I Worked At The State Fair One Summer & These Recipes Still Haunt My Dreams

Slow-roasting turkey legs will create a fall-off-the-bone texture in just a few hours, no visit to the state (or Renaissance!) fair required. It’s a very forgiving cooking tactic and difficult to mess up—this is one to keep in your pocket for Thanksgiving too.

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We don't often feel like getting a deep fry going. But when you have an easy churro recipe this delicious, it's absolutely worth it. They only take a few minutes to fry and will actually still taste good at room temp, making them a great party dessert!

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No need to wait for the carnival to come to town to enjoy this tasty treat. We were shocked at just how easily these came together and taste like they came right from your favorite fair vendor. Try our Flamin' Hot Cheetos funnel cake next!

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Ahh, the classic deep-fried Oreo. It's a state-fair favorite that's worth every single calorie. Now, you can make them right at home with those lingering Oreos you have (IF that ever happens). It's the perfect treat for any occasion!

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These fried (not actually toasted!) ravioli are traditionally served as a snack or appetizer, almost always with warm marinara on the side and showered with Parmesan. The most important thing to know, though? You can easily make them at home with great results. (Seriously, they’ll go fast if you’re serving them to a crowd, so make extra!).

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Making from-scratch caramel corn couldn't be easier, but don't be hesitated to rush it—baking at a low temperature for about an hour is key to caramel corn with that irresistible crunch. Want something a little less sweet? Try our kettle corn next.

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Elote (AKA Mexican street corn) is an unbelievably popular antojito—little craving or street food—that pops up at fairs all over the U.S. In our recipe, grilled corn is covered in a creamy mayo and Mexican crema mixture before being topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and plenty of lime juice.

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The national dish of Canada and popular at state fairs all across the U.S., poutine is the comfort food we at Delish can't get enough of. Made with French fries, gravy, and cheese curds, this recipe is not only customizable, but it's also much simpler to make at home than you may think.

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Does anything scream summer more than an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade? While we love adding fruity twists to this warm-weather drink, this recipe is our go-to when we’re looking for simple, classic, and ridiculously refreshing.

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Using canned biscuits to make pretzel bites is the best hack ever. The pretzels won't look gorgeous as they come out of the boiling water, but don't worry—they will brown and crisp up and be oh-so-beautiful when they come out of the oven!

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With toppings like fries, puffed rice, and crushed ramen, and with a finishing sprinkling of sugar, South Korean corn dogs have become one of the most popular street foods and fair foods in the world.

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Sweet potato fries can sometimes have a bad reputation—they’re often a floppy, bland pile of under-seasoned sadness when you make them at home, but it doesn’t have to be that way! There’s a way to get crisp and savory sweet potato fries fresh out of the oven, and we've got all the tips.

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If you’re looking to get started in the world of pastry making, then there is no better place to start than cream puffs. They combine two basic pastry components: a pâte à choux, a dough used in a lot of French pastry applications made of flour, butter, milk, water, and eggs, and pastry cream.

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Once we discovered the magic of the air fryer, we knew we had to develop an egg roll recipe for our new favorite gadget. Quick to make and even easier to clean up, this recipe uses less oil than the usual deep-fried versions, making it one of our new go-to dishes for an easy snack or appetizer.

Get the Air Fryer Egg Rolls recipe.

The Bloomin' Onion is a cult favorite, and for good reason. We opted to bake instead of fry for a slightly healthier approach. Don't worry, it still has everything you love about the favorite, including the sauce.

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Love soft serve but tired of waiting in a hot, long line at the fair? Make your own. Featuring just five ingredients and nothing more complicated than a handheld mixer, this simple soft serve recipe will have you piping cones all summer long.

Get the Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream recipe.

Crispy golden corn fritters are filled with everything we love about spicy jalapeño poppers—crispy bacon, jalapeños, cheddar, AND cream cheese. 😍

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Any kind of onions will work here, but we use the Vidalia variety for a sweeter ring. Because salt can draw out water from the onions and make them sweat, we reserve salting for after the fry is done—this helps to keep the batter on the onion and not a mess in your frying pot.

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Although they’re a classic at state fairs, neighborhood bars, and the freezer section of the grocery store, this party app is also so simple to make at home! The secret? It’s all in the magic air fryer.

Get the Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks recipe.

Hush puppies are similar to cornbread in that they're both made from a cornmeal batter, but hush puppies are shaped into balls and deep fried to give that crispy exterior with a soft middle while cornbread is baked in the oven. Essentially, you can think of hush puppies as deep fried balls of cornbread...and who wouldn't want that?

Get the Hush Puppies recipe.