If you love Funnel Cake, you have to make this Easy Funnel Cake recipe! Made with only 3 ingredients, this is the best recipe ever. Top the fried deliciousness with powdered sugar, whipped cream, or make it a truly decadent treat with vanilla ice cream.
3 Ingredient Funnel Cake with Pancake Mix
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❤️ Why you’ll love it
This classic carnival treat is easy to make and ready in just minutes. Plus, you can top it with your favorite toppings for a truly indulgent dessert.
- Enjoy your favorite treat all year long
- It’s made with pancake mix.
- It’s only 3 ingredients, not including the oil for deep frying.
🥘 Equipment
- Deep pot or Dutch oven
- Measuring cups
- teaspoons and tablespoons
- candy thermometer, optional if you want to make sure the oil comes to temperature
🧾 Ingredients
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
- Complete Pancake Mix
- Water
- Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil
- Powdered Sugar
🍳 How to Make
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
How to Make Funnel Cake Recipe With Pancake Mix
Combine the dry ingredient with the wet ingredients together in a large bowl, making sure there are no clumps.
Heat the oil. Drizzle the batter into the oil.
Once the first side is golden brown, flip and cook the other side until golden.
Once cooked, move the funnel cake on a paper towel placed on a baking sheet or cooling rack to soak up the excess oil.
Hint: To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a tiny piece of the batter into the oil. If it sizzles and cooks quickly, your oil is ready to go.
🎥 Video
🥄 Variations
- This recipe is super customizable. Here are a few delicious variations to try:
- Add cinnamon to the pancake funnel cake batter for an extra flavor kick
- Top with chocolate sauce or caramel sauce for an extra indulgent treat
- Mix in some chopped nuts or sprinkles into the batter before frying
- Don’t be afraid to play with the ingredients – if you want a chocolate funnel cake, try using some cocoa powder in the batter. Add strawberry powder, like the kind you use for strawberry milk, for a strawberry-flavored funnel cake.
- Instead of adding whipped cream or fresh fruit, top the 3 ingredient funnel cake with Serve topped with strawberry compote, crushed Oreos, marshmallows, or any other favorite topping.
- Want to add more protein? Or save a few calories? You can use a high-protein, low-calorie pancake mix, like Kodiak cakes. This type of mix tends to have less cholesterol and sodium and has more fiber and vitamins. There are ones that are lower in carbohydrates but I have not tried them personally.
- You can use gluten-free pancake mix to make this funnel cake with pancake mix.
🍽️ What to Serve With
- Funnel cake makes a great dessert for Broccoli Chicken Alfredo or Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls
- This is a great stand-alone snack but also pairs deliciously with coffee, tea, or homemade hot chocolate
🍶 Storing
While this 3 ingredient funnel cake recipe is best served warm, straight from the fryer, you can store leftovers for later.
Refrigerator Storage: You do not need to refrigerate your funnel cake. Leftovers can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days
Freezer Storage: You can freeze leftover funnel cakes tightly covered with plastic wrap or foil, and place it in a re-sealable freezer bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating and eating. Funnel cakes can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Reheat in the oven or toaster oven at 350 degrees F until heated through, about 5 minutes.
💭Tip for Making the Perfect
- Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of this recipe:
- Do not over-mix the batter. The consistency should be thick, but pourable. Over-mixing will result in dense and rubbery funnel cakes.
- Make sure your oil is hot enough before adding the funnel cake batter. If the batter is not hot enough, the funnel cake will soak up too much oil.
- Be careful with the oil. It can be dangerous if it gets too hot or is handled improperly.
- Don’t overcrowd the pot when deep frying. Overcrowding will result in unevenly cooked funnel cakes.
- Make sure to check for doneness before removing from the oil.
- It’s also important to drain excess oil off after deep frying.
❔FAQs
When you are wondering how to make funnel cake, you might think you need a bunch of fancy ingredients. Typically funnel cake batter is made using egg, flour, and baking powder as well as other simple ingredients, however, this funnel easy funnel cake recipe, it is made using pancake mix. The funnel cake from pancake mix means you only need 3 ingredients and the oil to fry it in. Then you can have carnival pancake funnel cake anytime you want.
You do want to fry it to have the best funnel cakes at home. While many people think you have to deep fry the funnel cake, and this is the easiest way to fry it, you can pan-fry it as well. Use a deep frying pan if you are not using a deep fryer.
You can make this funnel cake in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Be sure to check on it often so it does not burn.
Yes, you can definitely use Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix to make funnel cake. The steps and ingredients are the same as this 3 ingredient funnel cake made with pancake mix recipe. Simply combine the Bisquick with water, blend together until combined, then deep fry in hot oil as instructed above.
📖More Recipes
Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.
If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Easy Funnel Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup Complete Pancake Mix
- 3/4 cups water
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Oil for frying
- Powdered Sugar for sprinkling
Directions
- Mix your dry ingredients together complete pancake mix and sugar, with the wet ingredients, the water, and vanilla all together into a large bowl.
- Mix well and until batter is nice and smooth with no clumps.
- Heat the oil until it is hot enough to fry the funnel cake.
- Add the batter into a funnel and move batter to a squeeze bottle or bag to pour into hot oil. Be very careful when pouring the batter so it does not cause the oil to splash.
- Fry until golden brown and then flip. (About a minute or so on each side. A bit longer if making larger ones).
- Once cooked, move the funnel cake on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
- Plate, sprinkle with confectioners sugar and enjoy!
Nutrition
Glenda
I love them, but had never tried to make them until I saw your post. The recipe is simple and it was actually pretty fun making the designs. lol Not to mention they were absolutely scrumptious!
Debi
Careful, it’s addicting.
Kari L Candland
Would you consider a “complete pancake mix” one that you just have to add water?
Our Wabi Sabi Life Staff
Yes, many of them just require water. Thanks for your question.