What is the name of the fried dough dessert commonly sold at US fairs?

What is the name of the fried dough dessert commonly sold at US fairs? Funnel cake is the classic answer. It is made by pouring batter through a funnel or spouted container into hot oil, creating a lacy, tangled disk that is fried until golden and usually dusted with powdered sugar.

The funnel gives the dessert its characteristic shape and name. Unlike a doughnut, which is generally formed before frying, funnel cake is created directly in the oil by overlapping streams of batter. Common toppings include cinnamon sugar, fruit, jam, chocolate, whipped cream, and ice cream.

Funnel cake is especially associated with Pennsylvania Dutch communities and Pennsylvania Dutch Country. German immigrants brought related fried-dough traditions to North America, and the baking-powder version known as funnel cake developed in the United States around the late 19th century. Similar fried-dough foods exist in many cultures, so the technique itself is not uniquely American.

The dessert became a familiar sight at county fairs, carnivals, amusement parks, and sporting events. Beignets and churros are also fried dough treats, but they have different shapes, batters, and culinary histories: beignets are typically square and heavily dusted with sugar, while churros are ridged and often served with cinnamon sugar or dipping chocolate.