This Pumpkin Funnel Cake recipe makes the perfect dessert for the fall season!
Growing up, we used to frequent the restaurant Long John Silvers on occasion. I used to love going in and getting a token for the treasure box, running around with my cool pirate hat on, eating the hush puppies and…. I’ll admit it… eating the little “crispies” you’d find in the bottom of bag of battered fish. You know, the fried batter crispies? Those were the best.
I guess things haven’t changed much. It has been eons since I’ve been to a Long John Silvers, but I still remember those tasty little fried crispies like it was yesterday. Mmmmmmm.
Who doesn’t love fried batter? I’m sure there are some of you who might not particularly care for it but I would wager a guess that a lot of you like to indulge in a fried treat every now and then. Not often, but every once in awhile…
Speaking of fried goodies, I love funnel cakes. I don’t love funnel cakes for the bready, doughy, sugary goodness in the middle, but for the crispy sweet edges. Like my Long John Silver “crispies” I have a particular love for the crispy parts of funnel cakes.
I shared a funnel cake recipe a couple years ago on my blog. This time, I decided to use up some of the canned pumpkin I had left over from making a couple of bundt cakes and gave the funnel cakes a fall update. I decided to also turn these into mini, bite size pumpkin funnel cakes – or pumpkin funnel cake crispies, if you will. If you are willing to admit you are a fan of “crispies” then I promise you, you’ll love these treats.
I’m sharing this on the I’m Loving It Roundup on TidyMom.
Bite Size Pumpkin Funnel Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups milk
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla together and then add the milk slowly–beat. Add the canned pumpkin, continue to beat until ingredients are well blended.
- Add the dry ingredients and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Pour batter into a squeeze bottle or funnel
- When the oil becomes hot, squeeze the batter into the shape you want your mini cakes to be (I only do one at a time)
- Move the funnel around to make designs - if you are super creative you can write things, make special designs, etc.
- Brown on both sides...which for minis took about 30 seconds on each side. Remove from hot oil and drain on a dry paper towel.
- In a small bowl combine powdered sugar and cinnamon. Using a sifter, sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the funnel cake crispies.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
Ha! My kid is not that patient!! These are wonderful. Perfect fall treat!
Meeta says
Simply scrumptious Kristen. Good thing I bought a huge pumpkin today. These remind me a bit of the Indian Jalebi, which I absolutely love – pure sin as it’s sugary dough fried and then steeped in syrup. Sinfully good. So this is something I need to try.
Julie says
These look like a fun thing to put on festive tables!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
These are so creative and sound delicious! I’ve never been to Long John Silver’s (crazy I know) but have spent every summer working the funnel cake booth at our church festival. It’s hot but we have a blast… probably since we bring booze.
Tim says
You bring booze to your church festival? Wow… 🙂
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says
This looks amazing! I love funnel cake and I love pumpkin, so this looks like the perfect blend of the two. Yum!
carly {carlyklock} says
I ate an entire funnel cake at a fair once when I was little, and not much later I was on the outskirts of the road barriers, sick.
I still love fried crispies, but I exert a little more self-control now. 🙂
This recipe looks so yummy! What a patient little girl you have – I know it’s not easy fending off the hungry!
Julia says
Dear Kristen, how much do I need to pay you to come live at my house, and make these for me EVERY.DAY. for the rest of my life. I can admit that I like a little fried crispie thingy like this everyday day, I mean every so often. Seriously, outta control, INSANELY delicious recipe!
Amanda says
These are gorgeous. I want. Right now!! Your little girl makes my heart melt. I lurve her. 🙂
Tickled Red says
Whoa! Can I come be patient with your cutie pie? I love crispies and won’t mess up your gorgeous photos… I promise. By the way, have I told you lately how much I’m in love with your photos? They are now some of my favorite “Nummy Goodness” Pins 😉
Sunchowder - Wendy Read says
These look amazing! Love your photos too, really like the idea of adding pumpkin. I am working with pumpkins in the kitchen right now and this looks really yummy to make 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this!
Natalie says
Oh, Kristen! You just took me back in time. Your writing, your recipes, your photographs, and your children are all just beautiful!
Pat Wogan says
This makes me s-o-o-o-o hungry! I never thought of pumpkin, but funnel cake and Fall just go together. I may have to make some of these. Love your idea of using the funnel bottles, too! You are so creative. Do you take after me?
Bev Weidner says
Those. Look. Incredible.
o.
m.
g.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
These look awesome and pretty much the cutest funnel cakes Ive ever seen!
mayssam @ Will Travel for Food says
Fried pumpkin, that should be enough to make anyone drool! These look absolutely delicious, must try with all the pumpkins at the market these days!
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
I love that it’s pumpkin, but I really like how they are little…cute!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
What a fun idea. I love how think and crispy they are!
Amy | She Wears Many Hats says
Those are perfect! I could use a few right now as a matter of fact.
Cookbook Queen says
Seriously one of the best ideas ever. I LOOOOVE funnel cakes…and I bet these are even better than the plain ones!!
Your little miss thang is such a doll. She always looks like so much fun to be around 🙂
Justice Jonesie says
This sounds so good!! I will have to try this out this fall.
Tracy says
Love these! I haven’t had funnel cake in so long. These sound even better than the regular version!!
Bediels & Co. (Jen) says
Those look incredible. Oh my, that picture of your daughter is so darn cute. She’s waiting so patiently!
mis-cakes says
first time on your blog. these look soooo good. you made me want these and fish and chips all in one post.
Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom} says
Those look fabulous! What a delicious fall treat. I love the picture of your daughter just waiting for a bite! So cute!
Kim Bee says
These look so good. Such a creative and tasty recipe. You really take beautiful photographs. Very impressive.
LunaCafe says
What a great idea! They look fabulous! …Susan
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
She looks so longingly and yet is being so patient. Too cute!
Hopie says
Wow that’s very creative and delicious-sounding. I definitely admit to being a crispies lover 🙂
Caroline @ chocolate and carrots says
Woah…these are amazing. Now, if I could get my hands on one! 😉 Love it!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
oh my wow. did you know that funnel cake is like my most favorite thing ever? I mean EVER? This is pure brilliance, my friend!
Barbara says
That’s such a clever idea to make them with pumpkin, Kristin! Wish you were in the kitchen making them for us!!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
These are so fun. Love this mini size and your daughter is just too cute for words!
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray says
Love this! Your daughter is so cute–and so patient! I’d be digging in.
Jen at The Three Little Piglets says
Aw! That picture of little miss is adorable! My kids do the same thing – they’ve even learned to ask if I’ve already taken the pictures before they just grab and eat.
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
What a great idea, Kristin. And you’re right…everybody loves fried dough. Whether it’s a funnel cake or the leftover crispies in your LJS box it’s a real guilty pleasure 🙂
Laurie says
Wow! Those look a-mazing!! All of these pumpkin posts are making me very hungry and happy for fall!
Lisa {With Style and Grace} says
these are the cutest little funnel cakes ever!
Jodi says
Yes. Yes. Yes. I remember doing the same at Long Johns Silvers growing up- and it’s been years since I have been to one. We just got one in Manhattan. I have been tempted to try it, but haven’t. Going to try this recipe this weekend- just to recreate the LJS’s experience.
Lindy@ItsyBitsyPaper says
Wow! These sound amazing. I would love for you to link up to my Wickedly Creative Halloween Ideas Party.
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2011/09/wickedly-creative-halloween-ideas-linky.html
Helen says
Hello! 🙂 I just wanted to let you know that I featured your recipe on my blog today: http://bettencourtchase.blogspot.com/2011/09/things-im-loving-this-week-pumpkin.html
They look amazing!
Thanks!
Vivienne @ The V Spot says
These look great! I definitely want to give these a try, and I love the pic of your patient little miss. 🙂
Here from Tidy Mom
Tara @ The Butter Dish says
Being Disney freaks in my house funnel cakes are a minor (huge) addiction.
I even bought a funnel cake maker.
Making them with pumpkin is nothing short of pure genius!!!!
Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats says
I’ve been known to ask for “extra crispies” at LJS. 😉
Sam says
Oh my dear GOD. Just look at them. My mind just melted. Sometimes you just want something now. And hell i want it now at any cost. And your kids are soooo sweet. Love this post.
Shaina says
I love these. I’m so a funnel cake fan. When the state fair is going on a few blocks away in the summer I send my husband there to buy dessert at night on his motorcycle, returning home with fresh funnel cakes for me. I’m excited to try a pumpkin version!
Robin @ Simply Southern Baking says
These look like they could become addictive in my house!
Deborah says
These are just gorgeous!! I love the pumpkin twist, and I love that they are bite sized!!
Meagan (A Zesty bite) says
The first photo looks amazing!! I also love the one of your little girl just staring at the goodie!
Stephanie says
LOVE the first photo. 🙂
jewel says
All of these pumpkin posts are making me very hungry and happy for fall!I also love the one of your little girl just staring at the goodie!I’m excited to try a pumpkin version!
Britney Vander Laan says
First off I read about Long John Silvers and now I want to go!! I havent been in forever and I loved there food! So I might try and go this weekend!!!! On the other hand I so want to try these pumpkin funnel bites!! They would be so much fun to do and have while Im home for fall break with my family!
sweetsugarbelle says
What a super idea!!!!
Alicia says
Oh my goodness, I love the Long John’s crispies! I always ask for a basket of those and they give them to you free of charge. I like to put the malt vinegar and ketchup on them, mix, and then eat with a fork. lol These look great! I just stumbled across your blog this morning and I am loving it!
Carrie says
Can’ t wait to try these. Love the Pandamania t-shirt. We did that this summer too.
Sarah says
I am making these little lovelies right now!!! Slightly confused though, you mention 2 different quantities of salt. Is it 1/2 t. salt and 2 t. something else? I am worried about missing an important ingredient. 🙂
Rachel - A Southern Fairytale says
Those look absolutely DELISH! great photos and recipe! YUM
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marla says
Such a fabulous looking recipe – I had to pin it twice! Gonna add to my fall round up now!
vanillasugarblog says
I would LOVE to feature these in my friday links roundup!
These are perfect.
Going to use the photo, is this ok?
If not, please email me and I will just use the link.
Kristen says
Totally fine 🙂 Thanks!
Jennifer says
I can’t say I like the crunchy crispy parts… My favorite is the chewy parts. But I LOVE pumpkin things. Maybe I can make them bigger and they’ll be chewy? Any tips on how to make them so they’re not 100% crunchy so I can have some chewy pumpkin goodness? (P.S. I have to eat softer things because of my jaw… I might prefer the crunchy parts if they didn’t irritate my jaw so much…)
Ana says
I want a pumpkin-cinnamon pie so bad right now!
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Katrina says
These sound so good and would be fun to make! The family would reallly like them, since it’s fried food. 😉