For years, county fairs have been at the forefront of deep-frying science, splicing and creating mutant “foods” that are all at once monstrous and wondrous. The Texas State Fair — the largest state fair in the country — holds a yearly competition for the most innovative deep-fried foods. Here are 25 fried Frankenfoods from fairs past:
1. Bubblegum
Photo: CC Collin Harvey on Flickr
It’s actually bubblegum-flavored marshmallows, battered and deep fried and sprinkled with Chicklets. Do you chew this? Eat it? Who knows, but you can buy it.
2. Butter
Photo: CC mgerskup on Flickr
Frozen balls of butter, battered and fried and served with four sauces. Because why not.
3. Beer
Photo: CC Stacy Huggins on Flickr
Nope, this isn’t beer battered. This is beer: battered and fried. The beer is poured into little ravioli pockets which burst with scalding suds upon first bite.
4. Peanut Butter Banana Cheeseburgers
Photo: FoodBeast
Elvis would probably make a special trip to Texas just to see this.
5. Coke
Photo: CC L. Richarz on Flickr
An enterprising chef found a way to deep fry soda without the 3rd degree burns.
6. Chicken Fried Bacon
Photo: CC ladybugbkt on Flickr
This is self-explanatory. And probably delicious.
7. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Photo: CC RosieTulips on Flickr
It’s really just batter with some Jelly Belly jelly beans mixed in, like a fritter on a sugar high.
8. Cadbury Crème Eggs
Photo: CC goodiesfirst on Flickr
Easter doesn’t have nearly enough fried foods… until now.
9. Pizza
Photo: CC Siggi Churchill on Flickr
It’s not just pizza ingredients inside a ball of dough. No. It’s an actual slice of pizza, breaded and fried.
10. Kool-Aid
Photo: CC nineminutes on Flickr
With an extra sprinkle of Kool-Aid powder over the top instead of powdered sugar.
11. French Fry Coated Hot Dog
Photo: CC phil.lees on Flickr
See? It exists.
12. Pecan Pie
Photo: CC erichcpeters on Flickr
There’s probably not a more delicious way to gain five pounds.
13. Lattes
Photo: CC Traveling Fools of America on Flickr
This one is a bit of a misnomer, it seems; the fried part is a sweet dough, which is topped with coffee-flavored ice cream, whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
14. PB&J
Photo: CC bittermelon on Flickr
With a banana thrown in for good measure.
15. Salsa
Photo: thestir.com
Deep-fried condiments can’t be a good thing, but according to some people, this is the best-tasting item at the fair. It’s salsa mixed with masa, then rolled in crushed tortilla chips before frying.
16. Pop Tarts
Photo: CC RosieTulips on Flickr
It’s hard to see, but there’s a Pop Tart in there.
17. Margaritas
Photo: CC David Berkowitz on Flickr
Funnel cake batter made with margarita mixer, fried and soaked in more margarita, all served in a salt-rimmed glass.
18. Club Salad
Photo: New York Daily News
The thing about salad is that it’s good for you, usually. Not this time. This is a spinach wrap filled with ham, bacon, cheese, chicken, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and carrots, fried and served on a bed of lettuce.
19. S’mores
Photo: CC David Berkowitz on Flickr
It was only a matter of time.
20. Pumpkin Pie
Photo: CC Collin Harvey on Flickr
It’s a pocket filled with pumpkin pie, rolled in cinnamon and ginger snaps, fried and served with whipped cream.
21. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Photo: CC Blazenhoff on Flickr
Each item is battered and fried individually, skewered and served with whipped cream and a cherry. The “upside-down” part is up to you.
22. Deep Fried Cheesecake
Photo: CC Stacey Huggins on Flickr
Cheesecake filling wrapped in a tortilla, fried.
23. Oreos
Photo: CC Jenn Larsen on Flickr
These are amazing, actually.
And this year’s winners, announced this week:
24. Fried Jambalaya: Best Taste
Photo: David Woo for The Dallas Morning News
25. Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll: Most Creative
Photo: David Woo for The Dallas Morning News
Follow Cole on Twitter: @ColeGamble
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