Beauty and the Beast Party Ideas

Jul 15, 2015 · 16 Comments

This Beauty and the Beast Party is full of great ideas for decorations, food, and fun themed games and activities that any Beauty and the Beast lover will adore! It's perfect to help you plan your birthday party or celebration.

Beauty and the Beast party decor and food ideas.

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Why We Love This Party

We love Belle and the Beast so much.
All the cute decor ideas are DIY projects.
The food is kid friendly and fits the theme perfectly.
This party is full of a amazing activities your kids will love.

Once upon a time there was a little six year old girl who loved yellow. Allie loved yellow so much that Belle was her favourite princess. After coming to the Sleeping Beauty party as a guest, she decided that she should have a Beauty and the Beast Party for her next birthday, so she did.

Want more ideas? Check out our Beauty and Beast themed foods for our dinner and movie night, with free printables.

Beauty and the Beast Party Decorations

We were greeted by this sweet sign on the front door that set the tone for the day. It's made with scrap book paper letters, and fabric roses added with a glue gun. It's was the perfect entry to the party.

Most of the decorations for the party were gold and red, and there were lots of roses, and books -since Belle loves to read, and the enchanted rose is such an important part of the story.

The potted roses by the front door were pretty decor, but also take home favors, along with a bookstore gift card -the perfect themed favor idea for a Beauty and the Beast party.

Beauty and the Beast Party Table

Inside the table was set for the party, and it looked amazing. There were lots and lots of fun and easy little details, that created a big wow factor for the little guests. One of my favourites was the cutlery chandelier, inspired by the movie.

It was made by hot gluing plastic gold plastic cutlery to three different sizes of embroidery hoops and then attaching them to the light fixture. It looked great and really set the tone for the table.

Allie's mom, Heather, started the table with a gold tablecloth, and then made the neatest table runner out of old book pages from the thrift store, just glued together. It looked amazing.

The plastic glasses got the glitter treatment on their bases, and the cutlery had some red stick-on gems to dress them up.

I loved the little detail of the simple red paper napkins folded into roses and tucked in to little tea cups that reminded us of Chip.

Each little guest had the prettiest placard too, a gold frame from the party store decorated with their name and a rose sticker.

The back of the chairs were decorated with some ribbon and tulle and some faux roses. Amazing what a little ribbon in the right spot can do!

Most of the decor came from the party store and dollar store. It's amazing how these inexpensive items look amazing with a few added touches, like glitter, and gem stickers.

Drink Station

There was a little drink table to the side with pretty decorated water bottles and lemonade. All the kids loved the gold straws.

Heather found the pretty toothpicks with the roses on the end at the party store and made skewers with blueberries and marshmallows. I love the detail of using the gold teacup to put them in. Everything was just so cute.

The Food

On the buffet was a feast of Beauty and the Beast themed treats, and they were as yummy as they look!

Everything was bite sized and kid friendly, and so adorable.

Assorted tea sandwiches, including Mrs. Pots teapot shaped sandwiches
Crossiants
Individual Veggies and Dip
Belle Sugar Cookies
Grey Stuff
Jello
Rose Strawberry Shortcakes
Cupcakes

Heather always makes the most amazing sugar cookies, and for the Beauty and the Beast party she made Belle's dress sugar cookies.

There was also jello, served in pretty plastic cups, and layered red and yellow to match the party colours. Heather also put together rose strawberry shortcakes. She used store-bought bases, whipped cream, and then arranged the strawberries on top like a rose -so clever.

There were also little sandwiches. There were "Mrs. Pots" teapot snapped jam sandwiches, and little mini ham and cheese baguettes. And since it's France of course, some croissants, and some cucumber sandwiches.

There was also "the grey stuff"…remember the song "try the grey stuff it's delicious, don't believe us, ask the dishes". It was delicious, a sweet cookie moose topped off with a sugar rose. Get our Grey Stuff Recipe here.

Heather found the perfect rose cupcake liners for the pretty cupcakes. There was also veggies and dip cups. This is the perfect way to serve them for little guests -no double dipping issues when you have your own.

The Beauty and the Beast themed food was amazing, delicious and so fun.

Beauty and the Beast Party Games and Activities

There were five great Beauty and Beast themed party activities with simple ideas that tied into the movie really well.

It's not a really obvious theme when it comes to activities so she really had to put her thinking cap on and get creative. I think she did a great job. These activities also appealed to both boys and girls, and different age ranges, which was great.

Decorate An Enchanted Mirror

decorate a enchanted beauty and the beast mirror craft

The first activity station was to "Decorate An Enchanted Mirror". Remember the enchanted mirror in the movie that Belle uses to see her Father?

Heather found some clear plastic mirrors at the dollar store, and then had some glitter glue, stick on gems, ribbons, and letter stickers.

dollar store mirrors
glitter glue
gem stickers
ribbon
letter stickers

The kids all had great fun personalizing their mirrors.

beauty and the beast enchanted mirror craft

Chip's Bubbling Tea

The next activity was "Chip's Bubbling Tea". Remember the part in the movie where Chip, the little teacup shows Belle his trick of blowing bubbles in his tea?

beauty and beast bubble blowing activity

Heather used a drink-dispenser jar with a pouring spout, and filled it with bubbles. Such a great idea to cut down on the mess! The kids filled up plastic disposable plates, and then blew bubbles until their hearts were content.

drink dispenser filled with bubble formula
small paper plates
bubble wands

Gaston's Target Practise

The next activity was "Gaston's Target Practise", again from a scene in the movie where Gaston is practising with his bow and arrow.

Heather picked up a few toy nerf bow and arrow sets, and set up a picture of the Beast for target practise. The kids loves this game.

nerf bow and arrow sets
beast target

Make A Teacup Bird Feeder

The next activity was to "Make a Teacup Bird Feeder", based on the scene in the movie where Belle and the Beast feed the birds in the garden.

The teacups were all hung in the tree, and everyone picked one out that they liked -it looked so pretty!

To make the bird feeder, Heather super-glued the cup to the saucer. The glued cup and saucer could be filled with bird seed for the birds.

These were sent home in the favour bag, along with a little container of bird seed.

tea cups
ribbon
super glue
small containers of bird seed

Maurice's Inventions

The final activity was "Maurice's Inventions" centre. Belle's father Maurice was an inventor, and always working on his inventions in the movie.

Beauty and the Beast party games and activities for kids.

Heather set up the table with lots of fun things, and open ended materials. There was construction paper, egg cartons, felt, tin foil, wire, tape, glue, markers, pencil crayons, and pipe cleaners.

construction paper
egg cartons
felt
tin foil
wire
tape
glue
markers
pencil crayons
pipe cleaners
scissors
note books and pencils
styrofoam balls
coloured string
old bottle caps
wood cubes
toothpicks
skewers
popsicle sticks

There was also a tray of fun bits and bobs, like styrofoam balls, coloured string, old caps, wooden cubes, wooden buttons, toothpicks, skewers, and different sizes of popsicle sticks.

All the children had a little notebook, to work out their invention ideas, and then they could make whatever they liked. Some of the kids made a quick invention and then went off to play. Others, lingered at the table for a long time, and kept thinking of new things to make. It was the perfect last station, so the kids who loved it could say there as long as they liked.

Open Activity Stations

All the stations stayed open throughout the party, so at the end, the kids could return and play where ever they wanted. The bubbles, target practise, and inventions were re-visited over and over, and this come and go as you please approach was perfect, especially for kids of different ages that enjoyed different activites more than others.

It was a wonderful party, enjoyed by all. The birthday girl was well celebrated, with a joyful afternoon. Happy Birthday Miss. Allie!

With an afternoon of creative and fun Beauty and the Beast Party Games and Activities, life is really a party!

More Disney Princess Party Inspiration

If you try any of the Beauty and the Beast Party Ideas or any other ideas on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make the food ahead of time?

Yes, all the desserts were made ahead of time the day before and stored in the fridge, or sealed airtight containers. The sandwiches were made the morning of the party.

Do you have the signs available?

No, unfortunately we don't have the signs available. You can make something similar in Canva using clipart from the movie.

Where did all the table decorations come from?

Most items were from the dollar store or party store. You could also look for similar items online.

Top Family Movies

Jul 10, 2015 · 6 Comments

Non Cartoon Family Movies: Best non cartoon family movies that parents will actually enjoy too for family movie night or anytime.

Family movie night movies that parents will enjoy too.

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Friday night is movie night, along with any rainy days this summer with the girls. I like a good Disney cartoon as much as the next guy, but they're not my fav. I much prefer a non cartoon family movie with real people, and now that my girls are a little older, I try to find a family night movie that we will all enjoy. So, I've put together a list of my favourite family movies, that adults will actually enjoy as well.

A few are good old classics, some I even fondly remember from my childhood, and watching the "Wonderful World of Disney" on Sunday nights with my own parents.
They might have a slight girly bent, since I have two girls, but hopefully there are a few here that you and your peeps will enjoy too.

Best Non Cartoon Family Movies

1. Pollyanna

This was a surprise favourite with my girls. We went on a bit of Disney movie spree last year before our big trip to Disney World, and this was one of their very favourites. It's certainly a sweet story, and a great life lesson finding the good in life.

2. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I remember this book from my childhood. The movie is the perfect funny, sweet family movie. A few good laughs, and a feel good ending -perfect.

3. Jumanji

At first we thought this one might be a little too scary, but once my girls were into it, they loved the suspense, and the all the jungle animals and stuff are so outrageous it's wonderful! A great family flick.

4. Swiss Family Robinson

This was a fav for me as a kid, still love the race scene with the ostrich and the zebra -a classic for sure. Just be prepared for your kids to ask you for a tree-house afterward.

5. The Secret Garden

Such a sweet story, and what kid wouldn't love the idea of discovering their own private special little place.

6. The Sound of Music

Another classic, that everyone should see at least once. The kids won't really get the war part of the story, but they'll still love it, and be singing Doe a deer… for ages.

7. A Little Princess

Such a sweet story, full of the stuff of fairy tales, a rich girl reduced to servanthood, and then rescued in the end. I have to say this is one I love too.

8. Mary Poppins

Such a classic, and for good reason. My girls loved this movie, and loved realizing that Maria from Sound of Music was Mary Poppins too.

9. Little Women

I didn't know if my girls would really like this one, I never thought of it as a family movie before, probably because I liked it so much as an adult. My girls did too, and it's totally family appropriate. The Christmas scene make it a great holiday movie too.

10. Akeelah and the Bee

This is a great movie about a girl and a spelling bee. I love role model girls who are smart!

11. Second Hand Lions

This is a great adventure tale, a real coming of age story about a boy and his eccentric uncles…even includes a second hand lion.

12. The Parent Trap

I went looking for the old one that I remembered from my childhood and found the new one. Still delightful.

13. Babe

"That'll do pig, that'll do." What more can you say?

14. Matilda

A great modern fairy tale, complete with good guys, bad guys, and a little magic!

15. Bears

This one is a documentary…not everyone's cup of tea, and there are few moments were everyone's a little worried about the safety of the cubs, but it's a happy ending and the cinematography is amazing.

17. Charlotte's Web

Another classic, every one should probably read, or at least watch. It's cute, funny, and a tear-jerker, but in a good way.

18. Anne of Green Gables

This was definitely a favourite of mine, I remember when it first aired on tv. We started watching it one rainy day, and my girls really liked it. Once you get started there is a whole set in the series to enjoy.

19. Nanny McPhee and Nanny McPhee Returns

Both are sweet movies about naughty children and the caring Nanny who teaches them to behave.

20. Fairy Tale: A True Story

Two little girls take a photo of a fairy in their garden in 1917, and everyone becomes very interested. It's even based on a true story.
These are some of my favourites, what did I miss? What are some of your family favourites?

More Ideas

You might also like Top 10 Family Christmas Movies here.

You might also like our post on Movies Under the Stars here.

Also check out our Christmas Movie Night post here.

Easy Chocolate Truffle Pops

Jul 7, 2015 · 3 Comments

Chocolate Truffle Pops -An easy and delicious recipe for truffles. Add a lollipop stick to create a truffle pop and all your favourite toppings.

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Where are my chocolate lovers at? These truffles are really easy to make and so delicious. Since truffles are a little messy to eat, we turned them into truffle pops. We added all kinds of different toppings. These are so perfect for serving at a party or special occasion.

Topping Ideas

After we made our truffle base, we got out all our yummy toppings and made lots of different truffle flavors. This was the fun part. You can customize your truffle pops with any fun toppings that you like. We decided to use:

mini white chocolate chips
chopped almonds
toffee pieces
white sprinkles
chocolate sprinkles
colorful sprinkles
coconut
cookie crumbs
cocoa powder mixed with icing sugar
dehydrated marshmallows
graham cracker crumbs

You could also melt some chocolate coating in a heatproof bowl and dip your truffles in it for a melted chocolate coating. Use dark chocolate, white chocolate, or milk chocolate for your coating depending your preferences. If your melted chocolate is too thick, use a little coconut oil to make it thinner for dipping.

Once the truffle base was set, we rolled them into balls, and then in the toppings. This process is a little messy but lots of fun. This is a really great recipe to make with kids. They'll love making the truffle balls and then choosing which toppings to roll them in. Lastly insert a lollipop stick or popsicle stick into each one.

We had so much fun mixing and matching the different toppings for our truffle pops. Try lots of different kinds, or just choose your favorite. The s'more truffle pops rolled in a combination of dehydrated mallow bits and graham cracker crumbs were a big hit. Another favorite were the oreo truffle pops rolled in cookie crumbs.

Store your finished truffle pops in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in a cool place.

These make the perfect easy dessert. They're also a really fun addition to a dessert table for a party. Truffle pops are great for gifft giving too. Wrap them up in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon and give as perfect homemade gifts or party favors.

Recipe

Chocolate Truffle Pops

Creamy truffles on a stick with various toppings.

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Course: Candy, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Additional Time: 1 30

Total Time: 1 45

Servings:

Calories: 228kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

▢ 8 oz milk chocolate
▢ 4 fl oz heavy cream
▢ ½ oz butter
▢ ¼ teaspoon vanilla
▢ lollipop sticks
▢ toppings such as mini chocolate chips, skor bits, sprinkles, mix of cooca powder and icing sugar, chopped nuts, coconut, cookie bits, marshmallow bites, graham cracker crumbs

Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine cream and butter and bring to a boil.
Break up the milk chocolate into a large bowl, and pour the hot cream and butter mixture over top. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and mixture is fully combined. Add in vanilla and stir.
Allow mixture to cool for 30 min. at room temperature, then place in the fridge for 2 hours to set.
To make the truffle pops, use a teaspoon to scoop out a bite-size piece of the truffle mixture, and roll in your hands to form a truffle ball and place on to some parchment paper.
Roll the chocolate truffles in a topping of your choice, and insert a lollipop stick. Place finished truffle pops back in the fridge to fully set.

Nutrition

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LifeisaParty or tag #lifeisaparty!

With these easy and delicious truffle pops, life really is a party.

More Dessert Recipe Inspiration

Also check out our One Bowl Brownie recipe here.

Easy One Bowl Brownies: easy to make, simple ingredients you already have in your pantry, and better than a store bought mix. Promise.

You might also enjoy our Chocolate Charcuterie Board.

Chocolate Charcuterie Snack Board: perfect for the chocolate lover, tips on building your board, and ingredient suggestions.

Easy Homemade Fair Funnel Cakes Recipe

Jul 2, 2015 · 5 Comments

These fair funnel cakes are crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, and taste just like the ones from your favorite summer fair or amusement park. No funnel required. All you need is the simple batter, hot oil, and a ziplock bag.

Quick Look

📋 Recipe: Fair Funnel Cakes with Strawberry Compote
⏲️ Ready In: 45 minutes (about 30 minutes active)
👪 Servings: 6 funnel cakes
🔪 Difficulty: Easy
🫙 Batter Tool: Ziplock bag with corner snipped off (the best method!)
🍓 Top Tip: The strawberry compote can be made days ahead and stored in the fridge.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Totally customizable. Classic powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, ice cream, fresh fruit. You choose.
Tastes just like the fair. The batter is light, crispy, and dusted with powdered sugar exactly like you remember.
No funnel needed. A ziplock bag gives you total control over the pour with zero mess.
Easy enough for a party. Plug in a small deep fryer and cook these fresh for guests. Everyone gathers around.
The strawberry compote takes it to the next level. Warm, jammy, and so easy to make ahead.

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There's something about a warm funnel cake that brings out pure joy. Just the sight of one covered in powdered sugar takes you straight back to a summer fair, a carnival midway, or a theme park lineup worth every minute of waiting. We served these at a recent circus party and they were the hit of the whole evening. Honestly, they might have stolen the show from the actual circus activities.

The good news is that you don't have to wait for fair season to enjoy them. This easy homemade funnel cake recipe comes together with pantry staples, fries up in minutes, and works beautifully for entertaining. They're perfect for a party. Make the batter ahead of time. Then set up your small deep fryer in the kitchen, or right outside beside the barbecue, cook the funnel cakes fresh, and serve them warm. Prepare for your guests to be wowed.

If you love easy fried treats, you might also enjoy our homemade sour cream donut recipe, honey cruller donut recipe, or our take on Canadian fried dough, another fairground classic.

Ingredients

The funnel cake batter uses simple pantry staples. Measurements below in the recipe card.

All-purpose flour: Regular flour works perfectly here. Do not use self-rising flour as it will affect the rise and texture.
Baking powder: This is what gives the batter its slight lift and keeps the inside tender rather than dense.
Milk: Whole milk gives you the best flavour and texture. 2% works too. Plant-based milks can be substituted but may slightly affect the result.
Eggs: Two large eggs add structure and richness to the batter.
Vanilla extract: A full teaspoon. This is what makes the batter taste like fair funnel cake and not just fried dough.
Salt: Just a teaspoon. It balances the sweetness of the powdered sugar topping.
Powdered sugar: For dusting. Generous is always the right amount.
Frying oil: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point: canola, vegetable, or peanut oil all work well.

For the Strawberry Compote (optional but recommended):

Frozen strawberries: Frozen works beautifully here and is available year-round, but when in season you could use fresh instead.
White sugar: Sweetens the fruit and helps it break down into a jammy sauce.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and rounds out the strawberry flavor.
Lemon juice: Brightens the whole compote and balances the sweetness.

Equipment

You don't need much, but a couple of things are worth knowing before you start.

For pouring the batter: You have three options: a real funnel, a squeeze bottle, or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off. We've tried all three. The ziplock bag is the clear winner for me. It gives you the most control over the flow, it's easy to squeeze steadily, and cleanup is just throwing the bag away. A specialty funnel with a stopper works but is a little awkward. A squeeze bottle is fine but sometimes the hole is too big or too small. With the ziplock bag, just snip a hole about ½ inch wide in the corner of your ziplock bag and you're set. Any leftover batter stores right in the bag resting in a mixing bowl, in the fridge for up to 2 days.
For frying: A small countertop deep fryer is ideal. It regulates the oil temperature automatically, which takes the guesswork out of the hardest part of deep frying. It's also much safer than a pot of oil on the stove, especially if you have kids nearby. That said, a deep, heavy-bottomed pot works perfectly well. You need enough oil to come about 2 to 3 inches up the sides and an oil thermometer to regulate the temperature of the oil.
A slotted spoon, spider strainer, or metal tongs: For flipping and lifting the funnel cakes out of the oil safely.

Funnel Cake Topping Ideas

Fair funnel cakes topped with vanilla ice cream and strawberry compote, dusted with powdered sugar on a white scalloped plate.

The classic funnel cake topping is powdered sugar, and it's a classic for a reason. But once you start adding toppings, it's hard to stop. If you're making the strawberry compote, start it before you begin the batter since it takes about 12 minutes. Serve it warm or at room temperature.

Here are our favorite toppings:

Warm strawberry compote with vanilla ice cream (shown in the photos above)
Cinnamon sugar instead of powdered sugar
Whipped cream with fresh berries
Chocolate sauce (our hot fudge recipe would be perfect as a funnel cake topping)
Caramel sauce with a pinch of flaky salt
Fresh sliced peaches in summer, or any fresh fruit that's in season
Whipped cream and ice cream -any flavor
Chopped Oreos and ice cream for cookies and cream

If you're serving these at a party, set up a little topping station with small bowls. Guests love customizing their own.

canada's wonderland style homemade funnel cakes

How to Make Fair Funnel Cakes

Sifted flour, baking powder, and salt combined in a white mixing bowl with a copper-handled whisk on a wooden surface.

Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.

Eggs, milk, and vanilla whisked together in a white bowl on a wooden table.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.

Smooth funnel cake batter combined in a white bowl ready for frying.

Step 3: Make the batter. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth.

Funnel cake batter being poured into a ziplock freezer bag set inside a white bowl.

Step 4: Fill your ziplock bag. Spoon or pour the batter into a large ziplock freezer bag, seal it, and snip a small hole (about ¼ inch) from one corner.

Fair funnel cake frying to golden brown in hot oil in a deep fryer.

Step 5: Fry the funnel cakes. Heat your oil to 350°F. Hold the bag a few inches above the oil. Squeeze the batter in a circular, criss-cross pattern, aiming for a connected swirl shape. Don't worry about making a perfect circle. Fry until golden brown then carefully flip with a slotted spoon or tongs. Cook the second side until also golden brown. Fry in batches. Drain on a paper towel and serve with powdered sugar and toppings.

Homemade funnel cake with strawberry compote, vanilla ice cream, and powdered sugar, on a white plate.

Step 6: Optional strawberry compote: Combine the frozen strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium and cook uncovered for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries are completely soft and the sauce has thickened slightly. Serve warm or room temperature.

Expert Tips: The batter should be thick enough to hold a ribbon when you lift the spoon, but thin enough to flow easily. Add milk one tablespoon at a time if it's too thick, or flour one tablespoon at a time if it's too thin. The key to making funnel cakes is not to stress about making them perfect. They're supposed to be a little wild and swirly. That's the whole point.

Serving Funnel Cakes at a Party

This is one of our favorite entertaining moves. Plug in a small countertop deep fryer and cook funnel cakes fresh while guests are mingling. The sizzle gets everyone's attention, and there's something so fun about watching them come straight out of the fryer. It also works great for a backyard party. Setup outside, and serve guests as they're ready, and let them help themselves to the toppings.

If you love casual summer entertaining like this, our ice cream sundae dessert board is another easy crowd-pleaser you can set up and let guests build themselves.

Make Ahead and Storage

Batter: The funnel cake batter can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in a sealed ziplock bag in the fridge. Give it a gentle stir or squeeze before using.
Strawberry compote: Make up to 5 days ahead. Store in a jar or airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently in a small saucepan before serving, or serve at room temperature.
Leftover funnel cakes: Funnel cakes are best fresh. Fry what you need and store leftover batter in the fridge, then fry more when needed
Freezing: Not recommended. The texture doesn't hold up after freezing.

Gluten-Free Note

Several readers have had great success making these gluten-free using Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour as a direct substitution. This blend already contains xanthan gum, so no need to add any. One tip: spoon the flour into your measuring cup rather than scooping directly from the bag. Scooping packs it too densely and can make the batter too thick.

Frequently Asked Questions

What oil is best for frying funnel cakes?

Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point. Canola, vegetable, and peanut oil all work well. Avoid olive oil or butter as they burn at frying temperatures and will affect the flavor.

Do I need a real funnel to make funnel cakes?

No. A ziplock bag with a small hole snipped in one corner works better than a funnel. It gives you more control over the flow of batter, is easier to squeeze, and cleanup is simply tossing the bag. A squeeze bottle also works if the hole in the top is the right size.

Why did my funnel cake fall apart in the oil?

This usually comes down to one of two things: the batter is too thin, or the oil is not hot enough. If the batter is too runny it won't hold its shape. If the oil is below 350°F the batter spreads and breaks apart before it sets. Check your oil temperature before each batch and adjust your batter consistency as needed.

What is the right consistency for funnel cake batter?

The batter should be similar to a thick pancake batter. When you lift a spoon it should hold a ribbon for a moment before falling. It needs to be thin enough to flow through the bag but thick enough to hold its swirly shape in the oil. Add milk one tablespoon at a time if it's too thick, or flour one tablespoon at a time if it's too thin.

Can I make funnel cake batter ahead of time?

Yes. The batter keeps well in a sealed ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 2 days. Give it a gentle squeeze to recombine before using as it may settle slightly.

How do I reheat funnel cakes?

Funnel cakes are best fresh. You can try doing it in an air fryer. Reheat at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes until crispy again. Avoid the microwave as it makes them soft and soggy. Better yet, save leftover batter in the fridge, and fry fresh when you want more.

Can I make these gluten-free?

Yes. Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour works as a direct substitution. This blend already contains xanthan gum so there's nothing extra to add. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup rather than scooping directly from the bag to avoid packing it too densely.

More Recipe Inspiration

If you try these fair funnel cakes or any other recipe on my blog, leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!

Fair funnel cake with strawberry compote and vanilla ice cream dusted with powdered sugar on a white scalloped plate.

Recipe

Easy Donut Strawberry Shortcake

Jun 25, 2015 · 13 Comments

Donut Strawberry Shortcake -the easiest, best Strawberry Shortcake ever! You'll never go back to your old version after trying this one.

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This Donut Strawberry Shortcake just might be the greatest, easiest summer recipe EVER. EVER.

It all started when I drove by a little strawberry stand the other day, and realized it was the beginning of strawberry season here. I stopped by to pick some up, and was informed that it was pick-your-own so I headed out to the patch for a few minutes and came back with a yummy basket full…and a few samples in my tummy(quality control).

The Donuts

I saw this great idea here originally, and wanted to try it with some Honey Crullers -I know genius idea. This is such a fun idea for strawberry shortcake. Strawberry shortcake traditionally has a cake like base. Sometimes it's made with pound cake, angel food cake, or sometimes a sweet biscuit base. Using a donut is such a fun twist on the classic dessert. And it makes it so quick and easy to make this for any special occasion, or just because. 😉

I'm a huge fan of honey crullers. You could even make homemade donuts from scratch if you want to. You can find my homemade honey cruller recipe here. But, the donut shop makes them so well and they're so fresh, that for this recipe it's a great time saver ot pick them up bakery donuts.

Whipped Cream

I think homemade fresh whipped cream is best for this recipe -in fact it's just best in general. It's actually so easy to make. You just whip heavy whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer, and add some sugar and vanilla. That's it. So easy. You can make ahead of time, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge, but it sometimes becomes a little watery, so it's best used fresh.

You can use cool whip instead if you prefer. Or even the spray kind of whip cream, but remember it's has a much lighter and more airy texture than homemade whipped cream, and it won't hold so if you're using this option, make sure to eat them as soon as you make them.

Strawberries

I picked my strawberries during our local season and they were nice and sweet. I choose not to macerate my strawberries. The donut is already quite sweet, and I found the tart berries were the perfect combination. If it's not the time of year to pick berries in your location and your strawberries are out of season and not quite so sweet you could sprinkle with a couple teaspoons of sugar and let them sit to make macerated strawberries. As they maserate the juices come out and they become sweet and juicy strawberries. If you use this method, be sure to use a slotted spoon to add them to the strawberry shortcake donuts so that they're not too wet.

how to make Strawberry Shortcake with a donut

Making these little donut strawberry shortcakes couldn't be easier. They're the perfect way to make a quick strawberry shortcake.

As I was making these I did wonder if they might be a bit too sweet, so I didn't add any sugar to the strawberries, and it was the PERFECT mix of sweet, creamy, and tangy.

Variations

Whether you make the glazed donut version or the honey cruller version they're both totally delicious. You could even use other donut varieties.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shortcake

If you're a chocolate donut fan, how decadent would a chocolate dipped donut be as the base? Like your own chocolate dipped strawberry turned shortcake. You could even add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the whipped cream when you're making it for chocolate whipped cream.

Sour cream glazed would make a much denser version of this dessert, but would also be delicious. I mean really, what donut with fresh cream and sweet strawberries won't be delicious?

One more idea is to replace some of the whipped cream with ice cream for another great variation on this easy dessert.

I think these would be a great addition to any Canada Day celebrations you're planning …and as I always say to my American peeps, throw in a few blueberries, and you've got 4th of July covered too with strawberry and blueberry shortcake.

These donut strawberry shortcakes are the ultimate treat. They're a real crowd pleaser. And since they're so easy to make, they're great for entertaining. If you don't have a lot of time, and still want to wow your guests with an impressive recipe that looks and tastes great than these are the perfect dessert.

Recipe

Donut Strawberry Shortcake

Fresh strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and donuts.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 440kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist