Campfire Funnel Cakes

Camp site food does not have to be boring! Mix up your campfire culinary experience with easy to make funnel cakes.

The eating habits in our family has changed over time but we still love our savory treats. I've provided a standard and a more healthy option.

Cooking requirements:

• A cooking pan to be used over an open fire such as a cast iron frying pan or a dutch oven.
• Frying oil - extra light tasting olive oil, peanut oil or vegetable oil
• Campfire with a cooking grate.
  

Healthy(er)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh milled soft wheat flour
4 tablespoons of grass fed butter or 3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 egg
2 cups whole milk

Extra:
1 teaspoon of vanilla
powdered sugar topping
(But hey - we are camping who needs these frivolous things!)

Standard:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
4 tablespoons softened butter or 3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 egg 2 cups whole milk

Extra:
1 teaspoon of vanilla
powdered sugar topping

Mix liquids - egg, milk and vanilla in a bowl.

Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl - flour, baking soda, salt and sugar.

Combine liquids into dry bow slowly - mixing completely to make it smooth.

Mix in melted butter or olive oil substitute.

Pour contents into a large zip lock bag.

Pro tip:
This can be done at home. Pack your batter in the cooler and skip the prep at the camp site!

You want a nice hot coal bed to make this a success. Typically we have the fire burning for 30 min before we start cooking.

You do not want flames lapping over your pan - this could be a greater potential for an unintended fire.

If you do have issues with fire DO NOT put water on it. Smother it with sand, dirt or a heavy blanket. Water will spred a grease fire.

Also - Don't burn your wife's pan holder like I did.

Cut a small corner off your zip lock - this will allow you to safely drop the batter into the oil. Plus clean up is a breeze.

Test the oil:
Before you start to pour your cake - drop a coin size drop of batter. You want it to float and the oil to bubble around it. If it does not then the oil is not hot enough. Move the pan to a direct location over the coals.

Caution - it goes without saying but the oil is hot and will burn you. Please don't splash the batter into the oil.

Once the oil is hot enough pour in liberally moving in an overlapping circular motion leaving (at least) a small amount of space between the batter and the edge of the pan.

Cook on one side until golden brown and is solid enough be be moved with out falling apart - then flip and cook the other side.

Remove from oil and place on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

Serve hot. Top with powered sugar if desired.