Fried Coke Recipe

Coca-Cola-flavored doughnut holes, drizzled with a Coca-Cola reduction, topped with whipped cream, and finished with a maraschino cherry.

By
Alexandra Penfold
Alexandra Penfold
Alexandra Penfold is a literary agent, author, blogger, and recipe developer who has contributed an extensive number of baking and candy recipes to Serious Eats. 
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Updated April 29, 2024
Fried Coke fritters, served in a glass topped with Coke syrup, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry.

Serious Eats / Alexandra Penfold

Why It Works

  • Dialing in the perfect size of dough ball is essential for achieving a crispy, golden exterior in the time it take for the dough to cook through.
  • Adding Coca-Cola to the batter and then drizzling a Coca-Cola reduction on the finished fritters amps up the cola flavor.

I first heard about "fried Coke" a few years back. Credited as the creation of frying master Abel Gonzales Jr. (this is the same man who brought you deep-fried butter), this over-the-top snack consisting of cinnamon sugar dusted Coca-Cola-flavored fritters drenched in Coke syrup and topped with whipped cream and a cherry took the Texas State Fair by storm in 2006. And I've been curious ever since. Alas, a Texas State Fair visit isn't in the cards for me anytime soon, so I was eager to try to recreate the dish at home.

Like my recent experimentation with funnel cake, I wanted this dish to be super easy. I'd read that Bisquick was the secret to the fritters, so I dutifully bought a box and got down to experimenting. Having made long Johns, pączki, potato doughnuts, and zeppole, I feel like I have some decent dough-frying cred. Yet I tip my hat to Mr. Gonzales—fried Coke nuggets are no easy nut to crack. It's all about making your dough balls just the right size. If you make them too big, the outsides will get overcooked before the middles are done.

While there's Coke in the batter, the biscuit-iness of the Bisquick mix really comes through, so unlike your regular doughnut hole, I wouldn't recommend just popping them in your mouth straight from out of the fryer. They need the dusting of cinnamon sugar and a healthy pour of "Coke syrup". As for the finished product? I asked my fried dough-loving younger brother and he said, "It's fried, it's sweet, it has whipped cream and a cherry, it's pretty much just awesome."

Finally, a non-negotiable must: you need to use real Coca-Cola. No Diet Coke—this is deep-fried, it's never going to be a health food, at least use real sugar.

September 2012

Recipe Details

Fried Coke Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 48 mins
Active 60 mins
Total 113 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups Coca Cola, plus 1/3 cup for fritters

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 2 quarts canola oil for frying

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 cup Bisquick mix

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting surface

  • 4 maraschino cherries

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan heat 1 1/2 cups of Coca Cola over medium high heat until it reduces to just 1/2 a cup of cola concentrate, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. While coke is reducing, whip cream and granulated sugar in a stand mixer or by hand until stiff peaks are formed. Combine confectioner's sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl and set aside.

  2. Heat oil to 360°F (182°C) in a large Dutch oven and adjust flame to maintain temperature. While oil is heating prepare the fritter batter.

  3. In a large bowl whisk together remaining 1/3 cup of Coca Cola with vanilla. Stir in Bisquick to form a sticky dough. Sprinkle surface of dough with flour until a pliant and less sticky dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a generously floured surface. Flatten the dough into a large, 1/2-inch-thick square and cut into 3/4-inch square pieces. Roll each square into a little ball.

  4. One at a time, place the balls in a shallow heat-resistant strainer, such as a spider skimmer, and carefully transfer to the hot oil, cooking no more than 4 at a time. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Then, using skimmer or tongs, carefully turn fritters and fry until golden brown on second side, about 1 minute longer. Use strainer to remove fritters from hot oil. Transfer to a paper towel lined wire cooling rack. Repeat, cooking in batches, until all the dough balls have been fried.

  5. Toss fritters in cinnamon sugar. Divide the fritters among four lowball glasses, drizzle fritters with Coke concentrate then top with whipped cream and a cherry. Serve immediately.

Special Equipment

Stand mixer, whisk, Dutch oven or electric fryer, frying thermometer, spider skimmer, heat resistant kitchen tongs (optional), cooling rack, low ball glasses for serving

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
751Calories
50gFat
67gCarbs
9gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories751
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 50g64%
Saturated Fat 18g88%
Cholesterol 101mg34%
Sodium 677mg29%
Total Carbohydrate 67g24%
Dietary Fiber 1g4%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 1mg3%
Calcium 229mg18%
Iron 2mg14%
Potassium 203mg4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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