The Florida State Fair will be frying up a new version of a classic carnival favorite.
The Banana Frenkel Funnel Cake transforms the fried dessert with bananas and other sweet toppings. It’s making a debut at this year’s festival along withother quirky fair foods, including chicken and waffle pizza, deep-fried strawberry shortcake and the surf n turf sundae — cheese, sour cream, bacon, steak and shrimp on French fries.
The fair will bring live entertainment, rides and more to the Florida State Fairgrounds at 4802 U.S. 301 N. in Tampa from Feb. 8-19.
With help from the recipe below, you can make this funnel cake for yourself at home. The recipe was provided to the Orlando Sentinel from the The Florida State Fair. The funnel cake instructions are based on guidance from Paula Deen, while Mama Jane with The Best Around Concessions provided the rest.
An electric skillet and a 9-inch funnel cake ring are recommended for this recipe. A large, deep cast-iron skillet may be used in place of the electric skillet.
For the funnel cake:
- 2 cups milk
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 stick melted butter
- 4 cups soy or vegetable oil
For the banana frenkel
- 3 large bananas
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- Powdered sugar, to taste
- Chocolate or caramel sauce
For the custard
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 egg
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
How to make it:
For the funnel cake:
1. Mix together the milk, egg and vanilla. Next add the sugar, baking soda, salt and 1/2 the flour. After mixing well, add the melted butter, and the remainder of the flour.
For the banana frenkel:
1. In a medium bowl, mash bananas. Add cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well. Combine banana mixture to basic funnel mix.
2. Heat oil to 375 degrees. Add metal ring to hot oil. Pour 1/2 cup of mix in funnel, while keeping your finger over the bottom of the funnel (or a squeeze bottle). While constantly moving the funnel, release the batter. When funnel is empty, return the funnel to batter bowl.
3. When funnel cake starts browning, remove the hot ring, setting aside to cool. Flip to the other side (approximately 45 seconds) once the second side is brown, remove from the oil with tongs, and put on serving plate.
4. Using a sifter, dust top of funnel cake with powder sugar, then add 3 ounces of custard (see recipe below) . Slice remaining banana and top frenkel with slice, Drizzle frenkel with caramel or chocolate sauce. For custard, you can buy some at your local store, or use this recipe.
For the custard:
1. Mix together flour, sugar and corn starch. Then add egg yolks and the egg. Mix well, then add the 2 cups cold milk. Whisk together and constantly stirring the milk mixture, heat on stove top using low heat.
2. Once mix has gotten to desired thickness, remove from heat, and whisk in the vanilla. Let cool completely.