If there ever was a place in these contiguous United States to look for the latest and greatest in weird state fair fare, it’s the Lone Star state, where everything is, indeed, bigger, including the fried Jell-O.
Battling an array of finalists that included deep-fried pulled pork Funyons and chicken pot pie pockets, longtime Texas State Fair vendor Ruth Hauntz beat the competition and took home the Big Tex Choice Award for Best Taste with her deep-fried rendition of the childhood dessert.
What is it, exactly? Think of Hauntz’s dessert as Texas’s answer to the beignet. Cherry Jell-O breaded in panko crumbs, fried and dusted with powdered sugar, topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherry.
The “most creative” award went to Isaac Rousso for his “cookie fries,” essentially cookies shaped like crinkle-cut fries, with strawberry and chocolate milk sauce.
Hungry? You’ve got time to get down there and sample the goods firsthand. The State Fair of Texas runs till October 23rd.
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