Deep-fried, bite-sized delicacies are everywhere – there’s the famous falafel, the classic tater tot, and the quintessential chicken nugget, just to name a few. We think that deep-fried finger foods are some of the tastiest snacks out there, so we have 5 fun, new recipes that your taste buds are sure to love. Crispy avocado balls, creamy butter balls, delicate chocolate mousse balls – we’re going balls to the wall with all of these flavors!
1. Deep-Fried Guacamole Balls
You’ll Need:
- 3 avocados
- ½ red onion, diced
- 3 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 small jalapeño, minced
- juice of 1 lime
- salt & pepper to taste
- whisked eggs + crushed tortilla chips for the breading
- sweet chili sauce to serve
Here’s How:
1.1 Pit the avocados, scoop the fruit out into a small bowl, and use a fork to mash the avocado until smooth and creamy. Stir in the diced red onion, chopped cilantro, minced jalapeño, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
1.2 Use an ice cream scoop to form small balls out of the guacamole. Place the guacamole balls on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, transfer the baking tray to the freezer, and freeze for 3–4 hours.
1.3 Heat a pot filled with cooking oil to 350°F. To set up your breading station, whisk 2 eggs in one bowl and crush tortilla chips in a second bowl. Dredge the frozen guacamole balls in egg, coat them in crushed tortilla chips, and fry them in the hot oil until golden brown. Serve with sweet chili sauce.
2. Deep-Fried Butter Balls
You’ll Need:
- 1¾ sticks butter, softened
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 1 vanilla bean pod
- 3 tbsp honey
- flour + whisked eggs + bread crumbs for the breading
- cinnamon sugar for the coating
Here’s How:
2.1 Scrape the vanilla bean caviar out of the vanilla bean pod and combine with the softened butter, cream cheese, and honey. Mix the ingredients together using a hand mixer.
2.2 Form the butter mixture into small balls using an ice cream scoop and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Transfer the tray to the freezer and freeze for at least 1 hour.
2.3 Remove the butter balls from the freezer and set up your breading station with separate bowls for the flour, whisked eggs, and bread crumbs. Dredge the butter balls in flour, egg, and bread crumbs and place them back on the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Transfer the tray to the freezer and freeze for at least 1 more hour.
2.4 Heat a pot filled with cooking oil to 350°F. Fill a bowl with cinnamon sugar and remove the butter balls from the freezer. Fry the balls in hot oil for about 25 seconds and then immediately coat them in cinnamon sugar.
3. Deep-Fried Cola Balls
You’ll Need:
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 1¼ cups cola
- 3⅓ cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- whipped cream + cherries to serve
Here’s How:
3.1 Beat the eggs and sugar with a hand mixer until slightly frothy. Add the cola, flour, baking powder, and salt to the mixture and continue to blend. Once combined, let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
3.2 Heat a pot filled with cooking oil to 350°F. Using 2 spoons, scoop some batter out of the bowl and form it into a ball. Drop the ball into the hot cooking oil and fry for 3–4 minutes. Repeat 4 more times, frying each ball one at a time (be sure to reserve some of the cola batter for the next 2 recipes). Serve the deep-fried cola balls with whipped cream and cherries.
4. Deep-Fried Jello Balls
You’ll Need:
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 package raspberry gelatin powder
- 2 cups water
- cola batter
- vanilla sauce to serve
Here’s How:
4.1 Bring the water and sugar to a boil, remove from the heat, and stir in the raspberry gelatin powder. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes, then pour the cooled mixture into the square molds of an ice cube tray. Transfer the ice cube tray to the refrigerator and let the jello set for 4 hours. After 4 hours, transfer the ice cube tray to the freezer and freeze for 24 hours. When removing the jello cubes from the freezer, check to make sure that they are completely frozen.
4.2 Heat a pot filled with cooking oil to 350°F. Place a frozen jello cube on a spoon, dip it in the cola batter, coating it generously, and fry the coated jello cube in hot oil for a maximum of 25 seconds. Serve the deep-fried jello balls with vanilla sauce.
5. Deep-Fried Chocolate Mousse Balls
You’ll Need:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp spiced rum
- 1 pinch of salt
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted
- 4 cups whipped cream
- cola batter
- blueberry pie filling to serve
Here’s How:
5.1 Whisk the egg yolk, egg, spiced rum, and salt over a double boiler until creamy. Pour in the melted chocolate and stir until combined. Remove the mixture from the heat and let everything cool. Carefully fold in the whipped cream and once combined, transfer the mixture to the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours.
5.2 Remove the chocolate mousse from the refrigerator and form it into small balls using an ice cream scoop. Transfer the chocolate mousse balls to the freezer and freeze for 3 hours.
5.3 Remove the chocolate mousse balls from the freezer and heat a pot filled with cooking oil. Place a frozen chocolate mousse ball on a spoon, dip it in the cola batter, coating it generously, and fry it in hot oil for 3–4 minutes. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the deep-fried chocolate mousse balls and serve with blueberry pie filling.
These deep-fried finger foods are crazy delicious and super fun to eat. Sweet, savory, and dippable, they make the perfect snack, appetizer, or dessert!