If you are someone who likes desserts, we are sure you have tried funnel cakes, which are known for their crispy texture and round appearance. However, the funnel cake batter is quite easy to make but many people use pancake batter as well. For this reason, many people have a hard time understanding how they are different and if they can be used interchangeably. So, let’s check out the funnel cake batter vs. pancake batter comparison!
Pancake Batter vs. Funnel Cake Batter
Pancake Batter
The ingredients of pancake batter are quite ordinary (it wouldn’t be wrong to call the ingredient benign). For instance, it has salt, sugar, baking powder, and flour as the dry ingredients while milk, butter, and eggs are the wet ingredients. All these ingredients are mixed in vanilla essence, which enhances the flavor. On the other hand, the premade pancake batter mix has some other ingredients.
For instance, the premade pancake mix has enriched bleached flour, cottonseed oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, leavening, salt, and dextrose. The enriched bleached flour improves the nutritional profile, including vitamin B3, vitamin B2, and vitamin B9. In addition, there is a baking powder that helps raise the pancakes. As far as dextrose is concerned, it’s basically sugar.
Having said that, it’s pretty clear that the pancake batter has simple ingredients and helps raise the pancakes. The pancake batter has to be cooked at medium heat, which takes longer but the cooking outcomes are much better (it’s better to opt for a nonstick skillet to make sure the pancakes don’t stick to the surface). In addition, you must use a whisk to mix up the dry ingredients to make sure the batter is airy and fluffy.
On top of everything, if you want to use the pancake batter, you need to moisten the pan with some oil to make sure the pancakes are well-cooked and have a browned appearance. The most important part of pancake batter is that it should be a bit lumpy and should have an easy pour (it must not be running). In case the batter is too thick, a bit of milk can help thin the texture. In fact, if you want to make pancake batter, it’s recommended to whisk the ingredients with melted butter.
Funnel Cake Batter
The funnel cake batter is quite similar to pancake batter since the ingredients are similar and you can actually purchase the premade mix from the grocery store. Funnel cake batter can be made by mixing the premade mix with milk or whichever liquid is suggested on the box. The funnel cake batter can be poured into the hot oil through a funnel.
In addition to the funnel, you can also use a pitcher with a funnel spout to ensure correct pouring. The funnel cake batter results in a chewy and crispy texture. Some store-bought funnel cake mixes also come with a pitcher for easier pouring. The batter is smooth as compared to pancake batter which has lumps. When it comes down to cooking, a ten-inch skillet or an eight-inch skillet is great.
The batter has to be cooked at medium heat. The funnel cake batter should be as thick as regular cake batter, which is why water is added in small increments to prevent running texture. In simpler words, the funnel cake batter should fall from your whisk in the form of ribbons. Also, the batter is added to the piping bag to make the right shape.
To make sure the funnel cake batter is fully and evenly cooked, you need to ensure that the skillet’s temperature is around 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This batter usually takes thirty seconds to one minute to achieve a golden brown appearance. Last but not least, it has airiness irrespective of the thicker consistency.
The Bottom Line
On a concluding, both the funnel cake batter and pancake batter are easy to prepare and quick to cook. However, there are significant changes in the texture. For instance, the funnel cake batter is usually thicker as compared to the pancake batter but the latter is still not running. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the differences are minimal, which is why many people use pancake batter to make funnel cakes.
That’s because both these batters are made from milk, leavening agents, flour, and sugar. However, the premade funnel cake mix usually has more sugar and a rare amount of buttermilk powder.