Funnel cake - wikipedia Funnel cake This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2013 ) Funnel cake Funnel cake with no toppings Alternative names Funnel cake Type Doughnut Place of origin United States Region or state Pennsylvania Main ingredients Batter, cooking oil Cookbook : Funnel cake Media : Funnel cake Funnel cake ( Drechderkuche in Pennsylvania German ) is a regional food popular in North America at carnivals, fairs, sporting events, and seaside resorts. Contents 1 History 2 Preparation 3 By location 3.1 Europe 3.2 Asia 3.3 North America 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History The concept of the funnel cake dates back to the early medieval Persian world, where similar yeast - risen dishes were first prepared and later spread to Europe. Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants brought the yeast dish, known as Drechderkuche, to America and around 1879 developed the baking powder version along with its new name, funnel cake. Preparation Funnel cakes are made by pouring batter into hot cooking oil in a circular pattern and deep frying the overlapping mass until golden - brown. The batter is commonly poured through a funnel creating its texture and giving its name. When made at concession stands, a pitcher with an integral funnel spout is employed. Alton Brown recommends they be baked with choux pastry, which expands from steam produced by its high water content. Funnel cakes are typically served plain with powdered sugar, but can also be served with jam / jelly, cinnamon, chocolate, fresh fruit, or other toppings. They are similar in recipe to angel wings, the difference being the density of the mix. The dough for angel wings is viscous enough to be cut into shapes and dropped into the oil by hand. By location A funnel cake topped with custard and whipped cream Europe In south German cuisine the equivalent is called Strauben or Strieble and is made and served similarly. In Finnish cuisine the analogous tippaleipä is traditionally served at May Day ( Vappu ) celebrations. In Lithuania it is called skruzdėlynas, which literal translation is the ant nest, normally it is made at early spring to empty stock of last year honey and make more space for the new one and at the first harvest of honey. Asia In the Indian subcontinent a similar dessert, with a crystallized sugary exterior coating, is called jalebi ; in Iran this is known as zulbia and is a popular dessert. These differ from funnel cake in using no baking powder, which results in a somewhat chewy texture. It is called `` shakoy '' in the Southern Philippines where it is shaped into twisted strips covered in sugar after frying. North America In North America, funnel cakes were originally associated with Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is one of the first North American fried foods, which is associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch, German immigrants who came to Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Pennsylvania Dutch called the first funnel cakes drechter kuche. The name `` funnel '' later came from the technique used to make the cakes, in which the pancake - like batter is poured into hot oil through a funnel. See also Food portal Philadelphia portal Angel wings Churro Fried dough Frybread List of doughnut varieties List of fried dough foods List of regional dishes of the United States Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine Sachima Struva Zeppole References ^ Jump up to : Marks, Gil. Encyclopedia of Jewish Food. Jump up ^ `` The Origins of Two American Fried Dough Classics : Funnel Cakes and Elephant Ears ''. 2014 - 03 - 26. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 13. `` Calories in Funnel Cake and Nutrition Facts ''. FatSecret. May 17, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015. External links Media related to Funnel cakes at Wikimedia Commons The dictionary definition of funnel cake at Wiktionary Doughnuts, fritters and other fried dough foods Sweet Africa and Asia Awameh Bambalouni Bamiyeh Boortsog Çäkçäk Chebakia Chiroti Gosh - e Fil Gulab jamun Imarti Jalebi Koeksister Lokma Puff Puff Qottab Sata andagi Sel roti Sfenj Shuangbaotai Sufganiyah Sweet shells Tulumba Americas Bolinho de chuva Boston cream Brown Bobby Cider doughnut Coconut doughnut Cronut Cruller Dutchie Fried Coke Jelly doughnut Long John Luther Burger Maple bacon donut Maple bar Old - fashioned doughnut Persian Picarones Potato doughnut Sopaipilla Sour cream doughnut Tiger tail donut Timbits Touton Wonut Europe Angel wings Bear claw Beignet Berliner Bombolone Buñuelo Churro Fánk Fasnacht Fazuelos Filhós Fritule Fudge doughnut Klenät Krofne Malasada Mekitsa Oliebol Pączki Pastisset Pestiños Prusurate Rosette Smultring Uštipci Zeppole Savory Africa and Asia Balep korkun Bhatoora Khuushuur Luchi Mücver Murukku Ox - tongue pastry Papri chaat Pişi Puri Qutab Samosa Sha phaley Shelpek Vada Vetkoek Youtiao Europe and the Americas Chebureki Fritelli Frybread Funnel cake Haliva Lángos Lihapiirakka Lörtsy Pampushka Pastel Pasztecik szczeciński Peremech Pirozhki Companies BeaverTails Dunkin ' Donuts Krispy Kreme Mister Donut Tim Hortons Lists List of doughnut varieties List of fried dough foods List of deep fried foods List of doughnut shops See also Coffee and doughnuts Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Funnel_cake&oldid=825535857 '' Categories : American desserts Doughnuts Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine Cuisine of Philadelphia Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from March 2013 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Հայերեն Italiano Русский Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 13 February 2018, at 23 : 23. 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Question: where did the name funnel cake come from
Answer: batter is commonly poured through a funnel