30 Copycat Carnival Foods

This year skip the long, sweaty lines at the carnival and create your own copycat recipes at home!

1 / 30

Fair-Favorite Corn Dogs

Bring the county fair home to your kitchen with these summer-ready corn dogs. A tip for dipping: Pour the batter in a tall Mason jar and dunk the dogs to create an even coating all around. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
2 / 30

Deep-Fried Cookies

My kids love this delicious, indulgent treat. I like to give the batter a kick by adding a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. — Margarita Torres, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
3 / 30

Funnel Cake

Whip up a contest-winning funnel cake at home with our simple recipe. Just add cotton candy and corn dogs!

Can’t get enough of funnel cakes? These funnel cake fries might help satisfy that funnel cake fix.

4 / 30

Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate

Here's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
5 / 30

Cheese Fries

I came up with this recipe after my daughter had cheese fries at a restaurant and couldn't stop talking about them. She loves that I can fix them so quickly at home. Plus, the frozen fry packets can be refrigerated and reheated. —Melissa Tatum, Greensboro, North Carolina
6 / 30

Candy Apples

Welcome fall by whipping up this simple, classic candy apple recipe.
7 / 30

Nacho Popcorn

My husband and I like to munch on this while watching TV. The nacho flavoring is a zesty alternative to butter and salt. —Linda Boehme, Fairmont, Minnesota
8 / 30

Apple Cider Doughnuts

A batch of these apple cider doughnuts will have you feeling like it's peak fall season, no matter the time of year.
9 / 30

Red, White and Blue Frozen Lemonade

This patriotic drink is as pretty as it is delicious. With cherries, blueberries and lemon juice, we created a striped lemonade that is perfect for a Fourth of July celebration. —Shawn Carleton, San Diego, California
10 / 30

Crispy Sage Chicken Tenders

One of my mom's favorite chicken recipes used fresh sage. Her version was smothered with gravy, but we like these panko-crusted tenders as they are. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan
11 / 30

Loaded Waffle Fries

Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois
12 / 30

Cheddar Corn Dog Muffins

I wanted to riff on hot dogs, so I made corn dog muffins. I added jalapenos to this kid-friendly recipe and won my husband over, too. —Becky Tarala, Palm Coast, Florida
13 / 30

Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars

If you're looking for a fun snack for kids, try this chewy peanut butter popcorn recipe that have a mild peanut butter taste. They're easy to mix and can be pressed into a pan to form bars, or shaped into balls. —Kathy Oswald, Wauzeka, Wisconsin
14 / 30

Cinnamon Caramel Apples

We used cinnamon and chocolate to give a fun and tasty twist to traditional caramel apples. Rolled in nuts, coconut or colorful candies, they'll delight kids of all ages. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
15 / 30

Smooth Sweet Tea

A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste of Home Community Member
16 / 30

Eggplant Fries

My kids love this snack—and I like that it's healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these veggie sticks are broiled, not fried, so there's no guilt when you crunch into them. —Mary Murphy, Atwater, California
17 / 30

Burger Joint Onion Rings

These onion rings cook to a crisp, golden brown. This is one of those foods you never tire of and a great side dish to so many meals. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
18 / 30

Strawberry Watermelon Slush

We like to relax on the back porch with glasses of my slush after a long, hot day. Strawberries and watermelon blend up with lemon juice and sugar for an instant refresher. —Patty Howse, Great Falls, Montana
19 / 30

Soft Beer Pretzels

I'm always looking for new ways to combine fun flavors, and what goes together better than beer and pretzels? Not much that I can think of. That’s why I put them together into one delicious recipe. —Alyssa Wilhite, Whitehouse, Texas
20 / 30

Maple Glaze for Doughnuts

This maple glaze is a delightful addition to your baking repertoire. It offers versatility and a touch of indulgence that only homemade glaze can bring.
21 / 30

Lemony Cooler

Everyone thinks I've gone to a lot of trouble when making this refreshing summer drink, but it's so easy! I also like to make my own pretty ice cubes by adding 1/2 cup lemon juice and a mint sprig to 4 cups water.—Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
22 / 30

Bandito Chili Dogs

These deluxe chili dogs are a surefire hit at family functions. Adults and children alike love the cheesy chili sauce, and the toppings are fun! —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
23 / 30

Caramel Corn

Learning how to make a caramel corn recipe is surprisingly easy! Follow our step-by-step guide for perfect kernels.
24 / 30

French Fry Casserole

Kids love this casserole because it combines two of their favorite fast foods. And I like the fact that I can whip it up with just a few ingredients and little prep time. It's a win-win for all! —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
25 / 30

Fried Dill Pickles

You may be surprised when you see how easy it is to make a batch of these fried pickles. They'll get snatched up in a flash! —Eloise Maynor, Scottsboro, AL
26 / 30

Soft Giant Pretzels

My husband and our friends and family love these soft, chewy pretzels. Let the bread machine mix the dough, then all you have to do is shape and bake these fun snacks. —Sherry Peterson, Fort Collins, Colorado
27 / 30

Mini Corn Dogs

These bite-sized mini corn dogs are a hit with kids, and make a fun appetizer for adults, too.
28 / 30

Candy Apple Pie

This is the only apple pie my husband will eat, but that's all right since he makes it as often as I do. Like a combination of apple and pecan pie, it's a sweet treat that usually tops off our holiday meals from New Year's all the way through to Christmas! -Cindy Kleweno, Burlington, Colorado
29 / 30

Seasoned Fries

These fries are always popular with my meat-and-potatoes bunch. The cheesy seasoning can easily double as a flavorful baked potato topper, too.—Maribeth Edwards, Follansbee, West Virginia
30 / 30

Pretzel Gelatin Dessert

This is one of my mother's absolute favorite desserts. The salty pretzel crust is the perfect complement to the sweet cream cheese filling. —Erin Frakes, Moline, Illinois