Red Velvet Funnel Cakes: Classic funnel cakes get a fun red velvet twist!
It’s snowing! It has been a long time since I felt the excitement associated with winter. Last winter in Chicago was rough to say the least. There were moments when I wanted to pack up and leave immediately. This year, I realized that I needed to approach winter with a childlike joy and bewilderment that I experienced when I was younger. In some strange way, that approach led me to making these red velvet funnel cakes.
When I was younger, I would stare out of my window for hours watching the delicate snow fall around me. It was magical. I remembered how much it reminded me of sifting powdered sugar when I played in the kitchen with my mother. I wanted to duplicate that enjoyment.
I know funnel cakes are a bit bizarre to blog about during this time of year, but why not? What’s wrong with frying some dough and eating it? Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a summer treat. I gave it a holiday twist so it would not seem too out of place in your home. I simply added some cocoa powder and red food coloring to this funnel cake recipe (and I even replaced the milk with eggnog for more of a holiday feel), and the rest as they say is history.
These were so much fun to fry up. I loved how much the color popped! It actually inspired me to be a bit more unconventional in my blog offerings. I like to do what is unexpected whenever I can. And of course my favorite part was getting my snow on with the powdered sugar. Let’s just say it brought out the kid in me.
Red Velvet Funnel Cakes
Ingredients
- 4 cups vegetable or canola oil for frying
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk or eggnog for something more festive!
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Confectioner's sugar for serving or other toppings
- Red food coloring for color desired
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pot to about 375 degrees.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl until combined.
- Next whisk in wet ingredients: milk, eggs and vanilla extract until the batter is nice and smooth. Add red food coloring as well and whisk until it is the color you want it to be.
- Add batter to a funnel, squeeze bottle or even a cake decorating piping bag with a round tip.
- Once oil is nice and hot, swirl batter in a spirally shape (have fun with this part) into the oil and fry. Turn over once the first side is nice and golden brown.
- Once both sides are golden brown, remove from oil and place on paper towels to drain. These babies fry fast!
- Immediately cover with confectioner's sugar or other toppings and serve while hot. If you are frying a lot, feel free to keep these warm in the oven until you are ready to serve.
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WOW. So fun. I totally agree – no need to wait until summer for fried dough!
What a fun time right Andrea!!??
What a fun twist on red velvet!!
Good thing I was already sitting down when I saw this… because I nearly fainted. This is epic!!! Red velvet funnel cakes!!! Give me!!!!!
These look so yummy!! Love the powdered sugar like snow! So fun! …and you are so cute reliving old memorizes about the snow! I used to (and still do!!) love how snow lights everything up… even when it’s dark and late! 🙂
Awww thank you so much Cailee! The memories make it more tolerable now!