DEEP-FRIED COKE

From an email forwarded by Mich:

Here’s what ChatGPT has to say about deep fried Coke. It wasn’t as recent as I thought:

 

Yes — “deep-fried Coke” is one of those over-the-top fairground foods that became famous at the **Texas State Fair in 2006** when it was invented by Abel Gonzales Jr., the same man behind fried butter and fried peanut butter–banana sandwiches.

 

Here’s what it is like:

 

* **Batter and Flavoring** – Instead of actually deep-frying liquid Coca-Cola, Gonzales created a sweet batter infused with Coca-Cola syrup and cola extract. The batter has a reddish-brown tint and a soda-like flavor.

 

* **The Frying Process** – The Coke-flavored batter is dropped by spoonfuls into hot oil, forming little fluffy fritters or nuggets, similar in size and texture to hush puppies or funnel-cake bites.

 

* **Serving Style** – The fried nuggets are piled into a cup or tray, then drenched with more Coca-Cola syrup. To really make it indulgent, they’re topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, and often a cherry.

 

* **Taste and Texture** – The result is a warm, slightly crispy outside with a soft, almost spongy interior that carries a cola-sweet flavor. The syrup and toppings add gooey sweetness and a bit of soda “zing.” People often compared it to a cross between funnel cake and a soda float.

 

It was such a novelty that it won the **“Most Creative” award** at the Big Tex Choice Awards that year, and it sparked imitators at other fairs (deep-fried Dr Pepper, root beer, etc.).