The Instant Pot Funnel Cakes Recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic carnival treat at home. Made with simple ingredients and cooked in minutes, these crispy, golden funnel cakes are perfect for any occasion. Top them with powdered sugar or your favorite toppings for a sweet and fun dessert!

Golden, crispy Instant Pot Funnel Cakes dusted with powdered sugar, ready to enjoy as a delicious homemade treat.
Save This Recipe Form

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below & I will send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from me on occasion!

Instant Pot Funnel Cakes are amazing. If you were looking for a sweet treat that reminds you of the country fair, this is the perfect dessert.

Made with a few ingredients sitting in your pantry and the Instant Pot, you will have this in minutes, and you can all sit around binging on Netflix or playing a board game. This dessert will bring the entire family together, which is what I love about cooking.

My kids are huge fans of Fried Dough, Elephant Ears, and really anything coated with powdered sugar, so this dessert is no different. Of course, I took it up a notch and added some drizzled chocolate sauce on top, talk about a GREAT dessert.

If you are looking for even dessert recipes, check out some of my favorites, such as Instant Pot Strawberry CheesecakeInstant Pot Nutella Bites, or even a Simple Instant Pot Monkey Bread.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

Quick & Easy: Enjoy funnel cakes in minutes with your Instant Pot!
🍩 Crispy & Sweet: Get that perfect crispy texture and sweet flavor without the deep fryer.
🎉 Carnival Fun at Home: Bring the amusement park experience right to your kitchen.
🍴 Customizable: Top with powdered sugar, chocolate, or fruit for extra indulgence.
🌱 Minimal Ingredients: Simple, pantry-friendly ingredients make it an easy recipe to follow.

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients needed for Instant Pot Funnel Cakes on kitchen table.
  • Milk 🥛: Fresh milk adds moisture and richness to the batter.
  • Eggs 🍳: Eggs provide structure and a fluffy texture to the funnel cakes.
  • Water 💧: Water helps balance the consistency of the batter.
  • Pure Vanilla Extract 🍦: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the batter.
  • Granulated Sugar 🍬: Sweetens the batter for that perfect carnival taste.
  • Baking Powder 🧁: Helps the batter rise for a light and airy texture.
  • Salt 🧂: Enhances the sweetness and balances the flavors.
  • All-Purpose Flour 🌾: Forms the base of the batter for structure and texture.
  • Serving Suggestions: Powdered Sugar and Chocolate Sauce

How to Make Instant Pot Funnel Cakes

Whisking together eggs, milk, vanilla, water, sugar, salt, baking powder, and flour to form the funnel cake batter.

Step One: Fill the Instant Pot with oil until 2 inches deep. Set to sauté and use a candy thermometer, bring the temperature to 350 degrees F. This may take up to 20-30 minutes. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and water. Whisk in sugar, salt, and baking powder. Mix in flour until batter forms.

Pouring funnel cake batter into a ziplock bag, cutting a small corner off to pipe into hot oil.

Step Two: Once oil comes to temperature, pour batter into a gallon size zip lock bag and cut a small corner off. A piping bag can be used.

Raw funnel cake batter in pressure cooker bowl.

Step Three: Squeeze batter into the oil piping in random directions and layered over itself. Leave room for the batter to expand. Cook for 5 minutes on one side, flip and cook for another 5 minutes.

Fully cooked funnel cake in the air fryer basket.

Step Four: Remove when fully cooked.

Golden, crispy Instant Pot Funnel Cakes dusted with powdered sugar, ready to be enjoyed as a classic carnival-style treat.

Step Five: Remove and place on paper towel to cool and dry. Dust with powdered sugar. Optional drizzle with favor sauce.

Golden, crispy Instant Pot Funnel Cakes dusted with powdered sugar, ready to enjoy as a delicious homemade snack or dessert.

Instant Pot Funnel Cakes Recipe Tips

🍩 Use the Right Oil: Use a neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil for frying to avoid overpowering the flavor.
🌡️ Monitor the Oil Temperature: Make sure the oil is at the right temperature (about 350°F) to achieve a crispy texture.
💧 Consistency is Key: If the batter is too thick, add a little water; if it’s too thin, add more flour.
🧁 Perfect Your Piping: Use a ziplock bag or piping bag for easy control while squeezing the batter into the oil.
🍬 Top with Toppings: Dust with powdered sugar, or add chocolate sauce, whipped cream, or fresh fruit for extra flavor.

    Storing

    Store leftover funnel cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To keep them crispy, reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350°F before serving.

    Golden, crispy Instant Pot Funnel Cakes dusted with powdered sugar, ready to enjoy as a carnival-style dessert.

    Instant Pot Funnel Cakes Recipe Faqs

    🍩 Can I use a different type of oil? Yes, you can use vegetable oil, canola oil, or even coconut oil for frying. Just make sure the oil is neutral-flavored.

    🌡️ What’s the best temperature for frying? Keep the oil at around 350°F to ensure your funnel cakes turn out crispy and golden.

    🥄 Can I make the batter ahead of time? It’s best to make the batter fresh to ensure the perfect texture. However, you can store it in the fridge for up to 1 day if needed.

    🍬 Can I add toppings to the funnel cakes? Absolutely! Powdered sugar is a classic, but feel free to add chocolate sauce, whipped cream, or fresh fruit for extra flavor.

    💡 What if the batter is too thick? If the batter is too thick, add a little water to thin it out. If it’s too thin, add a bit more flour to reach the right consistency.

    More Easy Instant Pot Recipes!

    Don’t Forget To Pin!

    Instant Pot Funnel Cakes

    Instant Pot Funnel Cakes

    5 from 6 votes
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 Servings

    Description

    The Instant Pot Funnel Cakes Recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic carnival treat at home. Made with simple ingredients and cooked in minutes, these crispy, golden funnel cakes are perfect for any occasion. Top them with powdered sugar or your favorite toppings for a sweet and fun dessert!

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup milk
    • 4 large eggs
    • 4 tablespoons water
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 3 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup powdered sugar

    Instructions

    • Fill the instant pot with oil until 2 inches deep. Set to sauté and to use a candy thermometer, bring the temperature to 350. It may take 20-30 minutes.
    • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and water.
    • Whisk in sugar, salt, and baking powder
    • Mix in flour until batter forms
    • Once oil comes to temperature, pour batter into a gallon-sized zip-lock bag and cut a small corner off. A piping bag can be used.
    • Squeeze batter into the oil piping in random directions and layered over itself. Leave room for the batter to expand. Cook for 5 minutes on one side, flip and cook for another 5 minutes.
    • Remove and place on a paper towel to cool and dry.
    • Dust with powdered sugar. Optional drizzle with favor sauce.
    • Plate, serve, and enjoy!

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Mixing Bowl

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ServingCalories: 253kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 7gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 498mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 184IUCalcium: 145mgIron: 2mg

    Share this recipe

    We can’t wait to see what you’ve made! Mention @forktospoon or tag #forktospoon!