"The classic funnel cakes served at the carnival comprise coiled batter, fried in oil and dusted in a generous coating of powdered sugar. More than the scrumptious sweet-savory fried dough flavor, the chief appeal of the treat is its moist, tender insides and crispy, crunchy outsides - and, alas, TJ's spinoff product fails to deliver on that critical textural juxtaposition."
"Even a trip through the air fryer couldn't save 'em. The frozen bag's packaging includes instructions for oven (425 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes) or air fryer heating (325 degrees for 6-7 minutes). Still, even following package directions, the finished product doesn't deliver on much more than the novelty factor. At least these lackluster fries are a limited-time seasonal product for the summer; according to Trader Joe's, the Carnival Fun Cake Fries will be available only through August 2026."
Trader Joe's Carnival Fun Cake Fries reimagine funnel cakes as kid-friendly, funnel-cake-shaped fries made from enriched batter and fried. The product is marketed as 'classic funnel cake batter (think pancake batter, only richer)' piped into a vat of hot oil. The finished product lacks the moist, tender interior and crispy, crunchy exterior characteristic of traditional funnel cakes and does not include powdered sugar. Package instructions offer oven and air-fryer methods, but cooking according to directions yields a chewy texture and a strange aftertaste for many consumers. The item is seasonal and available only through August 2026.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]