Scary Good Carnival Foods You Can Make at Home

The best part of every fair is the indulgent carnival foods that come with it. From deep fried Oreos to candy apples, funnel cakes, and more! Bring the carnival home with these easy recipes. 

Clowns, colourful balloons, and carnival games, oh my! Bring the festivities to your own backyard with these 5 scary good carnival food recipes that will have you singing.

Deep Fried Oreos

For deep-fried sweets such as Oreos and candy bars, prepare a boxed pancake batter according to package instructions. Dip in your favourite cookies and fun-sized candy bars until evenly coated. Heat 3-inches of neutral oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 375°F. Fry battered treats until puffed and golden brown, flipping to cook on both sides, about 2 minutes. Drain on a cooling rack set above a sheet tray until slightly cooled, then dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Corn Dogs

Prep a simple tempura batter and pour into a tall cup. Insert wooden skewers into hot dogs and lightly coat the dogs with all-purpose flour. Dip the skewered and floured hot dogs into the batter and gently rotate until completely covered. Fry coated hot dogs until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes). Remember to flip the dogs to ensure an even golden crust. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and serve with your favourite condiments.

Kettle Corn

For a quick take on this carnival favourite, heat ¼ cup vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, stir in ½ cup corn kernels, ⅓ cup sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Cover, and cook until popping becomes intermittent, 2-3 minutes. Shake pan every once in awhile to make sure sugar doesn’t stick. Pour onto a lined baking sheet in a single layer, and let it cool completely.

Candy Apples

This recipe actually couldn’t be simpler if we tried. Just melt down store-bought caramels with a small splash of whipping cream. Then, dunk your apple-of-choice and coat it! Place on a lined baking sheet until set.

Funnel Cake

Holy YUM. For this carnival foods copycat, beat two eggs in a large bowl, and then add 1 cup milk, 1 cup water and 1/2 tsp vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt. Combine with egg mixture, and beat until smooth. In an heavy bottomed pot or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°F. Cover the bottom of a funnel spout with your finger; ladle 1/2 cup batter into the funnel. Holding the funnel several inches above the oil, release your finger and move the funnel in a spiral motion until all the batter is released, scraping with a rubber spatula if needed. Fry 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar, serve warm!

Now, why not wash these sweets down with some Homemade Apple Cider!