Canada's Wonderland's Funnel Cake

30 mins Prep Time

10 mins Cook Time

Written By

Robin Winship

Nothing screams summer like a funnel cake from Toronto's favourite amusement park -- Canada's Wonderland. As a lot of things about our day-to-day lives remains up in the air, we can only hope for some semblance of a normal summer -- a season we all certainly cherish.

As we all wait patiently in quarantine, bring a taste of summer to your home by making homemade funnel cakes; with the original recipe transcribed below. This crispy, yet light-as-air pancake dough is fried and then doused in a sweet strawberry sauce with a sprinkling of icing sugar and a generous serving of vanilla ice cream.

The strawberry glaze, strawberry extract, red food colouring and clear-gel cornstarch are all optional; you can substitute the gel-cornstarch with regular cornstarch.

Grab your ingredients, practice your at home deep-frying (it is easier than you might think) and enjoy this sweet treat from the comfort of your own home. You can even check out one of Canada's Wonderland's many virtual rides that are now available online -- no lines guaranteed!

If you give this recipe a shot, make sure to post up your creation on Instagram and tag @tastetoronto and @canadaswonderland!

Ingredients

Strawberry Sauce

250g frozen strawberries
1 L + 30 ml water
100g strawberry jam
200g sugar
50g strawberry glaze (optional)
2 tsp strawberry extract
2 tbsp red food colouring
56g modified corn starch (clear gel) – (if not available can be replaced with corn starch; adjust amount as per packaging instructions for 30 ml of water)

Funnel Cake

2 large eggs, room temperature
250 ml 2% milk
250 ml water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
400g all-purpose flour
52g sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Oil for deep frying (enough to cover funnel cake)
Icing sugar, for dusting
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

Strawberry Sauce

7 Steps

Step 1

In a heavy-bottomed pot, bring 1 litre of water to a boil.
Step 2

Add sugar, strawberry jam, strawberry glaze, red food colouring and bring to boil on medium heat.
Step 3

Mix modified corn starch (Clear Gel) – (if not available can be replaced with corn starch) and mix with 30 ml water.
Step 4

Pour modified corn starch mixture slowly into the boiling strawberry jam-strawberry glaze mixture while stirring.
Step 5

Make sure there are no lumps in it. Bring to boil, add strawberry extract and mix. Turn off the heat.
Step 6

Place frozen strawberries in a heat-proof container. Pour boiling mixture over the frozen strawberries and mix well.
Step 7

Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator until strawberries are thawed. Mix gently before you serve it with funnel cakes.

Funnel Cake

10 Steps

Step 1

In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together.
Step 2

In a separate bowl, mix eggs, milk, water and vanilla extract until well blended.
Step 3

Slowly combine flour mixture into egg mixture until well incorporated and there are no lumps. Do not over mix and make sure mixture is smooth.
Step 4

Pour mixture into a pitcher or squeeze bottle.
Step 5

In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 6

Test oil temperature by dropping a small spoonful of batter in oil. If it rises to surface quickly, oil is ready.
Step 7

Hold the jug or squeeze bottle with the funnel cake mixture 3-4 inches above the oil (you can wear an oven mitt for safety).
Step 8

Pour about 1 cup of the funnel cake mixture into the hot oil; pour in a spiral motion.
Step 9

With a slotted spoon carefully fry each side about 2 minutes until golden brown (be careful not to splash hot oil).
Step 10

Remove funnel cake and drain excess oil on paper towels.

Assembly

2 Steps

Step 1

Place warm funnel cake on a plate, pour about 2 spoons (or more as desired) of strawberry sauce over, sprinkle confectionery sugar and serve.
Step 2

If available, can be served with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients

Strawberry Sauce

250g frozen strawberries
1 L + 30 ml water
100g strawberry jam
200g sugar
50g strawberry glaze (optional)
2 tsp strawberry extract
2 tbsp red food colouring
56g modified corn starch (clear gel) – (if not available can be replaced with corn starch; adjust amount as per packaging instructions for 30 ml of water)