Illinois State Fair Elephant Ears
A large, flattened piece of yeasted dough deep-fried until crisp and blistered, then dusted with cinnamon sugar, a favorite at the Illinois State Fair.
- Prep
- 90 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 105 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 380 kcal
Equipment
- •Deep fryer or heavy pot
- •Rolling pin
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- fat
- 17
- carbs
- 52
- protein
- 6
- calories
- 380
Instructions
- 1
Stir the yeast and a spoonful of sugar into warm milk. Let it sit until foamy.
- 2
Stir in the flour, remaining sugar, melted butter, and a pinch of salt to form a soft dough.
- 3
Knead the dough until smooth. Let it rise for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- 4
Divide the dough into six pieces. Stretch each piece by hand into a large, thin, uneven circle.
- 5
Heat oil in a deep pot to 365°F.
- 6
Fry each piece of dough for about 1 minute per side until puffed and golden brown.
- 7
Drain the fried dough quickly on paper towels.
- 8
Mix the cinnamon and sugar together. Sprinkle generously over the hot fried dough before serving.
Chef's tips
Stretch the dough thin in the middle so it fries up crisp with bubbly edges. Serve right away while hot for the best texture.
Storage
Best eaten fresh the day it is made.
Reheating
Reheating is not recommended, as it loses its crisp texture.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Leaving the dough too thick so the center stays raw and doughy
- •Letting the oil temperature drop too low between batches
Serving suggestions
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