Just like the ones you get at the county fair! Fried Oreos are battered and deep-fried, for a super-indulgent fair treat that's even better because it's homemade.
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If it's one of those years when you just can't make it to the fair, whether because of the cost or the weather or your crazy schedule, you may be feeling especially sad about missing out on fair treats.
Well, that's certainly how I've been feeling this summer! Lucky for you and me we can still get our fix, by making our favorite fair treats at home! Buttery corn on the cob from the farmstand is one of my favorite fair indulgences that we make at home. And another is a batch of sweet, hot, Fried Oreos.
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Fact: Fried Oreos are not a fair treat that I ever had growing up—and that made sense when I learned that they weren't created until 2002. It's my kids' generation and all those who came after who will never think of the state or county fair without thinking of Fried Oreos.
Another fried favorite!
County Fair Fried Dough
Served hot with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Fried Oreos History
What are Fried Oreos? They're exactly what they sound like: Oreo cookies dropped into a deep fryer. Except that, before they go into the oil, the Oreos are coated in a thick, sweetened batter that resembles pancake batter. It puffs and cooks up to a golden brown, protecting the cookies inside.
The first Fried Oreo debuted in 2002 at the San Diego County Fair, created by a food vendor named Charlie Boghosian—affectionately known as "Chicken Charlie". To differentiate himself from other vendors at the fair, he gained a reputation as the man who would fry anything—literally. In addition to food, he has fried shoes, hats, and Conan O'Brien's sunglasses.
We have him to thank for treats like fried Kool-Aid, deep-fried filet mignon, and a cheeseburger sandwiched between two Krispy Creme doughnuts. However, of all his experimentation and fried food inventions, Boghosian says Fried Oreos have been hands down his most popular.
Though Fried Oreos had their start in California, they have quickly become one of the most beloved fair foods in the country, landing in the top 10 of nearly every "best of the fair" list out there.
And fairgoers on the Eastern coast and in New England are no exception—my family and I can personally attest to digging into warm Fried Oreos at the Champlain Valley Fair in Essex Junction, Vermont and at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts. The deep-frying trailers even make appearances these days at outdoor festivals and food truck events.
Why you'll love this recipe
Because they're so delicious and not that hard to make! The cookies are coated in a sweetened batter for deep frying. Then, they're dropped in the oil and cooked until they're golden brown. The crispy cookie becomes tender and almost melts in your mouth as you bite through!
When making deep fried Oreos at home, don't wait for summertime or fair season to roll around—they're a really fun treat to make for weekend snacks, sleepovers, birthdays, and movie nights. Serve them on their own or atop of bowl of ice cream!
Making deep fried Oreos at home gives you a fun opportunity, too—to try different varieties of Oreos! There are soooo many kinds, including peanut butter, birthday cake, holiday colors, and Double Stuf Oreos. At the fair you may get only one choice of Oreo cookies... at home, you can try any kind you want.
🔪 How to make Fried Oreos
Ingredients:
- Oreos: Go with classic Oreos, flavored or themed Oreos, or similar types of sandwich cookies from brands like Hydrox.
- Flour: The base of the batter is all-purpose flour. My go-to flour brand is King Arthur Baking.
- Sugar: To sweeten the batter, use some granulated sugar.
- Baking powder: This leavening agent helps the batter puff and lighten as it fries.
- Milk: Use whole or 2% milk to create the batter, and keep a little extra on hand in case the batter needs to be thinned.
- Egg: An egg helps bind the batter together, and creates a richer texture, too.
- Vegetable oil: A little oil goes into the batter; the rest of the oil is for frying the cookies. A digital thermometer is an essential tool for the frying.
- Salt: A pinch of salt in the batter enhances the flavors in the homemade fried Oreos.
Make the batter
Whisk the dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, whisk the wet ingredients together, then slowly add in the dry until they are just combined.
Heat the oil
Pour vegetable oil into a heavy-duty cast iron pot or enameled cast iron pot like this one. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350° F.
How to fry Oreos
Dip a few Oreos into the batter and coat them on all sides. Slide the battered Oreos into the hot oil. Fry them until they are evenly golden-brown all over. Then move them to the paper towels to drain.
Enjoy
Dig into these Fried Oreos while they're still warm!
FAQs
Yes, they are soft! It's hard to imagine because Oreos out of the package have that familiar crunch when you bite into them. However, deep frying softens the cookies and the batter on the outside is soft as well. When eaten warm, Fried Oreos almost melt in your mouth—so freaking good!
Fried Oreos are at their very best right after you fry them, while they're still warm. However, leftover cookies can be stored for two to three days. Place them in a sealed container in the fridge. They can be warmed up in the oven or in an air fryer.
Yes, yes, yes! I don't blame you for having a healthy dose of skepticism, though. When it comes to fried foods at fairs, there are many eyebrow-raising choices. And for Oreo cookie purists, frying these classic cookies may seem like one step too far. However, I can assure you that they are indeed very good: the chocolaty cookie is meltingly tender once cooked and the sweetened batter fries up to a toasty, golden hue. If you've been on the fence, it's time to jump off of that there fence and join us at the delicious, Fried Oreo party.
Tips:
- Maintaining the proper oil temp is key to getting great fried Oreos. Heat the oil to a temperature of 350 degrees F, and adjust the heat as you cook to maintain this temp. A thermometer is the best way to get the temperature you need – I would suggest picking up a digital thermometer like this one. It’s inexpensive and you can use it for all of your cooking and baking.
- Check your oil often during cooking: if it drops below 350° F, increase the heat a little to bring it back up. If it’s too hot, slide the pan off the burner to rapidly drop the temperature. Turn down the burner a little and put the pot back on the heat.
- Try original Oreos or one of the many varieties they have. (We really like the fried peanut butter Oreos.) You get to make your own uniquely flavored Fried Oreos!
- You can also make this recipe using a deep fryer appliance and following the manufacturer's instructions to heat the oil.
Ready for a bite of fair food delight? The Fried Oreos recipe is below. And here are a few more fair favorites you can make at home!
💬 How do you like this recipe? Leave a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Fried Oreos
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Equipment
- 2 - 3 quart heavy duty pot for frying, like a cast iron or enameled cast iron pot.
- Slotted metal spoon
Ingredients
For the batter:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
- 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4½ ounces milk (little over ½ cup), plus extra in case the batter needs thinning
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Other ingredients:
- 4 cups vegetable oil for frying
- 22 Oreo sandwich cookies
Instructions
Make the batter:
- Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Hold this aside.
- Whisk together the 4½ ounces of milk, the egg, and the 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil together in a medium bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Whisk them together, and stop the moment the batter is combined and smooth.
Prepare the frying area:
- Place a large plate or cooling rack lined with paper towels near the cooking area—this will hold the finished fried Oreos. Have a heavy-duty pot, such as a cast iron pot or Le Creuset Dutch oven, a metal slotted spoon, and the vegetable oil for frying ready to go.
Heat the oil:
- Pour vegetable oil into the heavy-duty pot. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to a temperature of 350° F—monitor the temperature with a digital thermometer.
- While the oil heats, get your Oreos out on a plate next to the bowl of batter. Have a fork ready, too. Arrange these to be close by the frying area.
Coat, then fry the Oreos:
- Once the oil reaches 350° F, drop 2 or 3 Oreos into the batter. Use a fork to turn and coat them. Then use the fork to lift them from the batter; let excess batter drain away. CAREFULLY slide the cookies into the oil.
- Cook the Oreos for two to three minutes, using the metal slotted spoon to carefully turn them so that they brown on all sides. When they're finished, lift them from the oil with a slotted spoon and move them to a paper towel-lined plate or rack.
- Continue coating and frying the Oreos until they are all fried.
- Enjoy the Oreos while they're warm!
- Makes about 22 fried Oreos. Store leftover Oreos for one to two days in a sealed container at room temperature.
VARIATION:
- Try this recipe with different flavors of Oreos—such as Double Stuffed, Peanut Butter, or Carrot Cake! You can even use mini Oreos.
OPTION: Save your oil
- You can save and reuse your cooking oil for your next batch of fried Oreos or other fried food. Let the oil cool, then pour it through a paper towel-lined strainer to removed the solids. Save the oil in a closed bottle or other container.
Notes
- Maintaining the proper oil temp is key to getting great fried Oreos. Heat the oil to a temperature of 350° F, and adjust the heat as you cook to maintain this temp. A digital thermometer is ideal for this. It’s inexpensive and you can use it for all of your cooking and baking.
- Check your oil often during cooking: if it drops below 350°, increase the heat a little to bring it back up. If it’s too hot, slide the pan off the burner to rapidly drop the temperature. Turn down the burner a little and put the pot back on the heat.
- Try original Oreos or one of the many varieties they have, to make your own uniquely flavored Fried Oreos!
- You can also make this recipe using a deep fryer appliance and following the manufacturer's instructions to heat the oil.
Nutrition
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