Homemade Elephant Ears

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You can stop your search… this Homemade Elephant Ears recipe actually works and tastes just like the ones from the fair, no ticket required! The dough is soft and puffy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and made with simple ingredients you already have. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, drizzle with lemon juice, or slather on some Nutella.

 

What Are Elephant Ears?

Elephant ears are just fried dough—thin, flat pieces of yeast dough fried until golden, then topped with cinnamon sugar or something sweet. They go by lots of names like beaver tails, otter tails, fry bread, or scones, depending on where you’re from. The name comes from their shape, which loosely resembles an elephant’s ear—but don’t worry about making them perfect. They’ll still be delish!

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Elephant Ears

You’ll need a few basics to pull together your own dough from scratch.

• Warm water – helps activate the yeast – aim for 107-110° F
• Warm milk – just above room temperature, not hot enough to kill the yeast
• Granulated sugar – sweetens the dough and feeds the yeast
• Melted butter – for moisture and flavor
• Quick rise yeast – helps the dough puff up quickly (you can use active dry yeast if that’s what you have)
• Egg – adds richness to the dough
• Salt – balances the sweetness
• All-purpose flour – the structure of your dough
• Vegetable oil – or any neutral, light-colored oil like vegetable oil, canola, or peanut oil will work here. You want one with a high smoke point.

Sweet Topping Options

• Cinnamon sugar. My personal favorite and the classic way to serve this fried dough.
• Lemon and sugar. This may sound a bit strange but coating the dough in sugar and topping with a squeeze of lemon juice is actually the perfect combination. A little sweet, a little sour.
• Nutella. You can’t go wrong with some Nutella spread over the top!
• Powdered sugar. This will give them a funnel cake-like vibe!
• Syrup or sauce of any kind. Chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, or even strawberry sauce can be drizzled over the top.

Variations

• Try using puff pastry if you’re looking for a shortcut (store-bought works!)
• Use an air fryer for a lighter version- See further down the post for how to make these in an air fryer.
• Spread with cinnamon roll icing or jam
• Cut into smaller 6-inch circles for mini versions

What’s The Difference Between Funnel Cake and Elephant Ears? While they both taste similar and are often sprinkled with the same toppings, funnel cake and elephant ears are not the same. Funnel cake is made by pouring a batter, similar to a pancake batter, into hot oil. Elephant ears, on the other hand, are made with an actual dough that needs to rise before being fried.

How to Make Homemade Elephant Ears

Making fried dough at home requires about 10 to 15 minutes of hands-on time plus an hour of rising time for the dough. For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are my step by step instructions for making Homemade Elephant Ears:

1. Proof the Yeast

Pour the warm water and a teaspoon of sugar into a large bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast and stir, then set aside to proof. This should take about 5 minutes.

2. Make the Dough

Heat the milk, butter, and remaining sugar in a microwave safe bowl or on the stove top to melt and dissolve the sugar. Stir to cool. It should be a bit warmer than room temperature but not scalding to kill the yeast. Pour the butter mixture into the yeast mixture and stir. Whisk in the egg and salt, followed by the flour in 1/2 cup increments. Once if forms a dough, knead 2-3 minutes until a slightly sticky dough has formed. Add more flour when necessary. The dough is ready when you press it gently with your finger and it springs back.

3. Allow the Dough to Rise

Transfer the dough a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot in your kitchen for an hour to let the dough rise. Punch the dough down and cut into 8 equal pieces.

4. Fry the Dough

Roll the dough into ovals at that 1/4-1/8 inch thick. No worries if they’re not perfect looking – mine weren’t either. Place in the hot oil and fry 20 to 30 seconds per side. You want a medium to slightly dark color on the dough.

5. Serve + Enjoy

Remove the fried dough from the oil and hold it over the pan to let the excess oil drip off. Then immediately add your favorite toppings, like cinnamon sugar or nutella. Serve warm and fresh!

Tips for Success

If you want your elephant ears to taste just like the county fair, keep these things in mind.

• Add more or less flour as needed. The amount of flour needed in any dough can vary based on the flour, the climate, and other factors. This is part of the reason why I recommend adding it in 1/2 cup increments. Keep in mind you can also add more as needed when kneading the dough.
• How hot should the oil be? Since these beaver tails are fried for just 20-30 seconds per side, it’s important that the oil is hot…but not so hot that it burns your dough! Aim for 350° F. Try frying one piece of dough and adjust the oil as necessary.
• Do not overcrowd the pan. Work in small batches so the temperature of the oil doesn’t plummet.
• Help the dough cook evenly. The middle of the dough tends to puff up when it hits the oil. I’ve found cutting a slit in the middle helps to cook the dough evenly. Another option is to use tongs to press the middle into the oil.

Storage + Make Ahead Directions

Elephant ears are best served immediately, when warm and soft from the oil. If you do have leftovers, they can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. I recommend reheating them in the oven or air fryer. The texture won’t be the same but they’ll still taste good! If you want to add the cinnamon sugar topping, just brush the top with melted butter and add the topping.

Can you freeze this recipe?
Yes! Freeze dough balls before frying. Thaw, roll, and fry when ready. Cooked elephant ears don’t freeze well—they lose their crispness.

Can you make them ahead?
You can prep the dough and store it in the fridge overnight, covered in plastic wrap. Bring to room temperature before rolling and frying.

Can I Make Fried Dough in the Air Fryer?

Frying the dough in a pan is always going to give the most authentic fair food flavor. However, if you want to cut back on the oil a bit, you can make elephant ears in your air fryer.

Spray the dough with cooking spray (like avocado oil spray). Cook the dough in batches – this will likely mean one at a time unless you have a huge air fryer – at 350° F for 5 minutes. Flip them over and cook for another 5 minutes. You may have to adjust the time slightly based on your air fryer so I recommend trying one and adjusting the time as necessary for the rest.

They won’t have exactly the same texture or flavor as frying them but they’ll still be good!

More Fried Dough Recipes to Try!

• Glazed Donuts
• French Crullers
• Donut Holes
• Apple Fritters
• Pumpkin Donuts
• Red Velvet Donuts

No need to wait for the state fair or track down a food truck. This elephant ears recipe brings fair-style fried dough straight to your own kitchen. If you love funnel cake, beaver tails, or anything crispy and sweet, this is the easiest way to recreate those summer memories at home.

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.