The Tastiest, Craziest Carnival Eats
At any fair or festival in the U.S. you'll find myriad food options, from meat kebabs to cotton candy, but don't limit your palate to run-of-the-mill fair food. Try these unique eats the next time you visit a carnival.
By:
Molly Spining
Red Velvet Funnel Cake
If you're looking for a traditional dessert taste with a fair food feel, go for this decadent red velvet funnel cake.
Ice Cream Doughnut Sandwich
This is the new ice cream sandwich: vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two cinnamon-sugar doughnuts and topped with caramel sauce.
Cinnamon Roll Waffle
Ah, the perfect marriage of two favorite breakfast foods: cinnamon rolls and waffles.
Doughnut S'mores
For s'mores that taste like they were made on the campfire, but without the sticky mess, try this bowl of doughnuts topped with mini-marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs and chocolate syrup.
Apple Pie Fries
Apple pie is the American classic dessert and while it's usually sold as convenient hand pies at fairs and festivals, this interpretation as fries may be even more practical for on-the-go eating.
Sweet Potato Pie Ice Cream
Thanksgiving may only come once a year, but with this sweet potato pie ice cream, you'll taste all of the flavors from Grandma's holiday recipe.
Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sundae
Ice cream sundaes and chocolate chip cookies are classic desserts by themselves, but mashing them together makes for one sweet treat.
Maple, Pecan and Bacon Funnel Cake
Bacon on top of a funnel cake? Yep, and topped with a little maple syrup, all the flavors meld together into one sweet-and-salty dream.
Double Bacon Cheeseburger on Doughnut Bun
This fair food might be king of the sweet-and-salty category, with the sugary doughnuts holding savory hamburger meat and cheese, topped with a salty slice of bacon.
Fried Watermelon
Fresh fruit, like watermelon, instantly becomes fair food when deep fried, served on a stick and drizzled with syrup.
Fried Grasshopper Pie
Chilled grasshopper pie's gooey, minty center and chocolate-cookie crust make it a refreshingly sweet treat. Deep-fry it, and the crispy outer layer creates a crispy, salty balance with the melted mint-chocolate filling.
Praline Candy
A little bit nutty, a little bit caramel-y, pralines are the classic Southern treat.
Chicken Wing-Flavored Ice Cream
If you're brave enough to try this crazy ice cream flavor, it's sure to satisfy both your sweet-and-spicy palate.
Coconut-Crusted Fried Shrimp
Texas may not be known for its seafood, but this shrimp skewer encrusted in coconut flakes is fresh and full of flavor.
Fried Crab Sandwich
Fair food doesn't always have to be over-the-top. Proof? This simple, fried soft-shell crab sandwich satisfies seafood cravings any day.
Lobster French Fries with Lemon Aioli
This basket of fries topped with lobster and lemon aioli looks like it belongs in a hip downtown restaurant, not a carnival food stand.
Soft Shell Crab Taco
Fans of seafood should visit Texas' Crab Fest for various sophisticated fish dishes like this soft-shell crab taco. (As if tacos weren't already delicious enough!)
Fried Green Tomatoes with Ranch Dip
Sometimes you just want a good ol' comfort dish at the fair. These fried green tomatoes should hit the spot.
Fried Pickle Spears
It's pretty hard to beat fried pickles when it comes to fair food. The sweet crunch of the pickle with the crispy fried outer layer never disappoints.
18-inch Corn Dog
When it comes to fair food, you have to go big with this double-sized dog, or go home.
Bacon-Wrapped-Pork on a Stick
It wouldn't be a carnival without food on a stick. Bacon-wrapped-anything always makes an appearance at the fair.
Large Curly Fries
Remember when we said "Go big or go home?" The same imperative applies to French fries.
BBQ Baked Potato
At the fair, instead of sitting down with a plate full of BBQ, coleslaw, baked potato and beans, grab this potato piled high with all the fixings of a Southern BBQ plate.
Beef Tongue Taco
If you like beef, the soft-shell crab taco probably isn't for you. For a unique, meaty alternative, try a unique beef tongue taco.
Fried Alligator on a Stick
Head down to Florida for the freshest interpretation of this fair food. We hear that it tastes just like chicken!
Fried Frog Legs and Okra
Influenced by French ancestors, residents of the Deep South have been eating fried frog legs for centuries. And, of course, fried okra is a Southern staple as well. Meat lovers and curious eaters won't want to miss this delicacy.
Nori, Mayo, Teriyaki Hot Dog
For a creative twist on the traditional dog, a Japanese-inspired version might become an adventurous meat lover's new favorite indulgence.
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