Quick and Easy Corn Dogs

Flavorful, crispy, and easy to make, these corn dogs are a famous state fair food made by coating franks with corn batter to satisfy your midday hunger. They are Southern comfort food that brings back memories of your childhood state fairs.

Makes 10 | Prep. time 20 minutes | Cooking time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 10 beef franks
• 10 (8-inch-long) skewers
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ¾ tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1-quart canola oil, for frying

Directions

1. Heat oil on medium heat to 350°F (177°C).
2. Insert the skewers into the beef franks. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and egg. Add the buttermilk and whisk until a smooth batter forms.
4. Transfer the batter to a deep quart-sized glass casserole. Dip the beef franks in the batter.
5. Place the beef franks in the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
6. Transfer the fried corn dogs to a wire rack to drain off the excess oil.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 460, fat 19 g, carbs 56 g, sugar 5.7 g, Protein 17 g, sodium 973 mg

 

 

Stuffed Meatball Skewers

Meatballs are a favorite food at fairs. This recipe has meatballs stuffed with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.

Makes 12 | Prep. time 10 minutes | Cooking time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds ground pork or a mix of ground beef and pork
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• ⅓ cup diced onions
• ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced
• 1 teaspoon Allspice powder
• 1 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¾ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• Shredded mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese, as needed
• Olive oil, for cooking
• Wooden skewers
• Marinara sauce for serving

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground meat, egg, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, Allspice, oregano, pepper, and salt. Mix to combine.
3. Using your hands or a small scoop, make 1-1 ½-inch meatballs. With your thumb, create a hole in the middle, add some shredded cheese, and reshape the meatball by covering the cheese completely.
4. Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Fry the meatballs for 2-3 minutes on all sides or until well browned.
6. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked through. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
7. Warm the marinara sauce on the stovetop or in the microwave until just warm.
8. Insert a skewer into 2-3 meatballs and continue until all the meatballs are used.
9. Serve with warm marinara sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 31, fat 1.5 g, carbs 1.6 g, sugar 0.8 g, Protein 3.4 g, sodium 108

 

Deep-Fried Snickers Chocolate Bar

You can’t go to a fair without getting offered fried chocolate bars. Snickers chocolate bars are one of the best you can try. They are easy to make at home for the delight of kids of all ages.

Serves 4 | Prep. time 10 minutes | Cooking time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• ½ cup water
• ⅔ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 Snickers bars
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. In a deep heavy-bottomed saucepan, add some frying oil to cover 2 to 3 inches at the bottom of the pan.
2. Warm the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350ºF (177ºC).
3. In a mixing bowl, combine egg, flour, baking powder, and water. Whisk until smooth and lump-free, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the chocolate bars, one at a time, and coat well. Transfer to the oil and fry for 1 minute, taking care of turning over after 30 seconds for an even golden-brown coloring.
5. Repeat for the remaining Snickers bars.
6. Dust with powdered sugar if desired and serve.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 903, fat 55 g, carbs 90 g, sugar 58 g, Protein 7 g, sodium 263 mg

 

 

Whoopie Pies

A long-time favorite at fairs, whoopie pies are a classic combination of cream and soft cookies together, made like a sandwich. You can also use marshmallow fluff to create the cream mixture.

Serves 16 | Prep. time 2 hours | Cooking time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Cookies

• ⅓ cup canola oil
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ cups whole-wheat pastry flour
• ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup milk

Filling

• ½ cup cold water
• 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup whipping cream
• ⅔ cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
2. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla with an electric mixer.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients along with the milk. Mix until smooth.
6. Set the batter aside for 15 minutes.
7. Drop the batter onto the baking sheets in 2–3-inch circles. Bake for about 10 minutes until firm.
8. To prepare the filling, stir the water and gelatin together in a bowl. Let stand for 1 minute, then microwave for 20–30 seconds. Let cool for 10 minutes.
9. In another bowl, mix the cream, yogurt, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add the gelatin mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
10. To assemble the whoopie pies, apply the cream mixture on the back side of a cookie and top with another cookie. Repeat for all the baked cookies.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 204, fat 27 g, carbs 24 g, sugar 14.6 g, Protein 3.4 g, sodium 145.2 mg

 

 

Piña Colada Pops

Another classic refreshment for your party backyard! This recipe is alcohol-free, but you can add a splash of coconut rum if you like. Just don’t go overboard, and allow a little more time for freezing.

Serves 4 | Prep. time 5 minutes | Chill time 6 hours

Ingredients

• 1½ cups frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 cup coconut milk
• ½ cup pineapple juice

Directions

1. In a food processor or blender, combine the ingredients until smooth.
2. Spoon the mixture into molds, and add the sticks or tops.
3. Freeze for 6 hours, and enjoy.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 68, fat 1.3 g, carbs 13.2 g, sugar 10 g, Protein 0.3 g, sodium 7.7 mg

 

 

 

***These recipes and more can be found in Louise Davidson’s Fair Food Cookbook: Iconic Food Recipes from America’s County and State Fairs. To get your own copy, click on the cover below or click here.

To download a copy of the featured recipes, click here.