State fair classics: Recipes that bring the fair to your kitchen

Corn Dogs on a Stick

by Cherie Szilvagyi from Deckerville, MI

Nowadays, corn dogs are easily bought at the grocery store and are something you can make in the microwave. But, they don’t compare to the ones we could get at fairs and carnivals.

This corn dog on a stick recipe is the old-fashioned way to make a corn dog. One bite and you’ll be transported back in time. The cornbread coating is almost sweet next to the salty hot dog and fries to golden perfection. Drizzle with mustard or ketchup for a country fair classic. Here’s the recipe.

Susie’s Pretzel Dogs

by Sue Lally from Vacaville, CA

These are going to be a huge hit in your household. The bread is hard and salty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside – the perfect baked pretzel dog.

If you’ve had pretzels from those places in the mall, these are just as good (maybe better!) at a fraction of the cost. Fun for kids and adults! Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like mustard, honey mustard or cheese dip. Yum! Get the recipe here.

German Soft Pretzels

by Cherie Szilvagyi from Deckerville, MI

If you love to purchase pretzels at the mall or airport, these are super easy to make at home and just as good. They’re slightly crisp outside, while the inside is soft and billowy.

Dusted with salt enhances the flavor of these pretzels. We dipped them in mustard, but a cheese sauce would also be delish. Don’t worry if the dough appears dry when it’s mixed. After it’s kneaded, the dough comes together. Make sure to eat these pretzels while they’re fresh and warm. Here’s the recipe.

Funnel Cakes

by Chris Elizondo from Chicago, IL

If the first thing you do when you visit a fair is get a warm, crispy funnel cake, then this recipe is for you. Chris’s funnel cake recipe lets you make them at home! We did have to add a little more milk to get the proper consistency, but they still turned out great.

It was fun to play around and learn the technique of the swirl (each funnel cake will look different). We love all the toppings you can add. Tons of powdered sugar is the delicious classic. This time we added chocolate sauce, strawberries, and whipped cream. Next time, we may do caramel sauce and chopped peanut butter cups. The toppings are endless! Click here for the recipe.

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