How to Make Funnel Cake with Pancake Mix
These Homemade Funnel Cakes give you all the flavor of the fair without ever leaving the house! Fried golden and ready in minutes, this recipe is just perfect. Get ready for How to Make Great Funnel Cake with Pancake Mix.
There’s nothing quite like a warm funnel cake covered in powdered sugar. One bite instantly brings back memories of summer fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks.
Good news is you don’t have to wait for the fair to enjoy one. This easy funnel cake with pancake mix comes together with just a few simple pantry ingredients and tastes just like the classic carnival favorite.
If you have pancake mix, water, and oil for frying, you’re only minutes away from crispy golden funnel cakes at home.
Making homemade funnel cakes is much easier than most people think. Using pancake mix means there’s no measuring flour, baking powder, or other dry ingredients.
Just mix the batter, heat the oil, and fry until perfectly crisp and golden. They’re ready in just minutes, making them a fun dessert for family movie nights, birthday parties, summer cookouts, or anytime you’re craving a fair food favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Funnel Cake Recipe
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- No special baking skills required
- Ready in about 15 minutes
- Crispy outside with a soft, tender center
- Tastes just like a carnival funnel cake
What You’ll Need
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you probably already have everything you need.
- Pancake mix
- Water
- Oil for frying
- Powdered sugar for serving
That’s it.
Do You Need Special Equipment?
Not at all.
A squeeze bottle makes it easy to swirl the batter into the hot oil and creates that classic funnel cake shape, but it’s not required. A measuring cup with a pour spout, a piping bag with the tip snipped off, or even a spoon will work.
What You’ll Need
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you probably already have everything you need.
- Pancake mix
- Water
- Oil for frying
- Powdered sugar for serving
That’s it.
And a pan to do the frying. I use a cast iron skillet.
Do You Need Special Equipment?
Not at all.
A squeeze bottle makes it easy to swirl the batter into the hot oil and creates that classic funnel cake shape, but it’s not required. A measuring cup with a pour spout, a piping bag with the tip snipped off, or even a spoon will work.
What Oil Temperature Is Best?
The secret to crispy funnel cakes is keeping the oil at 350 degrees.
If the oil is too cool, the batter absorbs oil and becomes greasy. If it’s too hot, it’ll look more like rice krispie cereal, and won’t fryup smooth rings of dough.
If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the oil over medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes. Drop in a small drizzle of batter. If it immediately sizzles and slowly turns golden, the oil is ready.
Carefully fill a squeeze bottle (use a funnel if needed) and have everything ready to go. Frying goes quick,
Line a baking sheet with paper towels, have tongs to remove the funnel cake from the oil.
Cut the tip of the plastic bottle larger for thick swirls of funnel cake.
How to Make Funnel Cakes with Pancake Mix
Pour the batter into a plastic squeeze bottle with an opening large enough for the batter to flow easily.
Other options: Use a funnel, or a measuring cup with a pour spout or similar item that will allow the pancake mix to pour in a stream.
Hold the bottle over the hot oil and swirl the batter in overlapping circles to create the classic funnel cake pattern. I usually make about six circles before stopping.
Cook until the bottom is golden brown, then carefully flip and cook the second side until crisp and golden.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate for a minute, then dust generously with powdered sugar while still warm.
The Best Funnel Cake Toppings
Powdered sugar is the classic topping, but there are so many delicious ways to serve homemade funnel cakes.
Try them with:
- Chocolate syrup
- Strawberry sauce
- Caramel sauce
- Fresh strawberries, blueberries, or peaches
- Whipped cream (Chocolate Whipped Cream)
- Vanilla ice cream
- Sprinkles
- Chopped nuts or Wet Walnuts
They’re easy to customize, so everyone can make their favorite version.
Want to Use Less Oil?
You don’t need a deep fryer.
Simply pour about 2 cups of oil into a 2 quart saucepan. The funnel cakes will be slightly smaller, but they’ll cook beautifully while using much less oil.
More Easy Recipes
If you love easy recipes made with pancake mix, be sure to check out my other pancake mix recipes.
Looking for a completely homemade funnel cake recipe? I have one for you.
Want a chocolate version? Don’t miss my Chocolate Funnel Cake recipe.
Drain on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar.
How Do I Make Funnel Cake Fries?
Making funnel cake fries is as simple as changing the shape!
When drizzling the batter into the hot oil, squirt the batter in a single line (“fry shape”). These will cook faster, so keep an eye on them and turn when nice and golden brown.
What Kind of Oil Should I Use to Make Homemade Funnel Cakes?
For this recipe, I recommend using vegetable oil.
If you love funnel cakes, you’re in luck! Here are a few other fun favorites I think you’ll enjoy.
THIS is the skillet I use and love, and I use it so much I have 3 of them and more in other sizes too, it’s a kitchen must-have.
If you’re looking for my completely homemade version of funnel cake, click here.
And if you want to make Chocolate Funnel Cake look here.
If you want to use LESS OIL
Simply add 2 cups of oil to a 2-quart pot, and the funnel cakes will be smaller in size, but really, it’s a perfectly acceptable size, and super delicious and ready in minutes.
Find more recipes using pancake mix here!
More Funnel Cake Recipes:
More Fried Dough options:
I even made smaller funnel cakes and topped them with ice cream, chocolate syrup, and strawberries. Oh yes, there was no holding back on these. Since they are made out of pancake mix, they are perfect for breakfast, don’t you agree?
Perfect Funnel Cake at Home
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pancake Mix I used Krusteaz
- 1 cup water
- 3-4 cups oil I used vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix equal parts pancake mix and water.
- Make sure there are no lumps, whisking it I find works well.
- Place mix into a plastic squeeze bottle.
- Cut the tip-off of the bottle so that a smooth and steady stream of the mix can easily come out.
- Heat cast-iron skillet filled with about 2 inches of oil until it reaches 350 degrees. I use a thermometer, that way I can keep an eye on the temperature of the oil as often as I’d like.
- Squirt the pancake mix into the hot oil.
- Cook until golden on each side.
- Drain on paper towel.
- Dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
What do you do with the oil when you’re done frying? Good question. You can reuse it; here is a good post on reusing and storing oil.
If you are looking for another fun treat try:
I can’t believe how simple this is, I just love how easy it is and so delicious, tastes better than any fair. I can’t wait to mkae them again this weekend for my family.
I just love how simple this is, I’ve made it the last two weekends when we had company. Everyone loved it, and I made them small for the kids and they were perfect!
This gets an A+ it’s quick and easy and saved me a ton of money, I love fair foods, they are so fun but without the expense of going anywhere we sat in the back yard and the kids were shocked I made it!
Why am I just seeing this, I had no idea it could be so simple and so delicious and ready in literally minutes! I love funnel cake and really like that I can my a nice treat whenever I want. My family just love them!
OMG where has this funnel cake recipe been all my life!!! I loved the flavor and it was nice and easy to make, I’ll be making them again this weekend.
Thank you for this recipe, I just love funnel cake and now that I can make it at home my family is so excited to have it a little more often and way easier than going to the county fair which has gotten so expensive. Thanks
This is so great, I made it for Mother’s day and everyone just loved it, so simple and I love that it uses pancake mix, it could not have been more simple! I love all your recipes Diane!
OMG, I’m so glad I found this recipe and made it, now I can have funnel cake ready in minutes. Thanks
I just love funnel cake and love that I can make in in mintues with this easy recipe.
Oh I just love funnel cake and make this every time my sister visits.
I don’t like crowds and love funnel cake, so glad I don’t ahve to go anywhere to enjoy funnel cake now.Thanks for sharing this recipe!!!
My kids were in a Show Choir and to make money for bc their trips we we have a funnel cake stand at various summer fun events. I would suggest making the hole bigger on the bottle top. You can also use a funnel, but you have to have someone pouring the mix into the funnel when it gets low, but you put your finger at the bottom of the funnel to stop the mix coming out. Same thing for the funnel cake fries. You can add a teaspoon or a little more for a better flavor!
What do you do with the leftover oil?
You can reuse it or discard it properly. Here is an article or storing to reuse oil you might like https://food52.com/blog/15155-how-many-times-can-you-reuse-your-frying-oil
It’s very delightful to watch your recipes, good blogging, keep doing the great work!
Craving. BAD. Thanks for sharing how to do this on my own, in my home and allow me to eat them to my hearts content. Wait, maybe that’s bad? 🙂
Yes, I’m sure eating them all the time would be. But I’m sure there is a good time for them once in a while 🙂