We all know that fried foods are generally not very healthy; fried desserts, more so. But every once in a while, it's okay to indulge in over the top sweets—consider it a cheat meal or a treat for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Deeply inventive and delicious, deep fried desserts are fun to have from time to time. So the next time you’re craving a hearty and satisfying dessert, turn to a deep fried one, for it will really satiate the taste buds. Here are our favorite deep fried desserts from beyond the Indian kitchen and we’re sure you’re going to enjoy these treats.
Donuts are essentially deep fried dough rings that can be topped with a variety of topping and sauce options. They have a simple flavor note and can be paired with different flavors like a cinnamon powder or powdered sugar topping, chocolate, nuts or fresh fruit. They’re a global favorite and can be enjoyed as a snack or a dessert. They can also be adapted to suit local tastes, like in India with varieties like kaju katli donut, chai donut and ras malai donut are gaining ground. More traditional varieties in the US are donuts stuffed with jelly and donut holes enjoyed with different flavors. They can be found everywhere from road side stalls and convenience stores to fast food chains and more fancy desserts.
Funnel cakes originate from North America and are made by deep frying batter. Much like jalebis, batter is piped into hot oil in a circular pattern and deep fried until golden brown. It gets its name from being poured through a funnel. It can be topped with powdered sugar, a jam or jelly, cinnamon powder, chocolate, fresh fruit or other topping. It is crispy and crumbles in the mouth, leading to an enjoyable eating experience. Its predecessors include the Persian and Arab zalabiyehs and the drechderkuche from the Pennsylvania Dutch community.
Originating from Spanish and Portuguese origins, churros are deep fried dough. The choux pastry dough is piped directly into hot oil and fried until crunchy, often sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and can be thin or thick. They can be dipped in hot chocolate or dulce de leche, or some other sweet dip. In Spain and Latin American regions, they can be found at street stalls and can be eaten as a dessert or a snack throughout the day. It's a popular dessert all over the world today, with specialized fast food chains dedicated entirely to them.
Darsaan is a traditional Chinese dessert made of fried wonton noodles coated in a honey syrup and topped with vanilla ice cream. These are crispy, fried together as a lump and then dipped in a sweet syrup and ultimately topped with sesame seeds. The ice cream scoop is placed in the center on top of the fried noodles, which creates a multitude of textures, being crispy to bite into and then mixing with the ice cream and melting in the mouth. The sweetness of the honey syrup and the ice cream amalgamate, and their sweetness interacts in exciting ways. Their warmth and coolness are also satisfying in the mouth.
A fried ice cream is a delectable dessert made by deep frying a scoop of ice cream. One way of making it is by freezing the ice cream until it's hard, coating it in a batter and deep frying it immediately, leading to a warm and crispy shell with a still cold ice cream inside. Another way is to coat the scoop in raw egg, roll it in cornflakes or cookie crumbs and then deep fry that. The cold ice cream stops it from melting when being fried. Often sprinkled with cinnamon powder and powdered sugar on top, it can also be topped with whipped cream or honey.
The cronut is a cross between a croissant and a donut, with a soft and creamy interior and flaky layers of pastry on the outside. They are deep fried in oil, stuffed with cream, rolled in sugar and then glazed on top. They are often consumed as soon as they are made and are essentially a variation of the donut.