
Biscoff Delight
The 2023 winner in the “Sweet” category, created by Stephen El Gidi, features a classic New York–style cheesecake coated with Belgian chocolate; an outer layer of crushed Biscoff cookies; a drizzle of Lotus Biscoff spread; and finally a perfectly placed Biscoff cookie topper.
Photo: State Fair of Texas

Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas
The brainchild of Cody and Lauren Hays, these decadent sopapillas—winner of the 2023 “Most Creative” honors—are topped with vanilla-caramel-infused bananas, sweet bourbon syrup, crushed candied pecans, sweetened mascarpone cheese, and crumbled Nilla Wafers.
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Deep-Fried Pho
Michelle Le’s creation, winner in the 2023 “Savory” category, takes a Vietnamese comfort food, rolls it up, and deep-fries it Texas-style.
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Big Red Chicken Bread
This chicken-wing-topped donut, glazed in icing flavored with Texas’s popular Big Red soda, took home a previous year’s “Sweet” award.
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Ruth’s Stuffed Fried Taco Cone
A cone-shaped tortilla filled with slow-cooked barbacoa, black beans, and cilantro lime rice claimed a past title in the “Savory” category.
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Fla’Mango Tango
A past “Most Creative” award went to a deep-fried mango twist drizzled with citrus glaze and served alongside strawberry mango sorbet.
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Arroz Con Leche
This deep-fried cinnamon-spiced concoction, coated with puffed rice cereal, stole a previous award in the “Sweet” category.
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Cotton Candy Taco
A previous “Most Creative”award went to a graham cracker taco shell stuffed with organic cane-sugar cotton candy.
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Deep-Fried Chicken Noodle Soup on a Stick
Behold, classic chicken noodle soup, fried and served on a stick alongside savory broth.
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Deep-Fried Froot Loops
Froot Loops folded into whipped cream and then fried create this fair-worthy breakfast dish.
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Deep-Fried Shepherd’s Pie
Cream and cheddar cheese potato balls filled with ground beef, gravy, and mixed vegetables add up to a pie unlike any other.
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Deep-Fried Peaches
A past winner featured deep-fried peaches coated in cinnamon, ginger, and coconut tempura batter.
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Deep-Fried Skillet Potato Melt in a Boat
This potato skin hugs a Babybel cheese loaf, diced sausage patties, and skillet potatoes.
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Fat Smooth
Cafe Du Monde beignet batter coats these deep-fried Belgium mini cream puffs, topped with powdered sugar, chocolate drizzle, and caramel sauce.
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Fernie’s Fried Texas Sheet Cake
Dr. Pepper icing finishes a deep-fried chocolate brownie coated in ground Cocoa Puffs, cinnamon sugar, and panko.
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Fernie’s Hoppin John Cake with Jackpot Sauce
A combination of black-eyed peas, white rice, green onions, spicy smoked sausage, and a secret blend of spices came together for an award-winning dish.
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Fernie’s Orange You Glad We Fried It
A creamy blend of chiffon orange cake, whipped cream, and orange preserves fill these fluffy puff pastries.
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Surfin’ Turfin’ Tator Boat
A baked potato cradles seasoned steak and lobster meat crowned with a single lobster claw.
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Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger
This hearty creation sandwiches a grilled burger patty, queso, and bacon between two funnel cake buns.
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Gulf Coast Fish Bowl
A fish bowl gets filled to the brim with boozy blue punch, Nerds, and Swedish Fish, then topped with a pineapple lid.
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Pinot Noir Popcorn
Kettle corn coated in pinot noir burgundy wine powder pairs perfectly with cheddar cheese popcorn.
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State Fair Fun-L Cake Ice Cream
Powdered sugar and pieces of funnel cake take center stage in this fair-inspired ice cream flavor.
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Sweet Bakin’ Bacon
Sponge cake gets filled with cream, wrapped in bacon, and of course, deep-fried.
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Texas Fajita Fries
Deep-fried beef fajita strips sprinkled with a sriracha spice mix sit in a bread cone.
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Texas Fried Hill Country
Two green tomatoes serve as the buns for a flash-fried mozzarella and basil sandwich.
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Texas Twang-kie
Moist cornbread cake mingles with grilled chicken white bean chili.
Photo: State Fair of Texas