The Best Carnival Style Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe | Hybrid Rasta Mama (2024)

By Jennifer Updated: . First published: . This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

I don’t know about you but I have three very specific foods that remind me of being a carefree little kid during summer break. While not the healthiest foods out there (and certainly not ones I would regularly eat today) they were kind of the iconic foods of summer for a kid. Can you guess what those are?

Sno Cones

Watermelon

And… drumroll please…

Carnival Funnel Cake!

The Best Carnival Style Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe | Hybrid Rasta Mama (1)

My gosh how I would go absolutely bananas for funnel cake. I lived in a rather small town and when that County Fair rolled in I could smell the funnel cake from a mile away. It would drive my wild during that two week period of time because I wanted ALL THE FUNNEL CAKE I could get my hands on.

There was something so fun and tasty about those powdered sugared covered funnel cakes. You would take that first warm bite, powder sugar would fly everywhere, and you would look up with the biggest smile on your face, hoping everyone around you could FEEL that satisfaction you had simply from one bite of that fried doughy goodness.

With the exception of my funnel cake pancakes, I hadn’t given much thought to funnel cake in recent years. Being gluten free it simply wasn’t an option. I don’t really frequent places that sell funnel cake regularly, so the smell wasn’t there to lure me in. Plus the sugar…I just don’t enjoy sugar like I did years and years ago.

And then one day… I really NEEDED funnel cake!

Like really, really, really needed funnel cake. It was just one of those things and so I decided I might as well just roll with it and create what I hoped would be the best carnival style gluten free funnel cake recipe on the internet.

It took a few tries but I finally figured out how to get that doughy soft inside texture that makes funnel cake, well, funnel cake. Regular gluten free flours weren’t cutting it. Too dry. Nut flours and coconut flour were a no-go too. Too mealy. But cassava flour???? PERFECTION!

The best carnival style gluten free funnel cake was born!

The Best Carnival Style Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe | Hybrid Rasta Mama (2)

So let’s go get you the recipe that rocked my world! It’s an easy funnel cake recipe and it is even a bit lower in sugar than most other recipes out there. Win win!

The Best Carnival Style Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe | Hybrid Rasta Mama (3)

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

The classic funnel cake – warm, slightly chewy with that crispy fried outside. Dusted in powdered sugar that would fly off in every direction as you took that first warm bite. Fair food at it’s finest. What if I told you that you could create that same funnel cake in your own kitchen using healthier (but just as tasty) ingredients? You can! This funnel cake recipe is gluten free and lower sugar too.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Mix all of the ingredients (NOT the oil) together in a bowl
  2. In a large frying pan, heat the coconut oil over medium-high. You will want to use enough oil that it comes about halfway up the sides of the frying pan
  3. Place the batter into a gallon size plastic bag
  4. Roll the bag at an angle so it takes on the shape of a piping bag – you are of course welcome to use an actual piping bag
  5. Pipe the batter into the oil in your desired design
  6. Fry until golden brown on each side (this takes me about 3 minutes of so per side)
  7. Remove from the oil and dust with your favorite toppings (see notes)

Notes

My favorite topping combinations (as seen in the photos) are:

  • Fresh sliced peaches with whipped cream (a dash of cinnamon on top is excellent as well)
  • A honey drizzle topped with slices strawberries and whipped cream
  • Mixed berries with a dollop of whipped cream

Other gluten free funnel cake topping ideas are:

  • A dusting of powered sugar (classic gluten free funnel cake!)
  • Cinnamon sugar
  • Chocolate drizzle
  • Caramel drizzle
  • Sliced bananas with honey walnuts
  • Chocolate chips
  • Yogurt chips
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12Serving Size: 1 piece
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 202Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 223mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered from Nutritionix. Nutrition information can vary for a recipe based on many factors. We strive to keep the information as accurate as possible, but make no warranties regarding its accuracy. We encourage readers to make their own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Do you have any favorite memories of funnel cake? Do share!

If you liked my gluten free funnel cake recipe be sure to check out my:

  • Funfetti Cupcake recipe
  • Quinoa Chocolate Cake recipe
  • Bean Pie recipe

The Best Carnival Style Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe | Hybrid Rasta Mama (4)

The Best Carnival Style Gluten Free Funnel Cake Recipe | Hybrid Rasta Mama (2024)

FAQs

Why is my funnel cake not crispy? ›

It's important to keep to a frying temperature of around 375 degrees. Any higher than that, and your funnel cakes will brown before cooking through. At too low a temperature, the batter will absorb excess oil, resulting in a greasy, limp funnel cake.

What is funnel cake dough made of? ›

Traditional recipes call for a fairly standard batter: flour, eggs, sugar, milk, baking soda or baking powder, but I discovered that you can make awesome funnel cakes with "complete" buttermilk pancake mix (look for brands that only require the addition of water).

How many funnel cakes will a 5lb bag of mix make? ›

So a 5 lb bag would make about 30 funnel cakes." Hope this helps! :) Thank you for your feedback!

Why is my funnel cake batter falling apart? ›

The most common reason your funnel cake is falling apart is your oil is too hot. This will cause the funnel cake batter to break apart when you pour it into the pan. Another reason your funnel cake may fall apart is your batter is too thick.

What is the best oil for frying funnel cakes? ›

— Use a neutral oil for frying these funnel cakes—vegetable oil is a classic pick for us, and what we use here. — Achieve a thin pour by transferring your batter to a piping bag before frying. If you don't have a piping bag, no problem! You can cut a corner of a ziploc bag and use that instead.

Is funnel cake batter the same as pancake batter? ›

Funnel cake mix is basically the same as pancake mix. So, yes — you can absolutely make funnel cakes using pancake mix. To make funnel cake batter, it's as simple as mixing milk, egg, vanilla extract, plain flour, sugar and baking powder (and some cinnamon if you fancy), and pouring it through a funnel into hot oil.

Why does my funnel cake taste like flour? ›

I suspect the reason you notice a decidedly flour-y taste is because you aren't adding salt, or not using enough salt. Yes, even sweet baked goods need salt! Another thing you can use to counteract the raw, flour taste is to add flavorings to the batter or dough.

What toppings go on funnel cakes? ›

Red Velvet Funnel Cakes

Mix with water and then use the batter as normal in the fryer. (Note that if the batter is overcooked, it turns dark red. You want it to stay bright red.) After it briefly cools, you can top with powdered sugar, cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.

Why is it called funnel cake? ›

(The first ever recipe resembling a funnel cake showed up in a German cookbook in 1879.) The name “funnel cake” was derived from the method of squeezing batter through a funnel in a circular pattern into hot oil to achieve a dizzying pattern of crispy-fried dough.

What is a fun fact about funnel cake? ›

In the US, funnel cakes were originally associated with Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is one of the first North American fried foods, which is associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch and German immigrants who came to Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries.

What is Disney funnel cake? ›

Dining located in World Showcase at EPCOT. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a classic funnel cake or cookies 'n cream funnel cake—topped with your choice of powdered sugar, chocolate syrup, vanilla ice cream and other tasty options. You can even bring the delightful experience home with a funnel cake gift kit!

What culture is funnel cake? ›

Funnel cake traces its origins to the Pennsylvania Germans. However, similar dishes date back centuries in the Middle East and Europe and today include Striebele in Germany and tippaleipa in Finland.

How do you pour funnel cake mix? ›

Heat 2-3″ of oil over medium-low until it reaches the proper temperature, then slowly drizzle a thin stream of batter in a zig-zag pattern into the hot oil. Fry on each side until golden brown, then remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Dust your funnel cake with powdered sugar and enjoy!

How to make water for swimming pool cake? ›

To make the 'water' I made up some gelatine and let it cool before I spooned it into the pool. What I hadn't banked on was that the tiles I had stuck in the bottom of the cake would bubble up and kind of soften and start to dissolve.

Do you put water in cake mix? ›

Boxed cakes often call for water, but swapping it out for equal amounts of milk, coffee, or even soda will give you a moister, more tender, and flavorful cake. For white cake mix, you can use whole milk or your favorite non-dairy milk.

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