Funnel cakes originated in Germany in the 1870s and became popular in Pennsylvania. They are made by pouring batter into hot oil through a funnel until cooked and golden brown, then topped with jam, powdered sugar or other sweets. While their origins are German, funnel cakes today are a classic fair food sold at carnivals, ballparks and festivals across America throughout the summer.
1. Funnel cakes are easily one of America's favorite
sweet treats! From ballparks and fairs to carnivals and
festivals, it's difficult to imagine a summer without
getting one of these fun fried cakes. Most often, funnel
cakes are made by pouring batter into hot oil through a
funnel. The batter is deep fried until it is crunchy and
golden brown and then it is covered in jam, powdered
sugar or another sweet topping.
diaper cakes
2. It is thought funnel cakes were first introduced to America by
German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania, and later became
known as the Pennsylvania Dutch These fried dough were mostly
served during harvest festivals and holidays They are thought to
derive from an "oliebol", which is a traditional Dutch food that is
similar to a donut The name literally translates to "oil ball" because
the circular dough was dunked it hot oil until it turned into a
sumptuous golden delicacy
3. The original recipe for funnel cakes dates back to the 1870s in
Germany, but the first recorded recipe is thought to be in an English
cookbook in 1935 It calls for one pint of sweet milk, two well-beaten
eggs, enough flour to make a thin batter, one-quarter teaspoon of
salt and one-half teaspoon of baking powder The recipe instructs
the ingredients be mixed together and poured in a pan through a
funnel The cook should turn the stream around until circles form, fry
until golden brown and serve with jelly
4. People around the world have different traditions and names for
similar fried cakes In Finland, they are called tippaleipa and eaten
on May Day In Spain, churros are typically eaten with coffee for
breakfast Austrians call the fried cake a strauben and Indians call it
jalebi
5. It remains a popular treat for the Amish because it can be made
without electricity Recently, funnel cake concession trailers have
been used as fundraisers or to earn extra income If you are
interested in opening your own concession business, there are a few
things you need to keep in mind
6. Start by researching your area You will need commercial flyers,
fryers, concession equipment and supplies as well as permits
Determine the supplies that you will need and research how much
the items will cost
7. Do not skimp on the funnel cake equipment! It is important to
purchase high quality equipment or it can start to break down and
your customers will find someone else who bought reliable
equipment for their funnel cakes Many concession equipment
retailers offer mobile concession stands Consider investing in this
kind of stand, as you will be able to move it from fair to fair
throughout the summer
8. Make reservations for fairs and other events as soon diaper cakes
as possible! You want to land the prime selling spot to make the
most profits After you have all of the equipment and necessary
permits, you can start frying up funnel cakes! Have fun when starting
a new business! Remember you are providing a fair favorite for
families to enjoy together, so don't forget to enjoy the experience
