How to Make Elephant Ears Like You Get at the Fair

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How to Make Elephant Ears Like You Get at the Fair

We took our kids to the Portland Zoo recently and got elephant ears and they were so good we had to make more.

Sarah Heath

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Step 1 of 17

Gather your ingredients

Step 2 of 17

In a sauce pan over medium heat mix the milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, salt, and shortening. Heat, stirring constantly, until the shortening melts. Be careful not to scorch the milk.

Step 3 of 17

Pour into a bowl and let cool to 110 degrees.

Step 4 of 17

Once cooled to 110 degrees, add the yeast. Let it sit do about 10 minutes until foamy.

Step 5 of 17

Add the flour but reserve about half a cup for kneading.

Step 6 of 17

Mix in flour

Step 7 of 17

Put reserved flour on parchment paper, put dough on top. Knead in all the flour.

Step 8 of 17

Put dough in an oiled bowl and cover. Let rise in a warm spot for half an hour.

Step 9 of 17

The dough should double.

Step 10 of 17

Make balls of dough that are around 1-2 inches.

Step 11 of 17

Roll out very thin

Step 12 of 17

Heat about an inch of oil to 375 degrees. I didn't measure the temperature, I just warmed it to medium heat on my stove. Put the rolled dough in the oil. Let brown, flip, and brown on the other side.

Step 13 of 17

Mine literally took about 10 seconds on each side.

Step 14 of 17

Remove onto paper towels. Brush with melted butter. Don't skimp on the butter!

Step 15 of 17

Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Be generous!

Step 16 of 17

Yummy! Just like at the fair.

Step 17 of 17

This recipe makes a lot! Like 15 elephant ears. Halve the recipe if you're not treating a crowd to these.

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

Sarah Heath

Pacific Northwest

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1 ½ Cups Milk

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Teaspoon Salt

6 Tablespoons Shortening

2 Tablespoons Yeast

4 Cups Flour

Oil

½ Cups Sugar, for topping

3 Tablespoons Cinnamon, for topping

¼ Cups Butter, melted, for topping

Desiree, You can pull up the supplies list on the bottom.

Sarah Heath (author) 4 weeks ago

Could you tell me how much milk to use? Your directions don't say.

Desiree Keeney Starbuck 4 weeks ago

Yum!!!!!!!

Stephanie Hall 4 months ago

Just made these I used my skillet so I can make 3 at a time they tasted delicious Athena it's not too hard to make I'm useless in the kitchen and these were easy!

Holly Shea 6 months ago

Sounds really Yummy!!!

Chantell Koonce 7 months ago

Mmm, Trans Fats.

Joe Moynihan 8 months ago

Could you update with measurements of ingredients??? Thanks!!

Kristie Bingham Whiting 9 months ago

how much milk?!?!

Jordan Allen 9 months ago

I'm collecting recipes for my sons birthday. I'm going to add this to what we make! I think I'll cut them into triangles and make different flavors!

Rane Body Decor 11 months ago

Thanks for the guide - appreciate the effort you did in making this, nicely done! A little variation: on the East Coast we called it "fried dough pizza" and topped it with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese - VERY yummy! Our fairs also put just the powdered sugar on them too.

Terri Doak 12 months ago