The first American state fair was held in Syracuse, New York, in 1941. Since then the annual event has spread across the states, entertaining the masses with its competitions, rides, and iconic fair foods. If you have ever willingly paid $8 for fresh lemonade or $12 for a giant corn dog, you probably understand how fair foods hold a special place in many people’s hearts – and stomachs. You may only get to attend your state fair once a year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy classic fair food all year round. Here are a few fair foods you can make from the comfort of your home.

Popcorn

A classic fair treat that has found its way to the front of entertainment snack foods in general, popcorn is one of the simplest, easiest, and most popular fair foods to make at home. Pop small servings of popcorn in the microwave or a home air popper, or large batches to share in a kettle-style popcorn machine. Prepare the popcorn with just butter and salt, or pile on your favorite toppings. Take it one step further by taking the freshly popped kernels to the stove and making salted caramel corn or popcorn balls. 

Cotton Candy

Another classic and simple fair food, cotton candy is a favorite among fair-going children. While not the easiest to make from scratch, making cotton candy at home is still 100% achievable with the right equipment. There are lots of recipes online for making cotton candy by hand with melted sugar and a modified whisk, but if you don’t want to go through all that effort you can easily buy or rent a cotton candy machine that will have you rolling in cotton candy in no time. These machines work by quickly heating up finely ground sugar and using centrifugal force to extrude very thin strands of sugar into the air and around the waiting bowl. All you have to do is roll up the candy strands onto a cone, and it’s ready to enjoy.

Snow Cones

Snow cones are the perfect sweet treat to refresh you while walking around the fair on a warm day, so why not enjoy this refreshing treat at home too? Use a snow cone machine or strong blender to crush ice into the perfect snow cone texture, then saturate with your favorite syrups or fruit juices. If you are feeling adventurous, you can experiment with add-ins like ice cream or condensed milk, or play around with toppings like fresh fruit and berries, pop rocks, and caramel or chocolate sauces. 

Slushies

Slushies are snow cones’ drinkable cousins, and they are just as loved and just as easy to make at home. Add any slushie flavor concentrate and water to the reservoir of a slushie machine, switch it on, and watch the drink freeze to the perfect consistency. Alternatively, add small ice cubes and your flavoring of choice to a strong blender and blend until the desired consistency is achieved. You can stick to classic flavors like blue raspberry, tigers blood, or strawberry, or you can mix it up by adding pureed fruit, cola, and even alcohol to your drink. Serve in a clear glass with a wide straw, and top with fresh fruit or small candies.

Deep-Fried Treats

They say anything is better deep fried, and state fairs are notorious for putting this theory into practice. Fried pickles, blooming onions, and tornado potatoes are easy to fry up in a deep pot at home. The secret to sweet deep-fried treats is the batter. Whip up some funnel cake mix and get frying these classic birds’ nest reminiscent fair foods, then use that same batter to coat your Oreos, Twinkies, Snickers, and balls of ice cream. Don’t forget to finish it all off with powdered sugar and chocolate sauce.

Nachos

Yet another food that goes hand in hand with fairs and entertainment in general, nachos have the unique ability to be both a snack and a full meal depending on how they are prepared. Pairing tortilla chip rounds with nacho cheese in a nacho tray keeps the chips and cheese separate for dipping and snacking without the hassle of a soggy chip. Alternatively, make a meal out of loaded nachos. You can stick to the classics by loading up refried beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and jalapenos, or you branch out with chili cheese nachos or barbeque nachos.

Grilled and Smoked

If you are skilled with a grill you can make some of the more substantial foods found inside the fair and out. Grill corn in the husk or wrapped in foil, and top with butter, salt, and your seasonings of choice. Grill hamburgers and hotdogs (or use a hotdog roller), and smoke anything from ribs and pulled pork to marinated turkey legs.