Funnel cake is often served at concession stands.
Common at festivals and fun parks, funnel cake is a fried pastry with Pennsylvanian Dutch roots. The fluid batter is poured through a specialized pitcher into hot oil. The swirling and crisscrossing technique gives the cake its shape. After it is golden brown on both sides and removed from the shallow fryer, toppings can be added. Combinations can include powdered sugar, berries, chocolate syrup and whipped cream, depending on the customer's preference. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Funnel Pitcher
The specialized pitcher used to make funnel cakes is a hybrid pitcher that has a funnel instead of a spout, making it easier to pour and swirl the batter into the mold. The funnel pitcher comes in a 1.5- to 2-quart size and is available in both aluminum and plastic. These pitchers are commonly used when making large quantities of the fried pastry, but a piping bag with a No. 12 tip could work for cooking small batches at home, according to Food Network's funnel cake recipe.
Fryer
Funnel cakes should be cooked at approximately 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, something that can be easily regulated with a commercial fryer. At concession stands, a FW-12 shallow fryer is often used, according to Funparks Directory. This industrial fryer can cook up to 60 eight-inch funnel cakes in one hour. Home frying can be done with a 6-inch cast-iron pan, according to the book "Mom's Best Recipes Vol. I" by Shirley McNevich. Fill the pan with 2 cups of vegetable oil and use a frying thermometer to help regulate the temperature.
Molds
A circular mold can help shape the loose funnel cake batter to a specific size and shape. The most common sizes are 6 and 8 inches. The tall aluminum ring sits on a short four-legged stand that has a handle for easy lifting. The mold is placed into the shallow fryer, and the funnel cake dough is squeezed into the predetermined shape. Once the funnel cake has cooked for about 30 seconds, the mold can be removed from the oil, allowing the cake to float free.
Skimmer
The skimmer is the tool used to lift the cooked funnel cake out of the oil. The instrument is usually fashioned out of a durable lightweight mesh wire and comes in both square and round shapes. Used for many deep-fried concession foods, the skimmer's long handle allows the cooker to remove objects from a deep fryer while reducing the risk of being burned by the oil.
Tags: funnel cake, shallow fryer, concession stands, fried pastry, funnel cakes, removed from, specialized pitcher
