While the CNE is only around for two weeks, there’s no shortage of carnival eats in Toronto all year round! From cotton candy ice cream to corn dogs, and mac and cheese piled on everything, here are the best spots to treat yourself to some fair-style comfort food in Toronto! [Photo credit: The Dirty Bird by Jennifer D’Agostino]
Tiny fried doughnuts are synonymous with any carnival (Tiny Toms, anyone?). Lucky for us, Fancy Franks serves the tasty treats every day of the week! The mini-doughnuts come in six flavours including Nutella and crushed biscotti, cinnamon sugar, and strawberry sauce and powdered sugar. You can get them by the dozen or half dozen. Psst! Get the whole dozen.
Pretty much everything on Junked Food Co.’s menu is a crazy carnival eat! From the Dorito’s smash bags to the crazy waffle and ice cream concoctions, Junked Food Co. isn’t in short supply of food fit to put junk in your trunk.
Deep-fried Oreos were a big hit at Toronto’s CNE a few years ago, so Disgraceland decided to get in on the action. Offered all year, the dessert item features five tempura battered Oreos served with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. Throw out your scale – this spot offers delivery!
What’s more reminiscent of late summer nights at the carnival than a waffle ice cream sandwich? The Dirty Bird’s entire dessert menu is filled with them, including The Swalty made with salted caramel ice cream with caramel beef bacon. The waffle ice cream sandwiches are only available at the Kensington Market location.
After you work up a sweat at the Ping-Pong tables, you can take your pick from SPiN’s kitchen menu. Located in the Sharables section, the pogo sticks are a classic carnival food! The battered pork sausages are served with a side of house-made ketchup and house-mustard.
Sweet Jesus is known around Toronto for its crazy cones, and the Krusty the Kone that earned them a spot on this list. The frozen treat, named after The Simpsons Krusty the Clown, is topped with the ultimate fair treat - cotton candy! The wispy blue and pink cotton candy surrounds the vanilla soft served that is drizzled with cotton candy sauce and rainbow sprinkles.
Vegan and deep fried food can be the perfect combination and is found on the dessert menu at Hogtown Vegan. Choose either the fried apple pie, a deep-fried apple hand pie served with vanilla soy ice cream, or the deep-fried banana split, with battered and fried bananas, served with coconut milk ice cream and dark chocolate sauce. Whichever you choose it is sure to be a delectable dessert!
The Golden Apple Confectionary offers a variety of candy and chocolate-coated apples that make you feel like you’re at the local fair any day of the week. From Classic Candy Apple to Skor Caramel Apple, you can take your pick! There are also custom apples for every occasion!
La Carnita serves up everyone’s favourite deep-fried pastry— churros! The churros are made in house and are served with a side of chocolate sauce. Available at all La Carnita locations, you’re going to want second helpings of this delicious deep-fried dessert!
The Rolling Pin takes funnel cake to a whole new level. The cute retro bakery features gourmet doughnuts, and the Chef Special comes with the classic carnival dessert right on top! It comes with a strawberry puree shot and a dollop of whipped cream for maximum funnel cake enjoyment!