Unpacking the allure of America’s most outrageous fair foods

If there's one thing Americans excel at, it’s deep-frying just about anything.

And no place demonstrates this better than on U.S. fairgrounds—whether it’s a county fair, state fair, or street fair, you can bet on fried food served on a stick.

George Geary, author of 'Fair Foods: The Most Popular and Offbeat Recipes from America’s State & County Fairs,' is the go-to expert on these quirky treats.

The word 'offbeat' is key here, as Geary reveals in his book how fair food creators often push the boundaries of weirdness, competing to come up with the most bizarre deep-fried creations like the fried Snickers bar.

“It’s a clever tactic to draw people in toward those vendors,” he explains. “Honestly, my recipes in the book aren’t as strange as some of the new creations. Every year, vendors try to outdo each other.”

Having been a judge at cake contests and the culinary coordinator for the Los Angeles County Fair, Geary definitely knows his mozzarella sticks from his fried cheese balls.

However, not every recipe in Fair Foods is about deep-frying. “I didn’t want every dish to be fried,” Geary tells Dinogo Travel. “That’s the stereotype—fair foods are all fried. So I included things like pulled pork sandwiches, too.”

Believe it or not, some fair foods could almost be considered healthy. Or at least, kind of.

Here are 11 fair foods you definitely don’t want to miss:

Triple Cheeseburger Donut

Originating at the Iowa State Fair, this indulgence features three beef patties and six slices of American cheese sandwiched between a sliced Krispy Kreme donut.

Surprisingly, it’s not as unhealthy as it seems. “Technically, this recipe is just a bit larger than a quarter-pounder,” Geary explains. “So it’s actually quite small, almost like a slider.”

Feel free to have two then.

Deep-Fried Butter

In Texas, everything is bigger—especially when it comes to inventive deep-fried condiments.

Deep-fried butter first appeared at the Texas State Fair before it became a sensation at fairs nationwide.

Frozen butter balls are dipped in a sweet buttermilk batter and deep-fried to perfection.

“It’s like a pancake turned inside out,” says Geary. “The batter crisps up on the outside, while the butter inside melts away.”

Fried Coca-Cola

Fried Coca-Cola made its debut at the 2006 Texas State Fair and has since become a popular fair treat across the U.S.

It’s a strangely appealing idea, guaranteed to spark the curiosity of fairgoers. “‘How do you fry a liquid?’” Geary wonders.

“But when you taste it, you realize they’ve infused Coca-Cola into the batter, much like a funnel cake.” Fried Coca-Cola is finished off with a dusting of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, and a cherry on top.

Fried Green Beans

Not all fried foods are guilty pleasures like deep-fried Oreos or crispy bacon. Vegetables can get the frying treatment too.

In fact, fried green beans have made the leap from fairgrounds to fine dining. “Now in California, you’ll find them as appetizers at upscale restaurants,” Geary notes.

Fried cheese balls and fried guacamole (or fried avocado bites) are two more fair-inspired creations that have found their way to trendy restaurants. “You used to only get them once a year at a fair, but now they’re on the menu year-round,” Geary explains.

Deep-Fried Oreos

Deep-fried Oreos were invented by 'Chicken Charlie' Boghosian, who first introduced the treat at the 2002 Los Angeles County Fair. “He came up with all kinds of wild creations,” says Geary.

The LA Times reports that Chicken Charlie was inspired by deep-fried Twinkies he saw at a fair in Miami, which he perfected and sold 10,000 of in 2001. The success motivated him to debut deep-fried Oreos the following year.

Geary suggests using Double Stuf Oreos for the ultimate deep-fried indulgence. “They melt inside and taste amazing,” he says.

Corn Dogs

The corn dog recipe featured in 'Fair Foods' is no ordinary version: Geary developed it for Disneyland while working as a pastry chef in the 1980s.

It’s still being served today at the Big Red Wagon on Disneyland’s Main Street.

“People rave about it as one of their favorite budget-friendly treats at Disneyland,” Geary says. “I didn’t realize how beloved it was until recently when I saw people sharing a copycat recipe online.”

He tracked down the woman who was sharing the copycat Disneyland corn dog recipe and reached out to her with the original version—of course, scaled down to serve 10 instead of 150.

Pickle Dogs

Pickle dogs are a beloved treat at the Minnesota State Fair. Despite the name, they’re actually roll-ups, not hot dogs.

“There was a line down the block for these at the Minnesota State Fair, and I thought, ‘What’s the big deal?’” Geary remembers. “Someone told me, ‘They’re the healthiest thing!’”

Honey ham slices, coated with cream cheese and wrapped around dill pickle spears, might not sound like a health food, but compared to fried butter, they’re practically virtuous.

Coney Island Chili Dogs

Coney Island chili dogs actually have no connection to Coney Island: Two hot dog stands—one in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the other in Jackson, Michigan—both claim to have invented them.

For a fair food expert like Geary, this creates a bit of a dilemma. “This is exactly why I didn’t include the origin of every food in the cookbook—because these two have been arguing over who truly created the Coney dog,” he says.

So, what’s the difference between the rival chili dogs?

“In Indiana, their version has more onions,” Geary explains. The Indiana Coney Island chili dog recipe made it into his cookbook. Sorry, Michigan.

Spicy Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheeseburgers

Spicy peanut butter and jelly cheeseburgers take the crown (yes, that’s another fair food pun) as the most outlandish recipe in the cookbook, according to Geary. “It’s like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but with a hamburger sandwiched in the middle,” he explains.

While adding jelly creates an unusual sweet and savory combo, this isn’t the first time peanut butter has been paired with a burger. Geary recalls a Southern California burger joint that spread peanut butter on their burgers. This recipe elevates that idea by adding grape jelly and a sliced jalapeno.

Snow Cones

Fair foods come in all kinds of strange and delightful forms, but one timeless classic is the snow cone. It’s probably the simplest recipe in the cookbook, requiring only ice cubes, sugar, and two packets of Kool-Aid in any flavor you choose.

Geary also suggests two fancy takes he’s seen in the south of France: snow cones made with rose petals or violet petals.

Snow cones may seem 'boring' compared to some of the other wild recipes in his cookbook, Geary admits, but they deserve recognition for their nostalgic value, right alongside cotton candy and ice cream cones.

Frozen Cheesecake on a Stick

Food on a stick is a fair favorite because it’s portable, eliminates the need for seating, and reduces waste.

“If you were to serve a slice of cheesecake, you’d need a plate and a fork,” Geary explains. “So what the fair folks did was freeze the slices, dip them in chocolate, and stick a skewer in them, turning them into a neat little triangle on a stick.”

And who better to trust for your cheesecake recipe than George Geary? Not only has he written two books on cheesecakes (“The 125 Best Cheesecake Recipes” and “The Cheesecake Bible”), but in the 1990s, he made all the cheesecakes for the TV show “The Golden Girls”—including those served at the after-party when filming wrapped.

“For the Friday night taping, I had to make seven cheesecakes,” he reminisces. Maybe this could be the inspiration for his next cookbook?