by Tracy Bishop

Created on: February 23, 2008   Last Updated: December 01, 2011

Do you enjoy those wonderful funnel cakes coated with powdered sugar? Have you ever thought about how this luscious treat came into being? Funnel cakes were started in the Pennsylvania Dutch region, with the people calling it drechter kuch, and at this time were mid-morning snacks. The original creators of funnel cakes lived mostly in the western Pennsylvania and Ohio areas. At this time they were reserved for harvest festivals or German holidays most of the time. Restaurant diners in the Pennsylvania Dutch region got funnel cakes for dessert usually. These sweet treats became even more popular as word reached bigger Midwestern cities.

The creation of funnel cakes is mostly placed in the time frame of the twentieth century. Recipes for funnel cakes are much older though. One of the oldest authentic recipes for a food like what we call funnel cakes is German and is dated back to 1879. The oldest recipe in an English language cookbook, referred to as funnel cakes, turned up in 1935.

Funnel cakes have had other names throughout the years. In the Finnish areas funnel cakes are eaten at May Day celebrations and called tippaleipa. The Spanish used to call them churros, which were eaten at breakfast time with coffee to drink. People from Austria called funnel cakes Strauben. Indians made a food called jalebi, which is similar to what we call funnel cakes.

Funnel cakes got their name because of the way they were made by the Pennsylvania Dutch. Batter for funnel cakes is poured through a funnel. Then the batter goes through the funnel into hot oil in a circular pattern and is deep-fried. The result is spirals of dough that should be crisp and golden brown. When the cake is brown on one side it is flipped to the other to cook. When finished cooking funnel cakes need to be drained on paper. Of course funnel cakes are eaten when hot. Many times they are topped with sugar, maple syrup, or jam. Fruit toppings can also be added to top off funnel cakes.

These confections are quite popular at fairs, ballparks, and festivals and have been through the years. Funnel cakes can be prepared at home and fried in fat, but mostly are found at carnivals and such. Elephant ears and fried dough are similar to funnel cakes, but are made with yeast dough. Funnel cakes are made with unleavened butter and are bought at carnivals to the delight of Americans through the years.

Funnel cakes originated more than 200 years ago. At that time they were eaten at home or during social events. Funnel

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