Can You Name These Popular State Fair Foods From an Image?

Jennifer Post

Image: SolStock / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

All aboard the state fair express! However you're getting to the state fair, get there fast so you have plenty of time to eat all of the amazing foods that you'll find. Most times, these foods can only be found at state fairs. How not fair is that? But, such is life. You may be asking yourself how state fair foods become so popular. One reason could be because state fairs are the stuff of fantasies. A fair takes a bland plot of land in your town that you drive by every single day and turns it into a masterpiece of rides, games and general hullabaloo. 

The food is no different. Other than at a state fair, when is it acceptable to eat fried butter? Pretty much never, and if that's a norm for you, well then, lucky duck! Except maybe not for your arteries. 

Eating so many of your favorite foods on a stick makes them that much more exciting. Taking something you've loved your whole life and sticking it in a deep fryer can be an out-of-body experience. Then there are the regional delicacies that some will never get the pleasure of tasting. 

Do you think you can name popular state fair foods just from an image? Get your fried cookie dough ready, and take this quiz to find out!

Take this classic chocolate after-school treat, subtract the milk and add a deep fryer. What do you end up with?

Calories on calories on calories! But you know what, treat yourself. State fairs don't happen every day, so when you're at one, you might as well make the most of it. You only have one body, so treat it like a junk food temple.

The deep frying keeps on coming! Which treat adds a crispy aspect to a soft, creamy cake?

Keep the fried foods coming! Twinkies are perfectly soft, sweet and creamy. The only thing that could possibly make them better is deep frying them and covering them in powdered sugar.

Kind of like a pancake, but in a way more fun shape, which state fair treat can you smell from a mile away?

Oh, funnel cake. What is there to say about it, other than you haven't lived until you've had the fried, sweet batter completely dominated by powdered sugar? Top it with ice cream if you want to get crazy.

Which fluffy, crispy and sturdy treat is the perfect base for this other sweet and creamy treat?

The only thing better than waffles is waffles and ice cream, especially with endless toppings. It might be one of the messier state fair foods, but it's so worth having a face covered in chocolate and sprinkles.

Switching gears to something a little more savory, which salty fair treat is the fairest of them all?

If you don't like bacon, you're wrong. Bacon is one of those things that just makes life so much better, and it can be eaten with breakfast, dinner or dessert. It's no one-trick-pony and will go with anything, even cocktails.

What's better than food on a stick? Which of these stick foods is both sweet and savory, and open for toppings?

Whether you top it with mustard or ketchup, or you dip it in maple syrup. you cannot go wrong with a corn dog! It's easy to eat at a state fair, and you can hold another treat in the other hand. Win-win.

If you're in need of cooling off, head to this stand for some of this frosty treat. What is it?

Shaved ice itself is boring, but blast up the excitement by adding one of the many flavored syrups offered at any given time. You can even mix and match flavors. Make sure you grab a straw, though, for when it starts to melt.

Not just for your cheeseburgers anymore, which zingy treat will keep your lips puckered and your life happy?

Again with foods on a stick! We can't get enough. Briny pickles, frozen in their own juice as popsicles, serve guests well because they're on a stick and easy to eat. They can be eaten with other fair treats too, like bacon on a stick or a sweet dessert.

Now we're talking! Take this familiar crunchy snack, batter it and put it in hot oil for some extra love. Can you name it?

Taking sliced pickles, breading them and frying them just makes an already great treat that much better. Not to mention all of the dipping sauces that enhance something already great.

As if these weren't good enough all on their own, which summer barbecue staple gets even better with a bar full of additional accoutrements?

Hot dogs are great, but they can be a bit boring. But fear not - state fairs come to the rescue! Depending on where you live or what state you're attending the fair in, the toppings will vary, but they will be delicious.

Popular at fall festivals, this sticky sweet treat will have you begging for more. What is it?

Caramel apples have come a long way! You can now get them covered in chocolate candies, sprinkles, double the caramel, basically whatever you want - especially at a state fair. Plus, it's yet another thing on a convenient stick.

Which pastry can be taken out of its traditional context and brought into another dimension?

State fair doughnuts are on a whole other level from your everyday bakery doughnut. Topped with ice cream or candy, filled with pudding, chocolate cream or citrus curd, the combinations are endless.

This soft and warm Southern charm delicacy makes its way to the state fair circuit for all to enjoy. What is it?

Hush puppies are a classic fritter, eaten mostly in the South. They are actually used as the bread served to a table before a meal. But now you can get them at many state fairs and dip them in your sauce of choice.

Take a fruity favorite and do some extra special things to it, and you end up with this classic state fair favorite. What is it?

Biting into an apple fritter is an experience. It is sweet, warm, a bit crispy and the perfect midday treat after a morning of savory goodness at a state fair. Top it off with some ice cream or powdered sugar, and you've got yourself a blue ribbon.

Now this is a mouthful! Which creamy and dreamy long-winded item will have your mouth doing a happy dance?

Okay, here we go. Cheesecake, dipped in chocolate, on a stick. Saying the name alone is enough to make you hungry for one! Crunchy chocolate, creamy cheesecake and easy to handle? Put yourself down for two!

Canada brings us this epic fried and saucy plate of food. Which dish is it?

Poutine is a french fry dish covered in brown gravy and cheese curds. When these ingredients come together, they create a marriage of fatty cheese, crispy fries and smooth gravy. A true match made in heaven.

Where did ya pahk ya cahr? Which New England treat makes waves at state fairs everywhere?

There's nothing better than a fresh lobster roll, a cool lemonade and the sound of crashing waves. But if you're at a state fair, just the lobster and lemonade will do! Make sure the bun is cut from the top and the lobster is doused in butter.

Popular in the Midwest, this crunchy walking treat keeps you going all day long at the fair. Which is it?

Frito pie is not a pie at all, but a bag of Fritos crushed up and topped with all your favorite nacho toppings. You eat it with a fork and it's often called "walking pie," because you can eat and walk.

Which treat below really plays a trick on your brain because it looks like one thing but tastes like another?

Making spaghetti out of ice cream requires a special tool that compresses the frozen treat and pushes out long noodle-like shapes. The ice cream strands are then topped with a raspberry sauce and some kind of sweet that's made to look like a meatball. Your taste buds will be so confused.

Normally eaten with a fork, which food item gets transformed into finger food at state fairs?

If you've never had fried ravioli - or toasted ravioli - go and get some right now. If there's no state fair in your area, they may also be found at Italian restaurants, especially around St. Louis, Missouri. They're especially nice at a state fair because they're easy to eat and usually one-biters.

Take something cold, then make it warm. This isn't a riddle, but what treat does just that?

Making sure the ice cream is really frozen solid before frying it is the key. The fun part is, you don't have to use traditional breading! People use cereal, potato chips, or cinnamon and sugar tortillas for a trip south of the border.

Are we in Philly? Maybe not, but you can still get this regional dish at most state fairs. What is it?

People are very particular about their cheese steaks, and rightfully so. Many people showcase their versions, but outside of Philly, very few come close to the real thing. It comes down to the roll and the type of beef.

It wouldn't be a Southern state fair without which snack that will make others green with envy?

Green peanuts, which are raw, make the best boiled peanuts - you can ask anyone. Aside from their salty goodness, boiled peanuts have antioxidants, so you can be healthy, too.

You may think you can only get this at the Happiest Place on Earth, but you can now find it at state fairs. What is it?

This frozen, sweet and pineapple-y treat is the perfect way to cool off on a hot state fair day. At state fairs, you can even get twisted flavors like pineapple and raspberry or strawberry. Bet you can't eat just one Dole Whip!

Crunch down on which salty snack when you're looking for a jaw workout?

Pork rinds are meaty, crunchy, salty - basically all of the best things in a snack. They come in a paper cone or bag, they're so easy to eat while walking around the fair, and they simply melt in your mouth.

Which savory snack features a childhood favorite piled high with seemingly endless flavor-enhancing options?

Totchos are simply nachos, but instead of tortilla chips, tater tots serve as the base. The fried potato concoction serves to soak up all of the salsa and sour cream, and also support the cheese, meat and other toppings.

How can something be sweet and salty? Ask this state fair treat for its secrets. Which is it?

Ah yes, kettle corn. The amazingly sweet and yet subtly salty treat everyone runs right for at a state fair. And who can blame them? It comes in a giant bag and keeps your taste buds from getting bored all day long.

Make your way down South and chow down on a below the Mason Dixon line dish. Can you name it, based on the image?

The creaminess of the grits, the sweetness and bite of the shrimp - it doesn't get much better. You can find this pretty much everywhere in the South, but eating it at a state fair makes it way more fun.

Unhinge your jaw and get ready to take on this smoked and roasted poultry limb. What is it?

You won't need any utensils for a turkey leg, since it comes with a natural handle. Plus, it's not super messy. You can hold a drink in the other hand, or another easy-to-hold snack.

You can find this starchy treat, a Polish favorite, at festivals all over and in many different forms. Can you name it?

Whether it is the shredded potato version or a mashed version, potato pancakes are so versatile. They can be topped with sour cream, green onion, bacon, cheese, etc. Anywhere your dreams can take you, potato pancakes can get you there.

Fast food chains have perfected the fried savory version of these, but state fairs took it to another level with a little sweetness. Can you name it?

Apple fries are exactly what they say they are - apples cut into sticks and fried, either in a batter or sweet breading. They then get rolled in delicious cinnamon sugar. Dip them in caramel for a real enhancement.

What doesn't get better when it's fried? Which cheesy concoction has given the regular version a major upgrade?

Making macaroni and cheese thick and cheesy enough to be rolled into a ball and then fried is a real talent. The soft pasta and creamy cheese are the perfect match for a crunchy and salty shell.

Which popular and casual Mexican snack has made its way to the state fair circuit?

Covered in sour cream or mayo, coated in crumbly cheese and spiced with whatever the vendor has chosen is the basic gist of street corn, whether on or off the cob. The name also comes because it is a popular street food in Mexico!

Try if you dare! Which adventurous Tri-State Area breakfast food is either loved or hated by those who try it?

Truly, you either love it or you hate it. There aren't people who have "meh" feelings about scrapple. But if you love it, you know which diner has the best and what to look for in not-so-great ones. If it's not deep fried, no thank you.

You'll find these in French patisseries, and you'll also find them at the fanciest of state fairs. Can you name them?

Of course, state fairs couldn't just leave anything normal. They take regular cream puffs and increase the size by almost four times, then stuff ithem with as much cream as possible.

Take a break from all the food and quench your thirst with which sweet drink, shown here?

The Arnold Palmer is one of the most delicious drinks to break up all of that fried food you're eating at the state fair. It's half lemonade and half iced tea, and 100% delectable.

You don't need to go to the French Quarter to get your hands on one of these powdery sweet treats. What is it?

Take dough, fry it, cover it entirely in powdered sugar. That's a beignet, and it's hard to believe how delicious it is for how seemingly easy it is to make. State fairs really get it right, especially close to the source in New Orleans.

Another love or hate food, some say it gets better when fried, like most things. Can you name it from the photo?

Okra is a staple in good gumbo, but there are many other things to do with it. A lot of people don't like the texture, which is why frying is a popular cooking method for mass consumption. It fits in perfectly at state fairs, too.

Somehow, dipping salty things in chocolate is a global phenomenon, and it's not ending anytime soon. Which snack is pictured?

Bacon already comes on a stick at many state fairs, but someone took it up another notch and took that stick and dunked it in a vat of chocolate. Once it hardens, you get to crack through the chocolate shell and enjoy the chewy, salty crispness of the bacon.

Salty things aren't the only ones that get the chocolate bath treatment! Which sweet food, shown here, is sweet on sweet?

Frozen bananas are a great dessert any day of the week, but state fairs couldn't just leave it at that. They dip them in chocolate and cover them with whatever topping you choose, like nuts, sprinkles or cookie pieces.

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