Fair Fare: The Fabulous Carnival Foods That Everyone Loves

Whether the carnival has come to town or you’re lucky enough to live nearby a bustling boardwalk, those tasty fair foods, or fare, are a true treat. But even if there’s no carnival in sight, you can get the foods of the fair anytime by making them at home.

Here are some all-time favorite fair foods that are pretty easy to recreate in your own kitchen.

1. Deep-Fried Cookies

All you need is a fryer (deep or air!), cookies, and batter to make these sinfully delicious treats that make you wonder why you waited this long to fry them yourself.

2. Corn Dogs

Oh, sure. You could buy these in the frozen section of your supermarket in a pinch, but making them yourself is even better. Just get your favorite hotdogs and make a batter from cornmeal. Don’t forget the sticks!

3. Bacon-Wrapped Corn

Roasted corn is always a winner at the fair, but whoever decided to wrap it up in bacon is a pure genius. This one is as easy as it gets for fair food that steals your heart.

4. Turkey Legs

Miss those famous turkey legs you get at Disney theme parks? You can make them yourself. Buy those turkey legs at your supermarket, marinate them your way, then bake them covered at 375F for 45 minutes. Remove the cover, baste, and bake an additional 50 minutes or until the meat thermometer shows their internal temperature is 175F.

5. Funnel Cakes

It certainly wouldn’t be any fair if you went to the fair and didn’t get a funnel cake! Plus, they’re even easier to make that donuts. They only take 15 minutes to prep and about 5 minutes to cook each batch. Just think, if you have flour, eggs, baking powder, milk, and confectioner’s sugar, you could be eating these in just 20 minutes!

6. Caramel Apples

Sticky and sweet, if you’re at a carnival at any time during the summer, especially toward the end of it, you’re likely to find these. They go beyond the gooey caramel nowadays though and you can too by covering them with all kinds of heavenly and sinful treats.

7. Fried Pickles

If you love pickles but have never had them fried, what are you waiting for? Get your fryer out and fry up a batch right now!

8. Caramel Corn

Need we say more about this fair food staple? Air pop your popcorn and cover it with caramel for a sweet and salty treat to enjoy with your family while watching movies.

9. Loaded Hotdogs

Perhaps we’re traditional, but you simply can’t have a fair without a classic hotdog. Wrap it in bacon and pile it high with toppings that you love. Try it with sliced avocado, sriracha and cheese for a new twist!

10. Walking Tacos

And finally, if you love tacos but need to take your show on the road, make walking tacos! They’re the ideal solution for taco lovers on the go this summer!