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:
Never heard of funnel cake… but they sound and look a bit like the churros I used to enjoy dipping into thick hot chocolate when I lived in Spain! Only skinnier and swirlier! Fiesta food!!!!!
It is fried dough, but churros are chewier and crispier. Funnel cake is softer and has a donut quality to it.
oh goodness, never thought about making homemade funnel cake!
I haven’t had a funnel cake in years – yum!!!
LOL! Oh no you didn’t?!! What a great way to make funnel cake – and super easy!
Oh my your fully loaded ice cream and chocolate sauce funnel cake looks amazing as does that cookiewich!
So cool! I’ve always wanted to make funnel cake. Totally trying this!
My kids love funnel cake! Would have never thought to try it at home 🙂
oh my kids LOVE this
*own
I was late to a strawberry festival up here and “ran” to get a funnel cake, but they were closing up:( Needless to say, I have still never had one. Now, I can make my ow:) Thanks, Diane!
Holy funnel cake!! We’re huge fans, this recipes turns out perfect.
I LOVE funnel cakes! My favorite fair food for sure. And Knott’s is so fun–that amusement park food looks seriously gourmet! Definitely beats the usual hot dogs and chicken strips fare everywhere else. And I am DYING over that adorable cake stand! Want!
When i think of funnel cakes, I think of county fairs and a local farm that I used to take my kids to where they sold funnel cakes. What fun!
I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever had funnel cakes. But leave it to you to make a homemade version!
I just vacationed at the Jersey Shore and I could not stay away from The Funnel Cakes………Love these images.
yes they are hard to stay away from. Did you know I’m from Jersey. Just saw your post about your trip 🙂 not far at all from where I’m from 🙂
I didn’t realize you could use pancake batter for funnel cakes! Genius! You are too cute Diane, I can’t wait to come visit you later this year! 🙂
You are seriously going to make me fatter!!! I love your posts. My family we.t to Knotts the year Disneyland opened. Somewhere there’s a blk & white pic of me on this cool ride motored by a donkeys!
Oh my heck Jani, you seriously crack me up! Love ya! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever had a funnel cake. That needs to change!
WHAT FUN!!! My kids would go crazy if I made these.
Oh this time of year, I love it! Can’t wait, our county fair starts in a couple weeks!
Oh my goodness…. I probably didn’t need to see how easy that is to make, Diane!
I remember going to Knott’s Berry Farm WAYYYY back in the stone ages… umm, early 80’s. Camp Snoopy was a blast for young and old alike! The food has DEFINITELY upscaled since then. WOW, that’s some good lookin’ grub! 🙂
I love funnel cakes!! My mom used to do this for us as a treat. Takes me way back!
OH MY GOODNESS! OH MY GOODNESS! Stop the madness! This brings me back to my childhood… when we’d go to the fair and get funnel cake. Love this Diane!
Oh boy, this looks amazing!! And I love Knott’s!! So happy you shared those photos on instagram. I haven’t been since I was a kid visiting my grandparents in SoCal.
I try to stay away from fairs, but I do love the food. I’m so glad I found this. I made it yesterday and the whole family htinks it should be a monthly dessert for us!