add in the grated apples and fold in until combined.
6. Place ½ of the mixture into a gallon sized bag.
7. Snip one of the bottom corners off and CAREFULLY let batter pour into hot oil. Make a large circle of the batter and connect it with more batter around and around in the pan. Fry until golden brown on the first side about 3 minutes.
8. With tongs, turn the funnel cake over and let it brown on the second side for about 2 additional minutes.
9. Let the funnel cake drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
10. Top with powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and whipped cream. Or, serve caramel sauce on the side for dipping, enjoy!

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WHAT IS A FUNNEL CAKE?

Funnel Cakes are a fried batter that is squeezed through a funnel-type instrument, whether it be a piping bag or a funnel itself into hot oil and fried.

They are commonly found at fairs and carnivals and can be topped with various things such as powdered sugar, sauces, fruit, whipped topping, etc.

WHAT KIND OF APPLES ARE BEST USED FOR THESE?

We love to use Granny Smith apples because they are tart and sweet and pair well with the sweetness in baking and dessert recipes.

Some of our other favorites include:

1. Braeburn
2. Jonagold
3. Pink Lady
4. Honey Crisp

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ANY ADDITIONS?

There are so many possibilities here. I can’t decide which one is my favorite!

• Sprinkle with Cinnamon Sugar: After frying your homemade funnel cakes, generously sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar using a small bowl to mix the spices. This adds that classic fair food flavor we all love from state fairs and amusement parks.
• Drizzle with Chocolate Sauce: Use a plastic squeeze bottle to drizzle chocolate syrup or chocolate sauce over your funnel cakes in a zig-zag pattern. This is the best part for chocolate lovers!
• Serve with Ice Cream: Place a scoop of ice cream on your warm funnel cake. The contrast of the cold ice cream and the warm fried goodness is a yummy treat that’s much fun to eat.
• Add Fresh Fruit: Top them with fresh fruit like blueberries, raspberries, or bananas for a fruity twist. It’s a great way to incorporate more flavors into this delicious snack.
• Dust with Confectioners’ Sugar: Use a sifter to dust confectioner’s sugar over your funnel cakes for that classic look and sweet taste you find at state fairs.
• Throw on some Nuts or Sprinkles: Add chopped nuts or colorful sprinkles on for added texture and fun, making it a delightful dessert for personal consumption.

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

As always, be sure to let me know in the comments how these turn out for you.

• Oil Alternatives: Instead of vegetable oil, you can use canola oil or peanut oil for frying. These neutral oils have a high smoke point and are perfect for achieving that crispy texture without imparting much oil flavor.
• Use Pancake Batter: If you’re short on time, use store-bought pancake mix to create your funnel cake batter. Just adjust the wet ingredients to get the right consistency for swirling motion in the hot oil.
• Milk Substitutes: Replace the milk with almond milk or oat milk for a dairy-free version that’s still delicious.
• Spice Variations: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, combine flour with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of ginger to create your own spice blend.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make gluten-free funnel cakes, so everyone can enjoy this fair food favorite.

These are best eaten right away otherwise they will lose their crunch and texture.

You can make the batter ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

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Want a fun, easy, and addictive fall recipe?

Then you have to make this Funnel Cake Recipe, you will fall head over heels!

If you’ve tried this FUNNEL CAKE RECIPE let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!

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5 from 7 votes

Caramel Apple Funnel Cakes

Author Dana DeVolk

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Bring on fall, bring on the fair, and bring on these delicious and flavorful Caramel Apple Funnel Cakes! A tasty apple recipe that you won't get enough of!

Servings 4 funnel cakes

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ vegetable oil for frying
• ▢ 3 large eggs
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 cup milk
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 3 ⅔ cup flour
• ▢ 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 large granny smith apple peeled cored and grated
• ▢ Powdered sugar and caramel sauce for topping

Instructions

• Place three inches of vegetable oil in a heavy bottom skillet with deep sides. Heat over medium heat until hot, around 350°F. You can also use a deep fryer set to 350°F.
  vegetable oil for frying
• Whisk the eggs and sugar together until smooth in a large bowl.
  3 large eggs, ¼ cup granulated sugar
• Carefully whisk in the milk and vanilla.
  2 cup milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Add the flour, baking powder, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and salt until smooth with no lumps.
  3 ⅔ cup flour, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt
• Add in the grated apples and fold in until combined.
  1 large granny smith apple peeled
• Place ½ of the mixture into a gallon sized bag.
• Snip one of the bottom corners off and CAREFULLY let batter pour into hot oil. Make a large circle of the batter and connect it with more batter around and around in the pan. Fry until golden brown on the first side about 3 minutes.
• With tongs, turn the funnel cake over and let it brown on the second side for about 2 additional minutes.
• Let the funnel cake drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Top with powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and whipped cream. Or, serve caramel sauce on the side for dipping, enjoy!
  Powdered sugar and caramel sauce for topping

Notes

1. Nutritional value does not include topings.
2. Use your favorite apple for this recipe, we use Granny Smith.
3. Double this to make more to serve more people.
4. Make sure the apple is shredded or really finely diced so it blends into the batter well.
5. You can use a funnel or a piping bag or a ziptop bag to pipe these into the hot oil.
6. Top with your favorite toppings such as powdered sugar, caramel sauce (recipe linked above), and whipped topping.
7. You can make these as large or as small as you want, depending on how many you want made out of the batter.

Nutrition

Calories: 614kcal | Carbohydrates: 113g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 605mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 278mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

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