Arizona State Fair 2024: 12 wildest new foods — cotton candy cake to bacon taco

The 2024 Arizona State Fair is just around the corner. Some guests may go for the rides, the carnival games, the concerts at the Coliseum or the farm animals on display. But perhaps one of the most exciting things about the state fair is the chance to try all the wacky foods, from ooey gooey desserts to deep-fried everything.

This year, vendors at the Arizona State Fair are introducing over 40 new menu items across the fairgrounds, including cakes made of cotton candy and pretzels covered in Flaming Hot Cheetos.

Here are 12 of the wildest new foods to try at the 2024 Arizona State Fair.

Cowboy Crunch

A sweet dessert option is the Cowboy Crunch, which comprises a thick and chewy oatmeal cookie crumble loaded and topped with chocolate chips, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. Available at Totally Baked Cookie Joint (#31 on the map).

Fried Giant Mozzarella Stick

This is not your average mozzarella stick. The fried giant mozzarella stick is exactly what it sounds like: a deep fried, 8-inch mozzarella stick. Available at Hog Daddy’s Roadhouse (#82).

Ultimate Arizona State Fair 2024 guide: Concerts, tickets, hours and location

Pretzels

Three new pretzels are available from Going Nuts (#28). The first is the massive chocolate nut twist, covered in a white chocolate and chocolate drizzle and chopped pecans. Then there is the Flaming hot twist, which comprises nacho cheese on a Bavarian style pretzel topped with Hot Cheeto crunch. Finally, there is the cinnamon twist, covered in white chocolate drizzle and cinnamon sugar crystals.

Watermelon Taco

The new watermelon taco features a slice of watermelon scooped out to resemble a taco shell, filled with your choice of mango, pineapple or watermelon soft serve topped with a tamarind stick. Available at Pineapple Express (#13).

Candied Watermelon or Pineapple

Pineapple Express (#13) is also introducing the option of either a watermelon or pineapple slice on a stick, wrapped in a fruit roll up and topped with chamoy and tajin.

Pickle Split

Another new item from Pineapple Express (#13) is the pickle split: imagine a traditional banana split. Now imagine it with dill pickle, pineapple dole whip, sour spaghetti straw candy and chamoy tajin. Still can’t imagine how that would taste? You’ll simply have to try it (or not).

Spam-on-a-stick

One of the greatest joys of the state fair is all sorts of foods served on a stick. The new spam-on-a-stick takes the canned meat you’re probably familiar with and batters and deep fries it. Available at Boba King (#21).

Crispy Chicken Funnel Cake

The new crispy chicken funnel cake takes the classic state fair dessert and adds a savory twist. Available at Stizzy’s Iron Skillet Funnel Cakes (#64).

Birthday Cake Shake

If you’re celebrating your birthday during state fair season, what better way than with a cake batter milkshake topped with a funfetti cupcake? Available at Swirl Ice Cream (#24).

Cotton Candy Cake

Another option for state fair birthdays, the cotton candy cake is a multi-layered cake made entirely of cotton candy and sprinkled with colorful sugar crystals. Available at Candyland (#7).

Elephant Ears

Since the state fair is known for insane foods, it feels necessary to clarify these are not actual elephant ears. This new treat from Mason’s Den (#20) comprises giant pieces of golden-brown, deep-fried dough topped with cinnamon and sugar.

Bacon Taco

Exactly what it sounds like: this new item from Carne Cafe Taco Stand (#49) comprises a hard taco shell stuffed with bacon.

Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

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