Corn dogs, deep-fried Oreos and funnel cakes—oh my! You may not be heading to your usual state fair or summer festival this year, but you can still bring some of the foodie fun to your kitchen in the meantime. From turkey legs to churros, we’ve found some amazing recipes that are just as delicious as the county fair’s version. Read on to let the festivities begin.
Baked Churros
Is there anything better than the cinnamon-sugar goodness of a county fair churro? For those looking to recreate this particular magic at home, we present this recipe from Peanut Butter & Peppers. The secret here is that the churros are baked, not fried—which means they have all the sweet, doughy crunch you expect, but you can skip the greasy frying. For the whole scoop, click here.
Roasted Turkey Legs
From ye olde Renaissance fairs to 4th of July fairs, there’s something about roasted turkey legs that makes them a summer fest staple. If you arm yourself with this recipe from Vodka & Biscuits, you can chomp away at home. Get all the info here.
No Dye Rainbow Snow Cones
When you’re tromping around a summer fest in the hot sun, nothing hits the spot like an icy snow cone. We like this idea from Super Healthy Kids for homemade cones using fruits and veggies for color instead of dyes. Get the snowy scoop here.
Healthier Caramel Popcorn
If the aroma of this caramel popcorn from Life Made Full doesn’t lure the whole family in, then the taste sure will. The beauty of this sweet treat is that it echoes your fave fair food but omits the corn syrup and refined sugar. Yum! Learn more here.
Garlic Fries
How many times have you visited a summer festival, and kissed sweet-smelling breath goodbye as you made a beeline for the booth that said “Garlic?” It’s a small price to pay for delish garlic fries like these from Damn Delicious. Unlike your fair’s fries, these are oven-baked—but they still serve up that addictive garlicky taste you love. Learn more by clicking here.
Fried Pickles
Do your little pickles like to snack on fried pickles at the county fair? This recipe from BS’ in the Kitchen uses panko crumbs for the breading, and the crispy-tangy result may send the family back for seconds. Get the how-to here.
Fancy Caramel Apples
There’s no sugar-coating it: these are seriously fancy caramel apples. Glorious Treats shares how to create these festival-worthy treats at home. So gather your tots, their favorite toppings, and click here for more info.
Easy Chicken Gyros
Why are gyros such a popular festival food? It might be how easy they are to whip up. It might be their bold flavor. It might be the fact that they make great on-the-go meals. Any way you slice it, gyros are golden for feeding the family. You can make your own, thanks to this recipe from Crème de la Crumb. Get the lowdown here.
Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts
You know that moment when you’re wandering a summer festival, and you catch a whiff of candied nuts? You can experience it at home with this recipe from Damn Delicious. These cinnamon and sugar confections are super easy to make and irresistible. Click here for the sweet recipe.
Cheaters Fried Ice Cream
Ever since the first fried Oreo, festival food has involved a lot of deep-fried versions of already-popular treats. This recipe from Cooking Classy takes that idea and “cheats” by skipping the usual oily mess. Learn more by clicking here.
Baked Corn Dog Muffins
Corn dogs are pretty much a summer fair classic, so no at-home festival would be complete without them. To shake up your fried-food-on-a-stick expectations, why not go for baked corn dog muffins? They’re perfect for little hands, but we guarantee grownups will love them, too. Get the recipe here.
Bite-Size Pumpkin Funnel Cake Crispies
You know you can't make it through an entire festival season without having at least one funnel cake. Take a gander at this recipe from Dine & Dish because indulging in a homemade fried treat was never tastier, thanks to pumpkin spice batter. Plus, the mini size is better for mini hands. Get the instructions here.
Strawberry Rice Krispy Pops
When we think of fair food, we think of food on a stick—so these cute Rice Krispies from Tast-e fit the bill! This kid-favorite is taken to the next level with a hint of strawberry flavor and some fun sprinkles. To get the recipe, click here.
—Abigail Matsumoto
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